How to plant seedlings of Brussels sprouts. Growing Brussels sprouts from seed is a sprout! Pest protection

Brussels sprouts are one of the hardiest and longest growing cabbage crops. By knowing when to plant Brussels sprouts for seedlings, you can get a very decent harvest, and use it to prepare healthy dishes until the next season. The main thing is to properly care for it and choose the right soil.

Description

Brussels sprouts are a type of white cabbage. In the wild, the culture is not found, and its ancestor is leafy Mediterranean cabbage. In its current form, it was bred in Belgium, after which it got its name. Today, the culture is grown on an industrial scale, due to its extraordinary benefits.

Brussels sprouts include:

• provitamin A;
• nicotinic acid;
• vitamins of groups B, C, E;
• phosphate salts;
• potassium;
• magnesium;
• iron;
• sodium;
• enzymes;
• amino acids;
• fiber;
• protein;
• folic acid.

Due to such a rich composition, the culture is considered a dietary product with a huge list of useful properties:

• pressure normalization;
• wound healing and recovery in the postoperative period;
• choleretic, diuretic antitoxic action;
• stimulation of immunity and hematopoiesis;
• normalization of the pancreas;
• reduced risk of birth defects (when used by pregnant women);
• improvement of vision;
• lowering cholesterol levels;
• stimulation of mental activity;
• increased intestinal peristalsis;
• prevention of the development of neoplasms, including malignant ones.

The appearance of Brussels sprouts is very different from other representatives of cabbage crops. On a high stem (50-70 cm), small heads of cabbage are formed in the amount of 30-50 pcs. The size of the fruit is comparable to a walnut, and the weight is about 15-20 grams. The fruits look like a smaller copy of ordinary kale.

Worth knowing! Brussels sprouts are biennial plants that flower and produce seeds the second year after planting in the soil.

Cultural features include:

1. Prolonged vegetation period (up to 170 days).
2. Resistance to low temperatures (withstands frosts down to -8°C, vegetation at a temperature of 5-8°C).
3. Light-loving.
4. Drought tolerant due to long and strong roots.

Species and varieties

Brussels sprouts are represented by a wide range of varieties and species:

1. Early (ripening period up to 130 days):
   • "Garnet bracelet";
   • Casio;
   • "Dolmik";
   • "Rosella";
   • "Franklin";
   • "Rudnef";
   • "Isabel";
   • "Oliver".
2. Mid-season (ripening period 130-150 days):
   • "Diamond";
   • "Pomegranate";
   • "Boxer";
   • "Perfection".
3. Late (matures 150-170 days)
   • "Gruniger";
   • "Curl".

Growing from seeds

Given the prolonged growing season of Brussels sprouts, it is required to plant it quite early, preparing seedlings from seeds.

When to sow

The optimal period for sowing seeds for seedlings of Brussels sprouts is the beginning of spring (mid-March-early April). Thus, already in May, the culture can be planted in open ground. For a continuous harvest, it can be sown until mid-July. It should be borne in mind that young seedlings need a special temperature regime:

• at night +5-6°C;
• +16-18°C during the day.

Seedlings can be placed on a glazed loggia (balcony), or in a heated greenhouse, providing a fairly high humidity in the room (about 70%).

Before sowing, seeds need to be prepared:

1. Warm up in warm water (50°C) for 15 minutes.
2. Dip in cold water for 1 minute.
3. Soak in microelement solution for 12 hours.
4. Place overnight in the vegetable drawer of the refrigerator.
5. Rinse with clean water.
6. Dry the seeds.

Growing seedlings

It is best to sow the seeds in special small pots or seedling trays. If it is planned to grow seedlings at home in a large container, then the distance between the seeds should be 3-4 cm.

Seeds are placed in the soil to a depth of 1-1.5 cm. The composition of the soil for seedlings in equal parts should contain:

• sod land;
• sand;
• peat;
• wood ash.

Important! Before sowing, the soil must be shed with a solution of potassium permanganate for the purpose of disinfection and enriched with mineral fertilizers.

The first shoots should appear 3-5 days after planting the seeds, subject to the required temperature regime.

Before planting in open soil, seedlings need to be regularly loosened and moistened so that the substrate is moist, but do not flood the seedlings.

Worth knowing! Excessive watering can lead to seedling disease - "black leg".

Watering seedlings begin two weeks after planting.

picking

In the case when the sowing of seeds was carried out in a common volumetric container, the seedlings need to dive.

Picking is carried out at the stage of development of cotyledon leaves. Previously, the soil is treated with a solution of potassium permanganate. Plants are carefully removed from the container along with a clod of earth and transplanted into separate pots.

Worth knowing! If necessary, you can shorten the central root of the seedlings.

