How To Grow Brussels Sprouts for Winter Harvest: Winter Care For Brussels Sprouts
Most gardeners or horticulturists know that Brussels sprouts prefer cool temperatures, but these tiny budding sprouts take the concept of winter-weather gardens to the next level.
With proper care, you can grow a new crop throughout the winter.
This means that when your summer garden has picked up its legs and called it a day, you can wrap it in some fresh cholesterol or enjoy roasting them with bacon.
Let me tell you a secret: growing winter vegetables in the winter are no different than growing them in the summer, but instead of fighting the heat you will face the winter.
There is something surprisingly satisfying about harvesting a new crop from your garden in the winter months.
To learn more about caring for Brussels sprouts in winter, here’s what I’ll cover:
What you need to learn
- Brussels sprouts Winter care
- The essential spot
- When to plant Brussels sprouts
- How to plant Brussels sprouts
- Provide protection of Brussels sprouts
BRUSSELS SPROUTS WINTER CARE
Brussels sprouts, Brassica oleracea var. Gimmifra is a winter crop with a long growing season – usually 80 to 130 days from planting to harvest depending on the variety.
They thrive in temperatures between 45 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit and can survive for up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit.
A light gel can enhance the taste of two or more sprouts and make their taste sweeter. Plants respond to cold temperatures by converting cell starch into sugars that act as a natural antifreeze.
The strategy for growing these cruciferous vegetables in the winter months depends on your location.
These are suitable for growth in the USDA visibility zone 3-9, some varieties show cooler visibility than others.
In areas where temperatures are mostly above freezing and there are occasional dives here and there, they will not require special winter care.
If you live in a place that is subject to regular freezing temperatures, you don’t have to give up your winter harvest dreams.
In cold places, you don’t have to give up your winter harvest dreams. There are ways to create a slightly warmer microclimate in your garden or to protect your crops in the winter.
You can read more about growing Brussels sprouts in our comprehensive guide.
THE ESSENTIAL SPOT
You may not realize it, but even if you survive, say, the 7B zone may have locations in your yard with conditions close to the 8b zone.
These small ducts can be a lifeline for growing vegetables in the winter months.
Even if you live in a place where the winter is not severe, you still want to give your plants the best chance of surviving unpredictable weather.
This means choosing to plant your crop in an area that is a little warmer than other places. Look for places next to a cement or brick wall, which absorb heat from the sun during the day and will act as a natural healer.
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Avoid lower areas of the garden or places right next to the water, which can be affected by cold temperatures. You should also stay away from peaks, which often feel windier.
If you live in an area that experiences high winds, you may want to put a windbreak next to a fence or hedge for an extra level of protection.
Also, since it tends to get wet in some places during the winter months, make sure your soil is well-drained. If not, you can add sand to improve drainage.
In his book “Four Seasons Harvest” available on Amazon, Elliott Coleman explains how to create a small creation in your garden.
WHEN TO PLANT BRUSSEL SPROUTS IN WINTER
You will find this book on Amazon and on Burns and Noble.
When to plant
The beginning of winter is the best time to harvest because the flavors stay on top after two or three frosts but you avoid the risk of a frost.
Check your seed packet to see how long it takes for the selected variety to mature and you can count the days you want to spend.
The variety of Brussels sprouts takes about 100 days to ripen, so if you want to put a bunch of fresh sprouts on your holiday table, you need to throw them in the ground in early September.
That said, don’t be afraid to harvest in January or February if you want to. Just be aware that if Mother Nature takes a turn you may need to take steps to protect your veggies.
If you live in a place where it is hotter than 25 degrees Celsius in August or September, your seeds should be started indoors and replaced when the air temperature cools down.
HOW TO PLANT BRUSSELS SPROUTS IN WINTER
How to Grow Brussels Sprouts in Winter Brussels sprouts grow in cool temperatures, so it is important to sow and plant them at the right time. Brussels sprouts are planted later like peppers and squash compared to hot season crops for late fall or winter crop. Depending on the variety, Brussels sprouts take 3 to 6 months to mature from seed.
Start sowing indoors about 16 to 20 weeks before the last frost in your area.
Transplants are ready for the garden 12 to 14 weeks before the last spring frost. Brussels sprouts for the fall crop are planted from late May to early July. If you grow Brussels sprouts in the winter in very mild regions, plant in early winter to harvest early spring.
Depending on your time, choose early varieties like Prince Marvel, Jade Cross and Lunet that have seeds mature in 80-125 days and are ready for harvest in early autumn and winter.
In the western part of USDA Region 8, late-maturing varieties are suitable for winter emergence and will be ready for harvest from December to April.
These include Fortress, Stabolite, Widzon and Red Rubin. Brussels sprouts can be sown directly, due to time and weather, if you start them indoors, the chances of success are higher. Sun with a pH of about 5.5-6.8
PROVIDE PROTECTION TO BRUSSELS SPROUTS
Inevitably, when you garden in the winter months, you will experience a climate that is not suitable for your plants. A chronic frost that hardens the soil will kill your Brussels sprouts.
If you have a hard snowfall in the forecast, you can give them a protective cover by applying a layer of marigold and / or floating covers.
A dense layer of natural bran such as straw or leaves raises the soil temperature and protects it from freezing. Mulling also helps to prevent soil erosion due to repeated accumulation and soaking.
Place a few inches of the oven within a 12-inch diameter around each tree, or you can grow multiple plants at once, but just cover your entire bed.
Floating blankets raise the temperature around the trees and protect them from freezing. Draw the fabric on your plants and secure it to the ground level with rocks, mortar or bricks. Make sure there is no open space where cool air can enter.
If you are worried that the snow will fall on top of the covers and bend your trees, you can put a few spots or wire cages under the cover to act as support.
A row of blankets is effective when you have a long cold, they are not needed when it is snowing.
RELATED GUIDES:
- 35 BEST OF POINSETTIA CULTIVARS FOR YOUR HOME
- GROWING COLLARD GREENS IN WINTER – TIPS ON HOW TO GROW COLLARD GREENS
- HOW TO REGROW BOK CHOY FROM SCRAPS IN SIMPLE STEPS
Your small buds between the sesame and a row cover will survive the ingredients and be ready to eat in no time.
If you live in an area where the temperature drops below freezing for more than a few days, you can grow your crop in a cool environment or even in a greenhouse.
A large, cold framework well because you can leave it open early in the growing season and close it after the temperature drops.
Another advantage of providing some winter protection is that deer also want to reap your harvest.
There is not much food for these vegetarians in the cold months, so when they stumble across your yard you believe they want to enjoy it.
THIS WINTER YOU WILL EAT WELL
When we were little, many people hated Brussels sprouts and there are reasons for that. Before the 1990s – most commercial shoots were more bitter than today’s birth, as NPR revealed in a story in 2019, about the growing popularity of this earlier trivial vegetable.
So why is this important to us winter gardeners? As scientists discovered that sweet buds could be produced and farmers began to look for naturally sweeter legumes, winter sprouts end up with more natural sugars than they do in the fall and in the spring, because they are in contact with this winter which enhances the taste of the air.
Did you grow Brussels sprouts in the winter? Share your tips in the comments below so other cold-weather gardeners can learn from your adventures!
And for more information on growing Brussels sprouts in your garden, check out these guides below: