If Brussels sprouts are tough and bitter - how to fix and grow delicious?
THE nuances of growing delicious brussels sprouts
Show me how to grow a good crop of Brussels sprouts. My sprouts grow small in size, hard and bitter in taste. What is the reason?
Faina Maltseva, Altai region
Small and tasteless (bitter and hard) heads of Brussels sprouts grow due to lack of nutrition, the introduction of fresh manure, interruptions in soil irrigation, untimely removal of leaves and growth point at the end of the growing season, as well as non-compliance with other agrotechnical methods of cultivation.
In the conditions of the middle zone, the southern and middle Urals, the Altai Territory, Siberia and the Far East, where the number of days with an average daily air temperature above 5 ° C is 110-120, Brussels sprouts are grown through seedlings, the age of which should be at least 30-40 days . This is due to the fact that most varieties and hybrids form good heads of cabbage in 150-160 days, including the seedling period.
Many gardeners fail to grow Brussels sprouts in exactly the same way as white cabbage, considering them to be close relatives. Indeed, according to the requirements for growing conditions, Brussels sprouts are close to late-ripening varieties and hybrids of white cabbage. But there are some features that significantly affect both the growth of plants and the formation of heads of cabbage, their size and taste.
The most favorable temperature for seedling growth is 1215°C during the day and 810°C at night. Despite the fact that cabbage is considered a cold-resistant, low-heat-demanding plant, for normal growth and development, the air temperature must be 1822 ° C.
Brussels sprouts are moisture-loving, but compared to other types of cabbage, they are more resistant to temporary lack of moisture due to their powerful root system. It is photophilous, does not tolerate shading and thickening, especially in the seedling period. It needs to be planted in open areas. The more sunny days, the higher the yield and quality of cabbages.
See also: Varieties of red cabbage, savoy, Brussels, kohlrabi and Peking cabbage - cultivation and care
The best soils for cabbage are loamy, rich in organic matter, slightly acidic or neutral with a pH of at least 5. Legumes, root vegetables, cucumbers, onions, potatoes, and tomatoes are good predecessors. Cabbage should not be planted after cruciferous plants due to common diseases and pests. Return to its original place should be no earlier than 5-4 years.
It is undesirable to apply fresh manure under Brussels sprouts, as it delays the beginning of the formation of heads and negatively affects their size.
Soil preparation consists of deep autumn digging or plowing with simultaneous fertilization. 1-6 kg of humus or compost, 8-30 g of superphosphate, 40-20 g of potassium chloride are added per 25 sq.m. Brussels sprouts consume a large amount of calcium, so in the fall it is also advisable to add 200-250 g of lime or dolomite flour. In early spring, the plot is harrowed to close the moisture, and before planting, they plow or dig up finely and apply 30-40 g of nitrogen fertilizers.
Seedlings are planted in the phase of 4-5 true leaves from mid-May to June 10 according to the scheme 60 × 60 cm or 70 × 50 cm, depending on the variety.
Plants develop very slowly and require careful care. Spend 2-3 top dressing. In the initial period of growth and during the formation of the outlet - nitrogen fertilizers. But it is impossible to abuse large doses of nitrogen, this leads to an excessive accumulation of nitrates. Use mullein (1:5), chicken manure (1:10-15) or mineral nitrogen fertilizers (25-40 g/10 l of water).
The second top dressing is carried out after 15-20 days with liquid fertilizers, as in the first top dressing. Of the mineral, nitrophoska or azofoska is used (40-50 g per 10 liters of water). The application rate is increased to 1-1 liters per plant.
The third time they are fed during the formation of heads with phosphorus-potassium fertilizers (20-25 g of double superphosphate and 15-20 g of potassium chloride or potassium salt per 10 liters of water).
Brussels sprouts do not tolerate temporary drying of the soil. Depending on the weather, it is watered every 5-7 days at the rate of 10-12 liters per 1 sq.m. With changes in soil moisture, sprouts are tied poorly and grow tough.
Brussels sprouts are affected by the same pests and diseases as other types of cabbage. The ways to deal with them are the same.
Under the weight of the ground green mass, the plants become unstable, so they are spudded or tied to pegs. To speed up the ripening of the crop and obtain larger heads of cabbage in late August - early September, when they grow 1-5 cm in diameter in the lower part of the stem, pinch the apical bud of the plants and remove the lower leaves.
Cut heads of cabbage selectively, from below, when they grow with a walnut. In a cold place, they are stored for up to 1 months.
Brussels sprouts are quite hardy and withstand autumn frosts down to -7°C. Therefore, it can be finally removed in late autumn, and the cabbages can be stored in the freezer.
In late autumn, plants can be dug up with roots and, placed close to each other in a box with moist soil, placed in a cellar for growing. But in this case, the apical buds of plants in August are not cut off.
Reference by topic: Brussels sprouts (photo) - growing and recipes
GROWING BRUSSELS SCREW - VIDEO
© Author: Nikolai Rogovtsev agronomist
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