When 2-3 leaves appear on the plant, seedlings are fertilized with a special solution consisting of:

• 40 g of superphosphate;
• 10 g of potassium sulfate;
• 20 grams of ammonium nitrate.

The components of the solution are diluted in 10 liters of water. After two weeks, the procedure must be repeated, increasing the number of components of the composition by half.

After feeding, seedlings should be watered with water at room temperature.

Worth knowing! Before planting seedlings in open ground, their preliminary hardening is required. To do this, containers with seedlings are taken out into the fresh air (open balcony, terrace) daily for two weeks, gradually increasing the time spent outside.

Landing in the ground

A place for planting Brussels sprouts should be chosen sunny, although the crop will grow normally in partial shade.

When to transplant

You can plant Brussels sprouts on the beds when 4-5 leaves appear on the seedlings, and the plant growth reaches 15 cm. .

For culture, garden plots on which they were previously grown are perfect:

• potato;
• cucumbers;
• cereals;
• legumes.

After some vegetables, the soil becomes unsuitable for Brussels sprouts. And it will be possible to use it no earlier than in 4 years:

• beet;
• tomatoes;
• radish and radish;
• cabbage;
• turnip.

Worth knowing! A week before transplanting, Brussels sprout seedlings stop watering, and only before direct planting, the substrate under them is abundantly moistened.

Priming

Before transplanting seedlings into open soil, it is worth checking the pH of the soil. Brussels sprouts like slightly acidic soil with a pH level of 6.0-7.4 and temperatures above 21°C. Such conditions will provide the culture with optimal growth and yield.

Important! A couple of weeks before transplanting seedlings, the soil in the garden should be plowed and fertilized with organic matter.

The preparation of the site for this crop begins in the fall, carefully digging the soil. Lime can be added if necessary.

In spring, the soil is fertilized by adding a bucket of humus or compost for each square meter of cabbage land.

Landing features

Brussels sprouts are planted in cloudy weather or in the evening, after sunset.

In the wells for plants it is worth adding:

• a teaspoon of urea;
• 2 tablespoons of superphosphate;
• a couple of glasses of wood ash.

As a fertilizer, you can use:

• calcium
• magnesium.

Plant holes should be slightly larger than their roots.

Landing includes the following steps:

1. Remove the plant from the pot along with a clod of earth.
2. Soak the root system in an aqueous fertilizer solution.
3. Gently place the seedling in the hole.
4. Fill the hole with soil and compact it.
5. Water the plant.

There should be a distance of 60-70 cm between adjacent seedlings for optimal plant development and a good harvest.

Worth knowing! Long and crooked seedlings can be buried deeper into the ground, even with the first level of leaves, otherwise they may break during growth.

cultivation

Growing Brussels sprouts in the garden is practically no different from breeding ordinary white cabbage.

Care

Cultural care is:

• regular sufficient watering;
• weeding and loosening the earth around plants;
• top dressing;
• protection from pests and diseases.

Worth knowing! The main enemy of Brussels sprouts is the cruciferous flea. To protect against its appearance, the soil in which the culture grows is covered with wood ash.

There is no need to hill the plants, moreover, such actions can lead to rotting of the lower heads of cabbage.

Three weeks before harvest, pinch the tops of the Brussels sprouts and cut the leaves from the rosettes so that the fruits gain more volume.

Weeding culture is carried out very carefully, manually. It is also worth inspecting plants for the presence of aphids and cabbage worms, which often attack the plant.

Not only cabbage, but also other crops require special care. In the article "" you can find out details about planting and growing tomatoes.

Watering

Immediately after transplanting, seedlings should be watered at the roots.

During the season, you will have to water the plants often enough so that the earth does not dry out.

During the growth period, Brussels sprouts should be watered abundantly in order for the plants to grow and develop sprouts. Approximately 35-40 liters of water are consumed for each meter of the site. After the formation of heads, the amount of liquid should be increased by 5-10 liters.

Important! When watering, make sure that water does not stand under the plants, as this can lead to the development of crop diseases.

Light soil types will have to be watered more often than dense and heavy ones. A few weeks before harvest, the amount of water for irrigation should be reduced and the soil should be allowed to dry well between irrigations.

top dressing

If the soil under Brussels sprouts in the garden is infertile, the culture must be regularly fed with mineral fertilizers.

The first top dressing is carried out a week after planting on open soil, using a teaspoon of Nitrophoska for every couple of plants.

The second top dressing should be made when heads begin to form on the stems: a teaspoon of Nitroammophoska and 25 g of superphosphate and potassium sulfate are diluted in a bucket of water. The resulting mixture is poured 1.5 liters under each plant.

It is not required to additionally feed Brussels sprouts planted in fertile soil.

