Can I grow Brussels sprouts from grocery store produce?

Even experienced gardeners find it difficult to grow Brussels sprouts from produce from the grocery store. My first attempt at market sprouts didn't turn out well and I had stunted plants. The hybrids that you get at the market, don't often show hardiness. If you want to try growing some, be sure to use disease-resistant seeds instead of whatever you cut above the soil. Finally, you will save yourself two lost growing seasons of trial and failure if you do that.

The type of soil mix is important for successful cuttings. The mixture I use consists of 50% peat moss, 30% vermiculite, and 20% worm castings. Unfortunately, cuttings purchased at the store do not have any rooting hormones, so I dip the stems in honey to stimulate root growth. My best cutting produced 8 sprouts before falling to fusarium wilt.

Transplant fertilization is every week with a rate of 5-7-4 NPK fish emulsion. Don't overly feed, as the plants can prioritize leaf growth over sprout development. After losing six plants to nitrogen burn, I started feeding the plants biweekly. Soil tests every 30 days help prevent nutrient imbalances and commercial sprouts frequently come with nutrient deficiencies that may be hidden.

Fight pests at the source. Cuttings I brought from a local grower introduced aphids to my garden last summer, so now whenever I acquire new plants, I quarantine them for 14 days under a mesh cover. I also spray neem oil in the evenings once a week to control any infestation, and companion plant with mint to mask the scent of the sprouts from a cabbage moth.

Read the full article: How to Grow Brussels Sprouts: Pro Tips for Big Harvests