Best in early April. You can and, subject to good lighting and a fairly cool daytime temperature, or you can warm loggia or heated.
Sow the seeds to a depth of 1 cm, about four centimeters apart. When the plant has one leaf, it's time to pick it up in a separate cup. At 50 days of age, cabbage can be planted in. Since you need a lot of space, you need to be far enough away, about 50 cm from another plant.
Cabbage care consists of regular watering, weekly top dressing and hilling. Top dressing from the infusion of mullein and mineral fertilizers should be alternated. From fertilizers, you can use azofoska - for 10 liters of water, take 3 tbsp. spoons. Not bad for suitable fertilizers containing nitrogen and potassium. Due to the fact that the stem is high, during the entire growing season it is necessary to constantly hill and loosen it.
Once the bottom sprouts have reached the size of a pea, cut off the top of the plant. This will allow the heads of cabbage to pour faster. You can leave the plant to fully mature until late autumn, as this cabbage can withstand frosts down to -8 degrees. As soon as the sprouts become dense, they are cut off. It is necessary to cut the heads of cabbage near the stem itself, otherwise they may crumble.
It is better not to store cabbages fresh, they are usually frozen. In this form, they perfectly retain their beneficial features and taste qualities. You can use cabbage both boiled and fried, and as a side dish or soup. When preparing food from Brussels sprouts it is important not to digest it - excessive processing will destroy all the useful properties of the vegetable.
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Due to the fact that Brussels sprouts take about 150 days before the first cabbages are ready (from the moment the shoots appear), as a rule, one cannot do without seedlings. best time for sowing seedlings, the first days of April are considered. Seedlings can be grown on glazed balcony, in room conditions, on a loggia or in a heated greenhouse.
The culture withstands frosts down to -8...-10 °С, i.е. more cold hardy than white cabbage. The optimum temperature for it is 15-18 ° C, at 25 and above in shading, the formation of the plant is delayed and the quality of the crop is reduced. Brussels sprouts are sown on April 10-15 in a well-lit, sun-heated place under a film, and seedlings are planted from June 1-10 in a garden bed where tomatoes, cucumbers or legumes.
Sources:
- how to plant kohlrabi in 2019
Brussels sprouts are a rare vegetable in Russian garden beds. There are not many lovers who grow it on their plots. Meanwhile, it is not at all difficult to grow "Brussels" not only in the south, but also in middle lane Russia.
What is the reason for the failure to grow Brussels sprouts?
Many people try to grow "Brussels" like ordinary white cabbage and use the same methods. But there is one essential difference, without which success is impossible. Sowing seeds and planting seedlings on the ridges have their own specific time frame. Brussels sprouts have a longer development period. From the time of sowing seeds to the day of harvesting, 155-165 days pass. Only modern varieties have a slightly shorter development period, 140-150 days.
When should you sow Brussels sprout seeds for seedlings?
Seedlings are grown for about 35-40 days. So, the seeds must be sown in early March. Any delays and omissions with the timing of sowing seeds will reduce the success of growing "brussels".
What are the features in growing seedlings?
Brussels sprouts are sensitive to any transplant. When growing seedlings, it is important to preserve the root ball and not injure it. Therefore, it is better to sow the seeds immediately in cassettes or pots, bypassing the pick. By the time of planting on the beds, the seedlings have from 4 to 6 leaves. It should be tempered the day before (within 10-12 days). Brussels is planted in the beds in the last week of April or in early May.
Brussels sprouts are very different from the white cabbage family. She is not afraid of spring frosts and frosts down to -6-7 ° C are not afraid of her.
Brussels sprouts are a versatile vegetable native to Brussels. Small, crispy, fortified heads, savory in taste, contain a lot of easily digestible protein, reminiscent of chicken in properties.
Characteristics and properties
Brussels sprouts belong to the leaf subspecies, a biennial plant, cruciferous family. In appearance, cabbage is a long stem and a fluffy top. Small (up to 5 cm) heads are formed on the stem from twisted cabbage leaves with a corrugated surface.