Gently add organic compost to the soil around the Brussels sprouts. Which will not only feed the plant, but also protect it from the spread of weeds.

Important! The root system of the culture is very shallow. When adding compost, be extremely careful not to damage it.

Harvest and storage

Approximately 3 - 3.5 months after the planting of Brussels sprouts, the head of cabbage ripens on the site. Harvest time may vary depending on the crop variety.

It is not worth rushing to pick fruits, because under the influence of low temperatures their taste only gets better. Plants withstand temperatures as low as -7°C.

You can remove the cabbage when the leaves of the plant begin to turn yellow and fall off. The development of heads of cabbage occurs from the bottom up, and they need to be collected in the same way, starting from the root zone. The most delicious fruits are small in size and tightly closed buds.

Worth knowing! Heads can be removed manually or with a knife. One option for harvesting Brussels sprouts is to completely cut the plants in the root zone.

Depending on the conditions, the shelf life of the crop will differ:

1. Fruit left on the stem can be stored in the cellar for up to 3 months.
2. If you dig up the plants with the roots and dig tightly together in the cellar, you can extend the storage up to 5 months.
3. Heads cut with a stalk can also be stored in the cellar or in the refrigerator for up to 1.5 months.
4. Pre-blanched and frozen heads of cabbage are stored in the freezer for up to 3-4 months.

Brussels sprouts are popular with experienced gardeners and are fairly easy to grow. Of all the known cabbage varieties, this one stands apart. However, in our gardens it is considered a rarity due to its peculiar capriciousness and low yield. But this is far from true.

You can grow a vegetable in a country house in the open field in the Moscow region, plant directly from seeds, or plant seedlings first.

The plant is biennial, characterized by a thick stem, reaching a height of one meter. It has long-leaved foliage with a multi-colored bubbly surface. The top of the stem is crowned with a leaf rosette.

By the autumn season begin to form small loose or dense heads of cabbage, outwardly resembling a fork of white cabbage. Their diameter is two to five centimeters, grows on one stem from 30 to 70 pieces.

The plant is unpretentious, resistant to frost, the vegetative period is 4-6 months, so it is recommended to grow the culture by the seedling method.

Cabbage has a delicious taste, contains many useful vitamins and minerals.

Origin story

Culture is considered variety of white cabbage, does not occur in the wild in nature. Its predecessor is kale, which grows in the Mediterranean. The Brussels vegetable was bred by Belgian selection specialists, which was the reason for such a name.

Over time, the vegetable began to be grown in the countries of Western Europe, and it got to the east in the middle of the nineteenth century, but did not take root due to the difficult climate. But Canadians, Americans and Westerners began to plant crops in industrial quantities.

Beneficial features

This variety of cabbage contains:

• cellulose;
• folic acid;
• proteins;
• vitamins of various groups;
• phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, iodine, sodium salts;
• amino acids.

According to this composition, the product is classified as a valuable food and medicine.

Cabbage juice has a diuretic, choleretic, hematopoietic, anti-cancer, anti-toxic, anti-inflammatory effect, stabilizes the pancreas, and is recommended for those suffering from diabetes. Cabbage helps with wound healing after surgical interventions.

vegetable count gourmet food. It is used in the preparation of salads, first courses, side dishes, it can be marinated and even frozen.

The most popular varieties for growing

The most famous include:

Sowing dates

Sowing is best mid-March to early April.

For seedlings, the temperature at night is not higher than six degrees Celsius, and during the day - about eighteen. So it is better to place containers for planting on a balcony or in a greenhouse.

seedling care

After three to five days, the first shoots appear. At this time, you should remove the plastic film from the boxes, rearrange them to more illuminated places. So that the seedlings do not stretch out, it is recommended to organize additional lighting.

cabbage seedlings need abundant watering, but do not get carried away so that the roots do not begin to rot. The soil should always loosen to provide oxygen access to the root system.

feed sprouts should be in the phase of the second - third leaves, using Kemira-lux. It is necessary to ensure that the composition does not fall on the leaves. The second top dressing is performed a couple of weeks before transplantation. Urea, copper sulfate, potassium sulfate, boric acid are used for this.

picking

It is performed for seedlings that have formed one true leaf. Picking scheme - "six by six" centimeters. Before transplanting, seedlings are shed with a weak manganese solution, then carefully seated in cups.

Make sure that the roots do not remain bent. Too long are allowed to pinch.

The seedling deepens to cotyledon leaf. The containers are placed in a shaded place for several days, the air should be humid.

Planting Brussels sprouts outdoors

Seedlings should be transplanted after the sprouts appear fourth - fifth leaves. As a rule, this moment falls on mid-May - mid-summer season.

