Brussel Sprouts

[lily]

Just can't seem to grow these successfully, yet in the same raised bed I've grown various types of Kale and also chard. Any tips please?

[magic cochin]

I'm hopeless with sprouts too! I understand they need an open position and the soil needs to be packed down hard, they don't like rich loose soil.

Celia

[SummerSkye]

We grew them in Tassie very successfully in a rich moist soil and cool weather planted late summer with picking finishing just before winter. As your climate is different unsure what season you do grow them in the UK. We used raised beds filled with good soil and mulched with broken down hay. Only problem was the white cabbage moth which we sprayed Dipel (which does not affect anything but the actual grubs) for. We did live in an area which grew vegetables for commercial frozen food.

[Oola]

I've read that they dislike acid soils, so it might be worth doing a pH test?

Carol Klein says in the following in her Grow Your Own Veg book:

"For a good crop of Brussels sprouts ideally you need a firm soil with a pH of 6-7.5, but they really aren't too fussy.Choose a sunny site with shelter from high winds to avoid the risk of this top-heavy crop being blown over. If in doubt, support plants with a 5 x 2.5cm stake to keep them upright.

Prepare the soil by digging in generous quantities of organic matter such as well-rotted manure or garden compost, during autumn. This advance preparation helps ensure that the soil has consolidated by planting time. Avoid digging over the soil shortly before planting."

She recommends the following varities:

Revenge AGM
A high-yeilding variety with firm sprouts from mid- to late winter

Cumulus
A strong-growing adaptable variety with dark green sprouts and tall plants. Good disease resistance.

Red Delicious
An unusual and ornamental red variety to try that stays purple on cooking. The sprouts are ready to pick from late autumn. They lack the vigour of the other varieties.

Maximus AGM
High yields of round, smooth, medium-sized mid-green buttons from autumn on. Powdery mildew tolerant.

[lily]

Thanks everyone. Think I'll try beefing up the soil a bit with some of our own compost. Perhaps also a touch of lime- our soil is acid ( lovely camellias etc). It's strange because curly kale and black tuscan kale have done really well in the same bed. I like the sound of "high yeilding".

[SummerSkye]

Hi Lily, yes I should have mentioned we added lime as we were on acid soil as well; as you say lovely camellias and rhodo's.

[Redstart]

Kale is more tolerant but sprouts need the soil to be more alkaline and hate acid soils so make sure you add lime to the soil.

[Healing Hands]

I am growing Brussels for the first time this year so I too hope that they will grow, I love Brussels Sprouts. I have got Carol Klein's book also and I have been using it as my bible, so I shall blame her if they do not grow!