Heads of cabbage - good dietary product, there is a lot of potassium, which is why they are recommended for use in diseases of the cardiovascular system. High content of iodine, magnesium, calcium, iron and vitamins.
It has an anti-inflammatory, tonic effect in atherosclerosis, diabetes, inflammatory processes in the bile ducts and liver.
It can be used as a separate dish or in soups, stews, as a side dish.
Early hybrid varieties: "Franklin F1" and "Hercules". Ripening period 130 - 140 days. The height of the stem is up to 60 cm, the yield per bush is up to 40 heads of cabbage with a total weight of up to 400 g.
Mid-season varieties: "Diablo F1" and "Casio". Terms of achievement of a commodity maturity of 155 - 170 days. Casio has an ovoid shape of blue-green heads, with a diameter of up to 3 cm, a head of cabbage weighs up to 12 g.
Late-ripening varieties: "Boxer F1" and "Curl" with a ripening period of 170 days. The height of the bush is up to 90 cm, the average heads are up to 5 cm, the weight of one is up to 15 g, the total number is up to 40 heads.
Site organization and soil preparation
It is preferable to choose a lit area. The soil is richer nutrients loamy or sandy-loamy, but can also be planted on less fertilized soils free from weeds. The soil reaction is slightly acidic. High acidity of the soil is diluted with lime.
The site is being prepared in autumn. When digging, organic and mineral (potash and phosphorus-containing) fertilizers are applied.
In spring, the soil is loosened, fertilized with urea. The beds are formed on moist soil.
Brussels sprouts have a long growing season, which makes it possible to grow other early-ripening vegetables in its aisle.
predecessors
Good predecessors will be vegetables, greens, legumes.
Sowing terms
Sown either in a greenhouse from April to May, or immediately in open ground.
Sowing and caring for seedlings
For seedlings, seeds of Brussels sprouts are sown in late March or early April. Seeds are planted to a depth of 1 cm. At the stage of formation of one true leaf, seedlings should be dived with seating in peat-mucking cups.
Seedlings are kept in moist soil with constant ventilation and top dressing.
Two weeks before landing on the site, hardening can be carried out with a gradual increase in the length of stay in the open air.
Landing in the ground
Planted in open ground for 45 - 60 days in the phase of 5 - 6 leaves. Landing pattern 60x60 cm.
Brussels sprouts need regular row spacing and watering. It is better to do this with well water.
Heads will form in the axils of the leaves. In some varieties, their number can reach up to 70 pieces. The top of the cabbage should be cut off when the heads of the bottom row have reached the size of a pea. So you can stop the growth of the plant in height and direct all the energy to the formation of heads.
Hilling should be carried out in autumn and, if necessary, tying up tall unstable bushes.
Cabbage tolerates frost well. It is noticed that the taste of Brussels sprouts after a short frost improves, it becomes more fragrant.
top dressing
With poor soil in the summer, up to four fertilizing with nitrogen fertilizers can be carried out. In the second half of the growing season, it is worth adding superphosphate. Then they are fed with combined complex fertilizers.
The lack of phosphorus and potassium in the soil can lead to the fact that heads of cabbage will not be tied.
Good results are obtained by watering with an aqueous solution of fermented nettles.
Pests
Brussels sprouts are sick, as well as cabbage, but the cabbage fly does not touch it because of the mustard oils it contains.
From caterpillars and aphids, cabbage whites and moths, insecticides are used.
Young cabbage heads attract birds, so care must be taken to scare them away.
Avoid soil oxidation, which will inevitably lead to keel disease.
Harvesting
The crop is harvested as the heads of cabbage ripen. Collection begins at the bottom of the bush, gradually cutting off larger specimens. They should be plucked along with the stem, so you can keep the heads longer.
The first harvest is usually harvested in early October and continues until late autumn.