The soil should be fertile, loamy. The preparation of the beds should be done in the fall - dig up, add lime if necessary. In the spring, the place should be fertilized by adding a bucket of compost or humus to the square of the plot.

Holes are prepared for planting seedlings, in each of which a small spoonful of urea is laid, two tablespoons of superphosphate, a couple of glasses of wood ash.

The landing pattern is "sixty by sixty" centimeters. The sprout is rolled along with a clod of earth, sprinkled, compacted and watered.

Care rules

Cabbage should be fertilized urea and potassium chloride. Top dressing with boric acid, molybdenum and manganese solution should be foliar. At the beginning of the formation of the ovary, infused bird droppings are added with the addition of ash.

To accelerate the ripening of fruits and increase their weight at the end of the vegetative period, it is recommended to pinch the apical parts of the shoots. Rosette leaves are cut off one month before harvest.

Hilling the plant should be done carefully so that the lower heads do not begin to rot. In this case, weeds should be removed. These are the basic rules for care.

Diseases and pests

In the spring from the beds it is necessary remove weeds cruciferous family, so as not to attract pests to it. To scare away the cabbage fly, the beds can be sprinkle with tobacco mixed with ash or lime.

Harvest and storage

In autumn, when the leaves turn yellow and begin to fall, cabbage start to shine. This suggests that you can start harvesting.

The characteristic shine of heads of cabbage is a signal for harvesting. If you put the heads of cabbage in a bag, they can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 2 months.

The stem is cut off at the surface of the earth, the remaining leaves are removed. If such a stem with heads of cabbage is wrapped in a bag, it can be stored in a cool place for about two months. Frozen cabbage will keep for up to four months.

It turns out that there is nothing complicated in growing Brussels sprouts. It remains only to choose the most suitable variety for the climate for your region, and you can start sowing, planting this amazing and tasty plant, which will also look unusual.

Having learned about such a unique vegetable as Brussels sprouts, many gardeners are wondering how to grow it on their site?

It can be answered with confidence that the cultivation of Brussels sprouts in the open field is also possible in the climatic conditions of our country.

The desired result will please not only experienced vegetable growers, Brussels sprouts can surprise novice gardeners with a rich harvest, as it is unpretentious in care and is frost-resistant.

The advantage is that it is superior in value to other types of cabbage: Brussels sprouts contain a number of useful substances, especially vitamin C.

Moreover, the vegetable has a very delicate taste. From the following article you can learn how to grow Brussels sprouts.

Brussels sprouts are a vegetable crop, a type of white cabbage.

It is interesting that the green leaves grow on a thick stem, and at the top they form a rosette. Plant height can be from 30 to 100 cm.

Closer to autumn, small heads of cabbage are formed. On one whip they can grow up to 70 fruits. They have a long ripening time - heads of cabbage will have to wait from 120 to 180 days.

planting brussels sprouts

The most suitable time for sowing seeds for seedlings is mid-March - early April. The optimum temperature for germination should be between 5-6 degrees at night and 16-18 during the day.

It is also important to observe the humidity in the room: it should be about 70%.

Before sowing, the seeds are heated in warm water for 15 minutes. After that, they are immersed in cold water for 1 minute and kept in a solution of trace elements for 12 hours.

After this time, rinse in clean water and place in the refrigerator.

The soil is preliminarily prepared: they take soddy soil, sand, peat, add mineral fertilizers, wood ash. The soil before planting is recommended to be disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate.

Brussels sprout seeds are sown to a depth of 1 - 1.5 cm in moist soil, keeping a distance of 3 - 4 cm between them. Care for Brussels sprout seedlings consists in timely loosening and watering.

At the same time, care must be taken that the earth does not become waterlogged. This can contribute to the occurrence of various diseases. Therefore, it is not recommended to water the cabbage for the first time after sowing.

At the stage of appearance of cotyledon leaves, it is time to dive. Before this, it is good to pour the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate.

After that, the seedlings, along with the roots and a clod of earth, are carefully removed and transplanted into a separate container. Brussels sprouts require a deep transplant, which means that the central root must be shortened.

In the phase of the appearance of 2 - 3 true leaves, you need to take care of top dressing. Re-feeding is carried out after 2 weeks. Brussels sprout seedlings should gradually prepare for planting in open ground.

To do this, in 2 weeks you need to start hardening it: take it out into the fresh air every day and increase the residence time.

It will be possible to plant in open ground when 4-5 true leaves appear on the plants. This period falls in May-June.

Brussels sprouts prefer brightly lit areas. precursors may be

It is undesirable to plant them after

The site for planting Brussels sprouts is prepared in the fall: the earth is dug up, if necessary, lime is added. The soil should be loamy.

In the spring, soil fertilizer is required: per 1 sq. m plot contribute a bucket of compost or humus. Urea, superphosphate, wood ash are also placed in the wells.

