Growing brussels sprouts, and having NO LUCK! Any suggestions??

Question

Every time I try, it shoots up in the thinnest stock, and flops over. How does the stock get so thick and healthy? Serious replies, please. I know they're not everyone's favorite, but I love 'em!!

Answer 1

I've worked with Brussel Sprouts and can offer some advice....

IF you're using seeds, begin sowing seeds about 7 weeks prior to transplanting. (plants should be about 6 weeks old at transplant)

Preparing the Soil;
You'll need to incorporate LOTS of organic matter into your soil prior to planting. This means plenty of compost AND thoroughly composted steer and chicken manure rototilled into your soil. My suggestion is to add about 3 to 4 inches of compost and about one to two inches of manure....then rototill in.

At the same time, since they prefer a slightly acidic pH of around 6.5, you may have to adjust your soil accordingly.

You should spread a pre-plant fertilizer such as a 6-20-20 or a 5-10-10....using about 5 pounds per 100 square feet and mixing into the soil with a rake about a week prior to planting. Brussel sprouts also need Boron and Magnesium along with other minor elements......so it's best to find a fertilizer that has a wide array of them included.

The MOST IMPORTANT thing to remember is to not allow the Brussel Sprouts to wilt or subject the plants to as little stress as possible during transplanting. Keep the plants moist, try planting early in the morning to alleviate any additional stress to the plants and apply water soon after planting.

Apply a mixture of one cup of the 5-10-10 fertilizer mixed with 12 quarts of water that has been dissolved for a few hours and then apply one cup of the solution around the roots of each plant after planting. This procedure will help reduce any stress during planting.

Since Brussel Sprouts love lots of nitrogen, you should begin by applying a 15-0-0 (nitrate of soda) about 3 weeks after planting. Apply a tablespoon evenly around the base of each plant... making sure you apply it 3 inches away from the plant. This application should be duplicated every 2 weeks three more times.

Some growers will suggest that you should also apply another inch of chicken manure around the base of each plant and water it in.

Hope this helped answer your question and that your next crop is much better than those in the past! GOOD LUCK with the sprouts!

-Certified Professional Crop Consultant with over 30 years of experience and a Degree in Plant Science

Answer 2

Ugh, Brussels sprouts. You, my sister, and my mother should get together.

You may just need to fertilise the soil more. The plant needs nutrients that unfertilised soil simply doesn't have. Since you aren't after flowers you can benefit from the fact that most fertilisers promote leaf growth over flower growth. I know nothing about "natural" or (to type it sticks in my throat since it's a gross misuse of the word) "o-r-g-a-n-i-c" fertilisers but they do exist. Plants need more organic material than regular soil can provide and even products labelled "organic" have actual organic material in them.

More or less water and more or less sun may also help. Usually more water will help a stalk to be more substantial and support the weight but too much can water down nutrients and cause it to weaken.