After the onset of a period of stable frosts, the bush is cut down at the root, the leaves and top are removed and the stem with heads of cabbage is brought into the cellar.
When frozen, heads of cabbage retain their taste and can be stored for a long time.
If you do not cut off the heads, the next year shoots form from them and the bush will bloom.
Brussels sprouts are one of the healthiest varieties of this garden culture. In addition to a huge amount of useful vitamins and minerals, it contains protein. Nutritionists assure that soup from such cabbage in terms of the composition of trace elements is equivalent to chicken broth. Unfortunately, in the beds, a useful tall beauty can not be found so often. Most gardeners are scared away capricious character plants and features of agricultural technology, not to mention the rather long period from sowing to crop ripening. However, by paying a little attention to Brussels, it is quite possible to grow small, but so tasty and nutritious heads of cabbage on the site.
Brussels sprouts are best grown in seedlings.
Preparing the soil and planting seedlings of Brussels sprouts
To grow cabbage of this variety, it is necessary to allocate an illuminated area, but which at the same time is in the "openwork" shade, for example, near large shrubs. They will cover the plants from direct sunlight, under the influence of which cabbages are poorly tied.
Cabbage beds must be prepared in advance and brought to the site:
- humus;
- wood ash (1 liter of ash per 10 liters of humus).
Seedlings should be planted in a checkerboard pattern, leaving a distance of at least 60 cm between the bushes, since mature plant takes up quite a lot of space. On acidic soils, add a handful of ash to each well.
The vegetative period is longer than that of the white head. So that the place in the beds is not empty, you can plant beets between seedlings.
Landing Care
Care of planted plants includes:
- regular watering:
- weeding and loosening the soil;
- periodic top dressing.
The first feeding can be carried out 10 days after picking the seedlings on the beds, using nitrogen fertilizers. For subsequent dressings, it is good to use herbal infusions and complex mineral fertilizers. In total, 3-4 top dressings are enough for the season. So that the long trunk of the brussels does not fall to one side, after fertilizing or watering, it is periodically spudded.
Experienced gardeners recommend pinching the top of the bush during the start of tying heads. Thus, all the forces will be spent on the formation of the crop, and not on the overall growth of the plant, and the heads themselves will be larger. Although it has been noted that hybrid varieties are able to produce a fairly large crop even without this procedure.
As the cabbage grows, its lower leaves turn yellow. They can also be removed.
Cabbage harvest usually starts at the end of September. In regions with a warm climate, the plant is able to stay on the beds until November, because it can tolerate small frosts (up to 2 degrees below zero). Learn about
Enough already long time in vegetable markets, and in most supermarkets, you can observe an unusual type of vegetable. This peculiar and unique vegetable is Brussels sprouts. By the number of useful vitamins contained in it, it is in no way inferior to ordinary white cabbage, and palatability surpasses it in many ways. Moreover, it is very unusual and beautiful plant, which looks especially unusual during the formation of the forks. What is this culture and how to grow Brussels sprouts at home?
General information
In fact, Brussels sprouts are one of the varieties white cabbage and refers to this cultivated plant therefore, it is simply impossible to meet it in the wild. An unusual vegetable was bred in Belgium and named after Brussels farmers.
Cabbage received general recognition first in Western Europe, Canada and the United States. In Russia, however, popularity came to it only in the middle of the 19th century. In our country, it is cultivated in limited quantities in the central regions. This vegetable is so frost-resistant that it gets along in almost any climatic conditions.