Having landed in the holes, leaving a distance between 60 × 60, the seedlings should be well watered.

Brussels sprout care

The care of Brussels sprouts is basically the same as for other types. Unlike white cabbage, it does not need to be spudded.

A week after planting, top dressing is needed, which is used as a solution of nitrophoska.

During the formation of heads, a second top dressing is given, this time it is fertilized with a solution of potassium sulfate, superphosphate and Nitroammophoska.

Like any Brussels sprout, it also needs enough moisture, so we must not forget about regular watering, loosening, weeding.

In order for the heads of cabbage to ripen well by the time of harvesting, pinch the tops of each stem 3 weeks before harvesting.

Brussels sprout pests and diseases

Brussels sprouts should be protected from gluttonous fleas. Young seedlings are especially susceptible to this scourge, therefore, as a preventive measure, it is better to immediately sprinkle with ashes.

Among the pests of this crop, there are other insects, such as

• cabbage white,
• moth,
• moth,
• cabbage and rapeseed bugs,
• bear,
• wireworm,
• spring cabbage,
• sprout fly and others.

In order to prevent the appearance of these pests in the cabbage plot, you should follow some rules of agricultural technology: be sure to observe crop rotation, do not sow the crop in the same place for several years in a row, seed disinfection, caring for the garden bed, removing vegetation residues after harvesting, digging.

What to do if pests appear on cabbage? At the initial stage, you can resort to folk remedies. If time has already been lost, you will have to use chemicals. Brussels sprouts diseases

Among the diseases that damage Brussels sprouts are

• quila,
• blackleg,
• downy mildew,
• rot,
• bacteriosis,
• black spot and others.

Folk remedies will help in the fight against them. If none of them gave results, you will have to treat with fungicides.

Types and varieties of Brussels sprouts

Although Brussels sprouts are considered a late-ripening variety, early ripeness, mid-season and late varieties stand out among its varieties.

Famous varieties of Brussels sprouts:

Dolmik is one of the best early varieties. Variety bred in Holland. The height of the stem of this hybrid reaches 50 cm and above. Yellow-green sprouts weighing up to 20 g.

Brussels sprout Rosella is a mid-early variety. There are medium and tall plants. Up to 50 fruits can grow on one bush, which appear 160 days after sowing the seeds. The average weight of sprouts is 13 g.

It is distinguished by a high yield, which is achieved due to the simultaneous maturation of heads of cabbage. The taste is average, has dietary qualities.

Brussels sprouts Commander. The bushes of this variety are low. On one ripens up to 40 heads of cabbage weighing 8-14 g. They ripen within 110-125 days after planting in the ground.

An interesting variety is Hercules. It was bred by domestic breeders. It matures in an average of 150 days. The fruits are oval in shape, on the stem they grow up to 20 - 30 pieces weighing 10 - 14 grams.

From a square meter, you can collect up to 600 g of cabbage of excellent taste. Suitable for fresh consumption and canning or freezing.

Casio is a cold-resistant high-yielding variety. Dense, rounded heads of cabbage are green in color, fruit weight is 15 g.

Harvesting and storing Brussels sprouts

You should not rush to harvest Brussels sprouts, even if it is getting colder outside.

This type of cabbage perfectly tolerates frosts up to 6 - 7 degrees.

After being in cold air, the taste of the vegetable only improves, and storage will be long.

It is not necessary to collect all the cabbage at the same time.

You should start from the bottom rows to enable others to gain the desired volume and density.

As they mature, you can gradually cut off the rest. At the same time, we must try to be in time before the time when the thermometer drops to -10 degrees.

Brussels sprouts, dug up from the roots, keep longer. Trim the leaves on it and dig in the cellar.

Another storage method will allow you to keep Brussels sprouts in the refrigerator for 1.5 months: cut off the sprouts with stalks and wrap them in plastic. You can put 3 - 4 pieces in boxes and store in the cellar.

Benefits of Brussels sprouts

What are the benefits of Brussels sprouts? Brussels sprouts contain a lot of folic acid, it is rich in proteins, fiber, provitamin A, vitamins PP, C, E, B1, B2, B6, B9. It is a source of potassium, iron, magnesium, iodine, sodium, amino acids, enzymes.

Brussels sprouts are a dietary product recommended for children and the elderly. It is prescribed for diseases of the cardiovascular system. Brussels sprout juice helps to normalize the work of the pancreas.

It is useful to use it for patients with diabetes mellitus. He also possesses

Helps improve eyesight. Brussels sprouts are an excellent product in the fight against excess weight.

From Brussels sprouts you can cook various salads, fragrant soups, excellent side dishes. It can be frozen and pickled. Pairs well with potatoes and rice.

