growing brussels sprouts?

[megankl]

Me and my husband have decided this year that we are going to tackle growing brussels sprouts for the first time. I have always been scared to try these ones out and I am not really sure why. Does anyone have any good experience/stories to share with us? I have watched several videos online so I think it will go okay just looking for any encouragement I can get Also feel free to post your pictures!

 

[Durgan]

[URL='http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ABXSL'][URL='http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ZYOKF'][URL='http://www.durgan.org/URL/?QOEUO'][URL='http://www.durgan.org/URL/?OGNEX']
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?OGNEX 8 May 2014 Brussels Sprouts placed in outdoor garden.
Eight Brussels Sprout plants were placed in outdoor garden. They are spaced at about 16 inches in a row and supported with a stake, since the growing plants sometimes bend over if not supported. The plants are also protected by a rabbit fence. Brussels Sprouts can withstand cool weather.

http://www.durgan.org/URL/?KMCBJ 10 April 2014 Repotting Brussels Sprouts
Brussels Sprouts plants were purchased and moved to larger pots. This will enable the roots to enlarge and the plants will be strong and healthy when planted in the outdoor garden in about one month. Brussels sprouts thrive in cooler weather and they take a very long season to mature. They grow well in my zone 5.
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[URL='http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ABXSL'][URL='http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ZYOKF'][url]http://www.durgan.org/URL/?QOEUO 1 November 2013 Brussels Sprouts.
Two plants of brussels sprouts (Jade Cross) were collected. Each plant produced two pounds of sprouts. There were eight plants originally but the rabbits ate them off when young. Brussels sprouts grow well in my area but few people like them and I can’t even give them away. With a bit of care they can be grown perfectly. Spraying is necessary to discourage the white butterfly, and the lower leaves should be pulled so they don’t touch the ground. They should be staked to prevent the stalk from bending.I start them as early as possible in the Spring and they grow well into frost.Frost doesn’t affect the sprouts in spite of the old wives tale to the contrary.[/URL][/URL][/URL]
[URL='http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ABXSL'][URL='http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ZYOKF'][/URL][/URL]
[URL='http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ABXSL'][url]http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ZYOKF 23 June 2012. Brussels sprouts removing lower leaves
The lower leaves of the Brussels sprouts were removed. This facilitates breaking the small cabbages off easier and keeps them from the soil, and possibly some bugs.Any leaves touching the ground were removed. The plants were also checked for larvae of the white cabbage butterfly, which was hovering around. I managed to dispatch one. The plants are supported, since the mains stalk sometimes curves when heavily laden with cabbages[/URL][/URL]
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[url]http://www.durgan.org/URL/?ABXSL 11 May 2012 Brussels Sprouts
Eight Jade Cross Brussels sprout seedlings were planted in the garden.These were purchased in flats and planted in pots to establish strong roots for about 7 days in the greenhouse. Brussels sprouts grow well in my area. The cabbage moth is a problem some years. I saw one around today, which is very early for this pest. I will use diatomaceous earth powder spray in an attempt to discourage, plus a hard water spray to remove any egg slime. Later when the ground warms sufficiently (20C) the area will be heavily mulched with wood chips for moisture retention.[/URL]
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?DRUXI
http://www.durgan.org/URL/?DRUXI 5 November 2011 Brussels Sprouts (Jade Cross)Juicing.

 

[marlingardener]

We grew them one year in central Texas as a winter crop. They did pretty well--we had enough to freeze and all we wanted to eat. One word of warning--they smell. The plants have an unpleasant odor, so don't put them where you pass by frequently. We picked the sprouts young, being told older sprouts were smellier, and that made no difference since it was the plant itself that was the source of the odor. The best way I can explain the smell is of old cabbage mixed with dirty socks.

 

[Kansas Terri]

I raised them just one year, and then I decided I liked them better frozen!

At any rate, I raised them like they were a cabbage and they did well enough. I did not stake them, and so my plants LEANED a good bit! And, the green cabbage worms liked the shade of the underside of the leaning stalk and so that was where most of the bug damage was. If I did it again, I would spray the plants like I do my cabbages. There are some very good organic bug sprays out now! I don't remember, now, why I did not spray them: I KNEW they were in the cabbage family!

They were fun to grow, but I did it only that one time: I liked heading cabbages better!

 

[headfullofbees]

I net mine, as they are prone to attack by pigeons/crows/magpies.
Crows will even jump up and down on the netting trying to get at the tender sprouts tops.

I sowed 25 seeds late last winter, and got 23 plants.

As my wife doesn't eat very many sprouts, I gave 13 plants away at the planting out stage.
Unfortunately, she has decided that these are the best sprouts in the World, and as a result, we're nearly finished them, about three months early.

The variety was F1 Montgomery.