Description and appearance of cabbage
This vegetable crop is a biennial plant. Brussels sprouts grow (how to grow in open ground, we will consider further) is extremely in an unusual way. First, a thick stem 30-100 centimeters high grows, in rare cases the stem can reach a larger size. Large green leaves are located throughout the stem. It is also considered normal if dark green spots with a purple tint form on the leaves. A small rosette of leaves forms at the top of the stem. In autumn, small forks of cabbage form near each leaf. The diameter of each reaches from 2 to 5 centimeters. The fruits can be located very rarely, or they can and, conversely, stick around the entire stem. Up to 70 forks can grow on one stem. In the second year of its flowering, the plant does not produce fruits, but forms flowers with small brown seeds. Brussels sprout seeds can remain viable for no more than 5 years. Cabbage is able to withstand frosts down to -10 degrees, which makes it the most frost-resistant among all species. Also this species cabbage is one of the longest growing species. The ripening period lasts from 120 to 180 days, which is why this species is more convenient to grow through seedlings.
How to grow Brussels sprouts from seeds
The very first question that a gardener who decides to grow this crop asks: how and when to plant it? How to grow Brussels sprouts in the garden? The seeds of this plant begin to grow already at a temperature of +2 degrees. It is best to grow seedlings in early April. It is desirable to do this in a heated greenhouse. If this is not available, then a glazed balcony is perfect for this. The most optimal medium for sowing - high humidity air, as well as a temperature of +3 or +4 degrees at night. Sprouts begin to appear on the fifth day.
So how do you grow Brussels sprouts from seed? Before sowing, the seeds must be well warmed up in water for 15 minutes. Recommended water temperature - no more than 50 degrees. Then they are lowered into cold water for 1 minute. Next, the seeds are kept for 12 hours in a solution rich in trace elements, then washed in running water and placed in a refrigerator for a day. After that, the seeds should be dried and you can start planting. In order for the seedlings to be strong, you need to sow the seeds at a distance of at least 5 centimeters from each other, and the planting depth should be no more than 2 centimeters. After one true leaf appears on the seedlings, the plants dive, and then transplanted into separate boxes. Further, the seedlings should grow from 35 to 60 days. Then it is transplanted into open ground. Usually, by this time, 4 to 7 leaves grow on each stem. If you're planning to grow Brussels sprouts in your backyard, it's important to properly prepare the soil.
The soil
Cabbage loves cultivated and nutrient-rich soils; in putrefactive soils, seedlings will give poor germination. Exactly therefore, before growing Brussels sprouts in the open field, in the spring before planting, the soil must be fertilized. It is best to use ammonium nitrate or urea for these purposes. Concentration - approximately 20 g per 1 m. Best suited for planting sunny place, since cabbage does not like shade. It is recommended to plant plants in two rows, quite far from each other. Best Distance between plants - at least 50 cm.
How to care for Brussels sprouts
When considering how to grow Brussels sprouts, it is important to familiarize yourself with the features of care. Two weeks after planting the plants in the beds, it is recommended to carry out the first top dressing with mineral fertilizers. Under one stem, it is recommended to apply 1-2 liters of fertilizer.
The second top dressing is carried out when forks form on the stems. Cabbage must be watered abundantly. This culture needs abundant watering especially during the formation of small forks. In order to prevent pests from attacking the cabbage, it is recommended to sprinkle the ground with ash once a week after loosening. To make the cabbage crop richer, the upper rosettes should be cut off. It is best to do this one and a half months before the harvest ripens. Consider further how to grow Brussels sprouts so that they are not attacked by pests.
- observe crop rotation;
- treat seeds before sowing (the method was described above);
- compliance with all the rules for caring for cabbage.
Harvesting
Cabbage picking is recommended to start in late September or early October. It is not necessary to cut all the forks. The crop is harvested as it ripens. Ripe cabbage has a rich green color and reaches a diameter of 3 centimeters. The mass of one fork can reach from 10 to 15 grams.
There is another way to harvest: the fully ripened forks are cut along with the stem, then placed in wet sand and removed in a dark place. In this form, cabbage can be stored for up to 4 months. Cut forks are best used immediately or frozen. A scientifically proven fact - frozen Brussels sprouts do not lose their nutritional value.