Brussels sprouts contraindications

In some cases, Brussels sprouts can be harmful to health. It is contraindicated in chronic diseases of the stomach and intestines.

Cabbage causes bloating. People with thyroid disease should also be used with caution.

Was the article interesting and useful to you?

Oh yeah!Not

Today, in modern suburban areas you can find a huge number of different vegetables. Some are engaged in the cultivation of cucumbers with tomatoes, and someone is attracted by Brussels sprouts, the cultivation and care of which requires certain skills and abilities from the vegetable grower. Therefore, before growing Brussels sprouts, it is necessary to study the features of growing Brussels sprouts.

To grow Brussels sprouts outdoors, you need to decide on the timing of its planting. Brussels sprouts Cassio seedlings should be grown from the beginning of April until the end of the next month. This time will be enough to obtain high-quality seedlings. In Siberia, planting is recommended a few months later.

Seed preparation

Brussels sprouts Hercules, Rosella and many other varieties should be prepared for planting. First you need to do the calibration of planting material in order to immediately get rid of defective seeds. To do this, a saline solution is poured into a small container. Then seeds are placed in it and soaked in liquid for about 5-10 minutes. During this time, all the bad seeds will float to the surface, and the good ones will remain below.

After getting rid of the defective seeds, all the remaining ones need to be checked for germination. A soaked cloth is placed in a small plate, on top of which all the seeds are laid out. They are covered with a cloth and soaked for three days. The highest quality planting material should swell well during this time.

It is recommended to plant Brussels sprouts in open ground, the seeds of which were previously disinfected. This procedure is needed to rid all the seeds of possible pathogens of fungal or bacterial diseases. Many vegetable growers use a manganese solution for this. The procedure is carried out in stages and in a certain sequence. First, a weak solution of manganese is poured into a small container, after which seeds are placed in it for half an hour. Then all cabbage seeds are extracted, washed and dried.

Also, before planting cabbage, it is necessary to accelerate the germination of its seeds. To do this, they should be soaked for about 10 hours in warm water. In this case, it is recommended to change the liquid every 3 hours so that it does not have time to cool completely.

Soil preparation

Planted seed must be grown in neutral or fertile soils. In all other soils, seedlings grow much worse. Also, to improve the yield and growth of the plant, you can use pre-prepared land, which can be purchased in almost all country shops.

Cabbage does not tolerate soils with a small amount of mineral elements, and therefore, in order to have many heads of cabbage in the future, you will have to fertilize the soil yourself. It is recommended to prepare a soil mixture that will consist of an equal amount of sand, soddy soil and peat. You can also add a little humus to the soil with compost. However, in this case, one should be very careful, as these components favorably affect the development of the black leg.

Sowing

Agrotechnics for planting seeds is quite simple. It is necessary to plant it in small containers, no more than 5-7 cm deep. In each of the containers, it is necessary to add the soil mixture that was prepared earlier. After that, the whole earth is watered with a manganese solution of potassium and infused for 5-10 minutes.

Then they begin to make holes for planting seeds. Their depth should be about 1 cm, and the width should be 2-3 cm. When all the seeds are planted, the holes are sprinkled with a small earthen layer and watered with heated water. Then all containers are covered with plastic wrap and transferred to a bright room. They are opened only after the appearance of the first shoots.

Planting seedlings

Outdoor cultivation of Brussels sprouts should be carried out in the second half of spring, when the outside temperature will always be above zero.

Site selection

Brussels sprouts should only be grown in areas that are ideal for them. For early varieties, such as Casio, sandy or light loamy soil is suitable. Such soils are freed from snow earlier than others and warm up very quickly.

Late and mid-season Brussels sprouts grow best on heavy loamy soil or meadow soil. It is not recommended to plant them in a garden with soil that has an increased level of acidity. Quite often, due to too acidic soil, heads of cabbage do not tie.

Brussels sprouts must have suitable predecessors. It is recommended to plant it in areas where carrots, cucumbers, onions, legumes or perennial grasses were previously grown. If cruciferous vegetables were previously grown in the selected location, this may lead to poor fruit set.

Site preparation

In the Moscow region and other nearby regions, it is necessary to prepare the site in the country even in the autumn. During this period, top dressing of the soil and its digging are carried out. The site is fertilized with manure and other organic matter, after which the whole earth is harrowed and dug up. It is also necessary to level the site so that there are no strong depressions and holes on it.

Be sure to clear the area of ​​the remnants of other plants and weeds, as they are one of the main carriers of various diseases.

