Friday, December 17, 2010

Growing brussel sprouts

Brussels are a cool weather crop that grow best at around 60-65 deg F. They will grow well in temperatures up to 75 deg F. Warm temperatures will cause the sprouts to open up and lose their firmness. Warm weather also causes the flavour of the sprout to be more intense.

Brussel Sprouts have a shallow root system and so care must be taken not to damage the roots when maintaining the soil and weeds. A nitrogen fertiliser should be applied to the soil every 3 weeks through the growing season. Brussel Sprouts need a large amount of water but do not like standing water. Lighter soils will require more frequent waterings than heavier soils. Ensure to water the crop adequately during the growing season as the plants require water for growth and sprout development. Removing the growing tip of the plant about a month before the harvesting date will result in greater yields as the plant will divert energy from leaf growth into developing the Brussel Sprouts.

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