Varieties of cabbage varieties
Considering the technology of how to grow Brussels sprouts, it is worth dwelling on the most popular varieties. They can be divided into three types:
- early cabbage(Cassio, Dolmik, Rosello (Germany), Franklin, Rudnev, Isabella);
- mid-season cabbage (Boxer, Perfection (Russia), Hercules, Risen);
- late cabbage (Gruniger (Germany), Ketskill (USA), Curl).
The harm and benefits of cabbage
Brussels sprouts are a storehouse of beneficial vitamins and minerals. It is rich in B, PP, C, E vitamins, protein, also in huge number contains amino acids and enzymes, folic acid and fiber. By the amount of vitamin C, cabbage is many times ahead of blackcurrant. And riboflavin in it contains exactly as much as in natural cow's milk.
Cabbage is a dietary and hypoallergenic product, so it can be safely given to young children, as well as to the elderly. Due to the high content of folic acid, the vegetable can also be eaten by expectant mothers. Brussels sprout juice has a diuretic and choleretic effect. It also has anti-inflammatory, expectorant, immunostimulating effects. Cabbage helps fight excess weight, enhances intestinal motility, and also relieves heartburn. The prepared cabbage broth is in no way inferior to chicken broth in properties.
Brussels sprouts are not recommended for people with weakened pancreatic function, as there is a high risk of developing hypothyroidism. In people suffering from Crohn's disease, as well as gastrointestinal diseases, cabbage can cause bloating.
Nutritional value of Brussels sprouts
Calorie content of Brussels sprouts - 35 kcal.
Nutritional value per 100 g: proteins - 4.8 g; fats - 0.3 g; carbohydrates - 3.1 g.
The use of cabbage in cooking
Cabbage is prepared quickly and easily. Forks are most often used whole for soups, side dishes and second courses. Vegetables can be boiled, fried, stewed. At the same time, it will not lose its taste properties. unusual shape and small size cabbages give chefs an abundance of options for garnishing different side dishes and dishes. Of course, it is best and healthier to eat raw cabbage, but if the taste seems unusual, then you can resort to heat treatment or frying.
In order for the color of the forks to remain as bright as when raw, it is recommended to fry it over high heat, without covering it with a lid. When choosing cabbage in the store, it is recommended to pay attention to its upper leaves. As a rule, they should be bright green in color, with no dark spots on the leaves and stems. The stem must be light color and clean. If the upper leaves on the cabbage turn yellow, such a product is not recommended to be eaten. It is best to choose cabbage forks of medium size, about 3 cm in diameter. They should be dense and shiny, usually these are the most delicious and juicy. Larger sprouts may be bitter.
So, we examined the cultivation of Brussels sprouts, care, varieties. As already mentioned above, with a competent approach to business and strict observance of all instructions, a crop can be planted on your site. The process will not require any large costs, but the result of the work done in the form of a useful harvest will clearly please.
To date, Brussels sprouts are grown mostly in an area with moderate summer temperatures and warm, long autumn period. It is these conditions that correspond to the biological characteristics of this vegetable crop and contribute to a good harvest.
Brussels sprouts are a biennial herbaceous crop. Plant height varies from 20 to 60 centimeters.
At the stage of growing seedlings of Brussels sprouts, the plant forms a stem part with long-leaved, spreading, entire leaves.
At the next stage of cultivation in the leaf axils, large buds are formed - cabbage heads with round shape. Their mass rarely exceeds 15 grams, and the total yield from each properly grown plant can be 500 grams.
Brussels sprouts are considered a cold-resistant plant and are quite tolerant of short-term frosts down to -6ºС. Tying and high-quality filling of fruits requires an optimal temperature background - at the level of 18ºС. At rates above 25ºС, growth and fruit formation slow down. In connection with the climatic preferences of Brussels sprouts in the country, it should be grown in open-air beds.
Landing methods
Growing a quality crop of Brussels sprouts allows you to properly plant and care for this vegetable crop.
The seeds are sown in last days March or early April. Quality seedlings obtained when grown on a glazed balcony or in a heated greenhouse, which helps to ensure the optimal temperature level.
