Brussels Sprouts

	left: Brussels Sprouts planted as seedlings in June 2007. The plants are now five months old (November 2007). They have grown well. right: the same plants at the end of December 2007. During the hot summer months the cabbage moth and the cabbage white butterfly attack the leaves
		May 27th, 2008: the plants are now eleven months old and produce well. Insects are now longer a problem in the colder months. The Brussels Sprouts which we harvest are quite small, but they taste really well, tender and aromatic.

Companion planting:
Likes: beans, chamomile, celery, coriander, cucumber, dill, marigold, lettuce, marjoram, mint, nasturtiums, onions, oregano, peas, potatoes, sage, tomatoes
Dislikes: strawberries

Early varieties:
Sow November to December, harvest May to August
Varieties used:
Long Island Improved 

Late varieties:
Sow mid December to January, harvest June to September 
Varieties used:
Tighthead (mid-season)
Evesham Special
Troika

Also sow in greenhouse in December, then separate seedlings, keep well-spaced in larger pots, plant out in April

Sow four or five seeds in a clump, space clumps at least 60 cm apart. Then gradually thin out seedlings. Thinning should be completed when the best seedling has made three true leaves. Don’t side-dress too heavily with Nitrogen or sprouts become loose

All brassica are attacked by the cabbage moth and the cabbage white butterfly. Companion-planting with marigold, dill and oregano helps, also scattering crushed eggshells around the plants. If infestation is heavy spray with Dipel (try mixing in a drop of detergent to help the droplets to cling to the leaves).

Brussel sprouts are also attacked by aphids, calendula is a good companion for that.