The next stage of site preparation is carried out in early spring. At this time, it is necessary to do soil fertilization. A bucket of compost with humus is added to the soil. Also, a little wood ash with superphosphate and urea is added to the open ground.

planting

To understand how to properly plant cabbage at home, you need to familiarize yourself with the main features of this process. Landing should be done only in the evening or on cloudy days, so that there are no bright sunlight. The fact is that fragile seedlings, the first few hours after transplantation, should not be in the sun.

First you need to start marking the beds. The distance between each bed should be about 50-70 cm so that the bushes do not interfere with each other. After marking them, you need to start creating holes. They should not be very large, as the seedlings have a small root system. A little organic fertilizer should be added to each hole and mixed with the ground. Then seedlings are placed in them and sprinkled with soil.

Features of care

In order for large heads of cabbage to be tied on the bushes, you need to properly care for the plant from sowing to harvest. After all, it is planting and care that affect the quality of the fruits obtained.

Watering

Brussels sprouts care must necessarily include regular watering of young seedlings. In order for the bushes to grow well, they need to be watered every 3-4 days for two weeks after planting. At the same time, at least eight liters of liquid should be consumed per square meter. Very frequent watering can affect the appearance of new lower leaves. If there are too many of them, then you will have to periodically cut off the leaves.

Watering can be increased only in early June, when most of the fruits are tied. You will have to carry out the procedure several times a day - in the evening and in the morning. In this case, it is necessary to use water heated to room temperature.

loosening

During the cultivation and care of Brussels sprouts, it is imperative to loosen the soil, as growing cabbages need it. Especially after heavy rains. The procedure is carried out regularly 2-3 times in a few weeks. To get rid of the crust on the ground, you do not need to loosen it too deeply. It will be enough to loosen the earth to a depth of about 5-7 cm.

The first hilling is carried out a month after planting the seedlings in the garden. The second time the procedure is carried out after eight days. Due to hilling, additional roots may appear on the bushes on the side. So that they do not appear, during loosening, 5-10 cm should be retreated from the base of the plant.

top dressing

It is necessary to feed the soil when growing cabbage regularly. For the first time, fertilizers are applied to the ground two and a half weeks after seedlings are planted. During this period, organic top dressings diluted in water are used. The second time the procedure is repeated after 10-15 days. In this case, bird droppings with mullein and superphosphate are added to the ground.

Harvesting

Harvest should be three and a half months after planting seedlings on the site. After such a period of time, all the heads of cabbage that have started look completely ripe. First you need to remove the heads of cabbage, which are located at the bottom of the bushes. Then you can cut off the fruits that are higher. It is very important to have time to harvest before the first frost. Indeed, at low temperatures, heads of cabbage begin to deteriorate quickly. All collected heads of cabbage must be cut off. They remove the leaf rosette and the upper kidney. This is done so that the crop is stored longer.

Foreword

Brussels sprout seedlings are grown by many gardeners in our country. This biennial culture is one of the most frost-resistant and unpretentious plants. In addition, the vegetable is one of the long-ripening species. How to grow seedlings sown earlier - consider the breeding process in detail.

To get and grow vegetable seedlings, you need to plant seeds. The best time for this will be the period from the second decade of March to the first decade of April. The main problem that gardeners face is the need to provide seedlings with a suitable night temperature. At night, it should be at 6–7 ° C, while during the day the temperature regime at 15–16 ° C is considered optimal. In this regard, a heated greenhouse or a glazed balcony will be a suitable place for young seedlings. Avoid sudden changes in air humidity. Keep this indicator at 70%.

Harvesting Brussels sprouts

Before planting the seeds, warm them in hot water for 20 minutes. After that, the seed is dipped in cold water, and then kept in a solution of potassium permanganate for about 10 hours. After that, rinse the seeds and place them in a refrigerator box for 24 hours. Dry the seeds at the end. Brussels sprouts should be sown in containers with soil to a depth of no more than 2 cm. A mixture of the following components is suitable as soil for sowing:

• 1 part wood ash;
• 1 part sand;
• 1 part of sod land;
• 1 part peat;
• 100 g of mineral fertilizers.

Before planting, be sure to spray the soil with a solution of potassium permanganate. When sowing, keep the distance between the seeds. The distance should not be less than 5 cm. After sowing, cover the container with glass. The first shoots, as a rule, appear already on the fifth day. Immediately after this, the glass must be removed, and adhere to the temperature regime described above.

In order for Brussels sprouts to grow quickly, they need to be watered regularly and the soil loosened. The soil with seedlings must always be kept moist. At the same time, it is impossible to overmoisten the soil so that the seedlings do not get sick with a black leg. The first 15 days after the emergence of seedlings, it is not necessary to water the soil. After that, moisten the seedlings as needed.

In the land prepared earlier for sowing, the culture is grown until two cotyledon leaves appear on the stems. As soon as they are formed, you can start picking seedlings. This is a very important stage in the breeding of Brussels sprouts - it allows the roots of plants to grow and develop before transplanting into open soil.