Temperatures at night should range from 6 to 8 degrees Celsius, and in the daytime the temperature should be about 20 degrees. Pre-emergence temperature environment need to be maintained at 2 degrees Celsius.
The first seedlings appear on the fourth day. Peat-humus planting pots are suitable for planting.
Seedlings need regular watering and fertilizing with mineral fertilizers. It is necessary to carry out airing of the room where seedlings are grown. The picking is carried out one and a half months after sowing the seeds.
Cultivation is carried out on loamy, rich in organic matter and deeply cultivated soils. You should carefully observe the agricultural practices for growing Brussels sprouts, including the mandatory care and feeding measures.
How to grow Brussels sprouts (video)
Features of the care and feeding of cabbage in the garden
- The cultivation of Brussels sprouts must be accompanied necessary activities to prepare the soil in autumn. It is necessary to vigorously loosen and dig the soil, and then add required amount organic and mineral fertilizers.
- Autumn application of superphosphate, potash fertilizer, manure or peat compost is very good for the growth and health of cultivated Brussels sprouts and contributes to obtaining big harvest large and even heads of cabbage.
- Before spring planting it is required to loosen the soil again and enrich the soil for planting with urea.
- The formation of planting beds is most conveniently performed after abundant soil moisture.
- If it was not possible to perform high-quality fertilization of the land in the process autumn training, then you can fertilize the holes dug for planting cabbage seedlings.
- When grown in open ground, the ridges are formed by the beginning of May, and the holes are arranged according to the pattern of 50 x 50 centimeters.
- Brussels sprouts are vegetable crops with a long growing season, which reaches five months, and planting between the rows of more early-ripening crops will be justified, which will already form a crop before the cabbage begins to bear fruit.
- For dressings that are made no more than once a week, it makes sense to use fertilizers that have the same percentage of phosphorus and nitrogen in their composition.
- Caring for Brussels sprouts includes regular watering.
- This variety of cabbage has a fairly high shoot and needs hilling activities to provide support to the stem.
- To root system received the air necessary for full development, soil loosening should be carried out periodically.
- If necessary, weeding is carried out, without which the care of any plant is considered inferior.
- We should not forget about the need to pinch the stem top or remove the rosette of the top one and a half months before harvesting.
Diseases and pests
Among the common diseases of the culture, the following can be distinguished:
- blackleg;
- cabbage keel;
- mucous bacteriosis;
- downy mildew.
Of the pests to be wary of:
- cruciferous fleas;
- cabbage flies;
- snails and slugs;
- cabbage scoops and whites.
Therapeutic and preventive measures are similar to the methods of control that are effective against pests for other cabbage crops. At the initial stage of a disease or lesion, as well as for prophylactic purposes, folk herbal remedies can be used.
Protecting plants helps not only to carry out all measures for quality seedbed preparation soil and the use of disinfectants after harvesting, but also the observance of crop rotation in the beds.
Brussels sprouts can be grown after green manure, carrots, potatoes, onions, legumes, cereals, and cucumbers. It is forbidden to plant a crop on ridges where cabbage, beets, tomatoes, turnips, radishes or radishes were previously grown. You can return Brussels sprouts to an already used bed no earlier than four years later. Compliance with this rule will insure the plant against damage by a significant part of pests and diseases common to all cabbage crops.
Harvesting and storage rules
Harvesting of the mature crop is carried out in a selective mode and begins in mid-September. At the very beginning, the lower cabbage heads ripen and are subject to breaking out. The final cleaning is carried out in early November, after the steady cold sets in.
Planting seedlings of Brussels sprouts in open ground (video)
Stems with ripe inflorescences separated from the root system can be stored in a cool room for about three months. Separate cabbage heads are subject to immediate processing or freezing.
Brussels sprouts, like any other crop, have their own characteristics of cultivation. By following them, you will get a wonderful vitamin harvest.