Brussel Sprouts

[Squashmad]

I am growing these for the first time (Falstaff I think), and now have some nice seedlings in pots about 3 inches tall. Should I plant them out now, and do they need any protection? All advice and tips welcome -- should say that I garden organically. Carole

[Squashmad]

[sandersj89]

Planting out now is fine but do protect them from pest. The main pest at this time of year is pigeons so they will need netting.

Also if you are concerned about cabbage root fly you can buy small disks that fit around the stem to prevent the female laying the eggs. You can make your own from carpet/lino off cuts.

The next pest along will be butterflies, again netting is vital to prevent them getting to the leaves. Make sure the netting is kept above the foliage to prevent the butterflies laying their eggs through the net. Some people will say environmesh is better protection for this but I find netting OK if set up well.

Keep the netting on as in winter pigeons will be back to feast on the tops of the plants.

Other pests to look out for are grey fly and aphids. These can be dealt with by using organic pesticides or home made concoctions such as stewed rhubarb leaves.

When planting them they like firm soil to tread down the soil around the stem and stake the plants to stop it rocking in the wind.

HTH

Jerry

[Squashmad]

Thanks Jerry that's a great help. I will cover them with fleece as I have plenty of that. Am I right in thinking I need to plant them about 18 inches apart - and can grow something in between... and what might that be?

Carole

[Gadfium]

Possibilities for intercropping: small lettuces, radishes, cut-and-come again salad leaves (e.g. salad rocket, loose leaf lettuce, cress, mizuna, leaf radish, texel greens), corn salad... and maybe leaf chicory since it tolerates some shade?

The spacing distances in Joy Larkcom's book are: dwarf varieties 2-2.5' apart; tall types 3' apart.

[weedbusta]

ooops!! planted mine way to close , about  a foot and a half. they're growing away and look quite happy,will they be o.k.?

[chrispea27]

Hi Weedbuster
youll probably just get smaller plants as they will be in competition for food and water

[MikeB]

ooops!! planted mine way to close , about  a foot and a half. they're growing away and look quite happy,will they be o.k.?

I've planted them as close as 1 foot apart in rows 18" apart and they have been OK, just remember to water & feed (nitrogen) them regularly.

[weedbusta]

thanks, i'll make sure they've got plenty of both.

[busy_lizzie]

As well as planting them far enough apart I would agree  that you also need to make sure you shore them in thoroughly as they get very top heavy and unless they are really firmly rooted they can quite easily topple over -  especially if it is windy.  I made that mistake last year, a lot of rain and lot of wind and down they went! busy_lizzie

[tim]

Almost bought some sprouts in Tesco this am - until I saw the country of origin.

I do draw the line - South Africa!!

[Squashmad]

Thanks for all the advice peeps, almost makes up for a hideous afternoon of technical nightmares at work. x