Although it’s not the easiest plant to grow, but worth the effort, Cathy Isom has some tips for growing the brussel sprout. That’s coming up on This Land of Ours.
The Brussel sprout plant may be a challenge to even the most-seasoned gardener, but it can be grown! It will require full sun, at least 6 hours per day.
Start by growing your brussel sprout seedlings indoors in the fall and about 12 weeks before the first frost. Once seedlings are about 3 inches tall it’s time to transplant them in the garden or raised beds.
Its best companions are onions, potatoes, celery, dill, peppermint, tomatoes and spinach. Keep them away from Strawberry, lettuce, pole beans or kohlrabi.
It’s best to harvest in the late fall or early winter. Buds will be large enough to eat – around 1-2 inches in size – depending on the variety. Brussel sprouts last up to a few weeks kept in the fridge. Freezing is possible, but for most varieties, the taste and texture will suffer. If you cut off the entire stalk rather than harvesting just the buds, you can put the stalk in water as you would a cut flower.
I’m Cathy Isom…