Young cabbage seedlings before planting

Immediately before picking into separate containers, treat the soil with seedlings with a weak solution of potassium permanganate. Once the soil has absorbed the product, carefully take the seedling at the base of the stem and carefully remove it along with the earthen clod. After that, place the plants in a separate pot. If there is such a need, then you can shorten the central root. After transplanting, plants need to be fed. Fertilizers should be applied no earlier than the appearance of 2 true leaves on the stem. For fertilizer, prepare a solution of:

• 30 g of superphosphate;
• 15 g of potassium sulfate;
• 25 g of ammonium nitrate;
• 9 liters of water.

After 15 days, fertilization must be repeated. To do this, 65 g of superphosphate, 25 g of potassium sulfate and 40 g of ammonium nitrate are diluted in 10 liters of water. After each top dressing, the soil should be watered with settled warm water. About 15 days before picking into open soil, plants begin to harden off. To do this, pots with seedlings must be taken out into the street. At first, keep them outside for an hour, after 2-3 days, increase the time spent in the air to 90 minutes.

Many beginner gardeners think: “I have been growing a crop for a long time. When will the time come to transplant it into open soil? The answer is very simple - vegetables are planted when they reach 5 true leaves. Typically, this occurs between the end of May and mid-June, although the time may vary depending on the specific region. Brussels sprouts "love" sunny areas in the southern part of the garden. It is very good if before that carrots, potatoes or green manure sprouted in the garden. At the same time, if beets, tomatoes and daikon were bred on the site, then seedlings can dive here no earlier than after 3 years.

Planting Brussels sprouts in the ground

A week before planting the plants in open ground, you need to stop watering them. Immediately before picking, moisten the seedlings abundantly.

The soil for seedlings should be loamy. The picking site must be prepared in the fall. To do this, the soil is dug up to the depth of a shovel. If the earth is too acidic, then lime must be added to it. In spring, the soil needs to be fertilized. To do this, for each m 2, add a bucket of humus or compost. When transplanting, it is required to throw in a teaspoon of urea, superphosphate and 1 glass of wood ash into each well.

For picking this culture, as well as for, it is best to choose cloudy days, or do the procedure in the evening, immediately after sunset. When working, keep a distance between the holes of 50 cm. The row spacing should be at least 60 cm. The depth of the holes should be slightly greater than the length of the roots of the seedlings.

When it is very important to follow a few rules. Firstly, the bed should be regularly sprinkled with wood ash - this will protect the bushes from the cruciferous flea. There is a step-by-step algorithm for depositing funds. The first time this is done a month after picking into open soil. Sprinkle the soil a second time after another 4 weeks. The third stage is performed after a month. Plants do not need to be hilled, as side heads suffer from this. 2 weeks before harvest, pinch the tops of the stems and trim the rosette leaves. This will help the heads of cabbage gain the desired weight.

Brussels sprout seedling nutrition

This culture is distinguished by the need for regular watering. During the vegetative development, the bushes need to be watered at least 10 times. In this case, the water consumption should be 20-30 liters per m 2. If it often rains outside, then watering should be reduced or stopped for a while. Also pay close attention to feeding. The first time mineral fertilizers are applied a week after planting in open ground. In this case, you should spend 1 tablespoon of nitrophoska for every two bushes. The second time top dressing is applied after the appearance of heads of cabbage on the stems. To do this, dissolve 30 g of potassium sulfate, 40 g of superphosphate in a bucket of water and add 1 tablespoon of nitroammofoska. When top dressing, use 100 ml of solution for each bush.

Vegetable pests - how to protect your garden?

Almost all cruciferous cultures have common enemies. Among the latter, it is necessary to single out the cruciferous flea, sprout and cabbage fly, babanukha and cabbage white. These insects are considered the most dangerous due to their number and effect on the bushes. So, a flea can destroy half of the crop from the garden in a matter of days, eating leaves suitable for human consumption.

To protect your garden, first of all, you need to take preventive measures. These include strict adherence to all the rules for planting and growing vegetables, timely cleaning of weeds and loosening the soil. Also, for preventive purposes, we advise you to plant coriander, potatoes, dill or tomatoes around the perimeter of the beds. They will help repel insects. If this did not help to prevent the appearance of pests, then you need to try to cope with them with folk remedies. Hazardous chemicals are used only as a last resort.

Among folk remedies, ground pepper, wood ash and slaked lime stand out. By pouring them into the aisles, you can scare pests away from your garden for a long time. We also recommend using naphthalene in the amount of 50 mg per 5 m 2. Remember that cabbage pests do not tolerate watering. Therefore, do not allow the beds to dry out and moisten the soil in time.