Can I plant Brussels sprouts in fall?

Fall planting yields the best Brussels sprouts because cooler temperatures naturally sweeten the sprouts. Start seeds indoors 10 to 12 weeks before your first expected frost date to establish young seedlings before transplanting them into the garden. The cool fall weather will reduce bitter flavors and firm up sprouts.

When your seedlings are 6 inches tall, approximately 6 to 8 weeks after germination, you should transplant them outdoors before frost threatens. Select a dull day or late in the afternoon, if possible, to minimize the risk of shock. In rich soil, plant them 24 inches apart. Water them freely, and after planting, provide them with a little temporary shading for two to four days until they have established new root growth.

Frost exposure causes starches to be converted into sugars, resulting in the production of lovely potatoes. They can withstand temperatures of 20°F if protected by snow, but young plants will be killed if hard frosts come below 25°F; therefore, cover them with row covers. After several light frosts, the flavor of the older plants is improved.

Fall planting care differs from that of spring. Water less as the temperature becomes cooler, but keep the earth slightly moist. Apply a potassium fertilizer to increase hardiness. Cabbage worms may be seen on the undersides of leaves until a hard frost. Immediately cut off yellowed leaves to prevent the spread of disease.

Harvest timing maximizes benefits from frost. Start picking 2-3 weeks after the first light frost, when sprouts are about 1 inch in diameter. Pick stalks starting near the bottom and work your way upward. When growing in zone 7 and warmer, pick in the winter once the sprouts are large. Smaller sprouts taste really bad but are becoming sweeter with each frosty event.

Extend your harvest Protect plants in extreme cold by covering them when temperatures drop below 15°F. Insulate with mounds of straw around their bases. In the coldest regions, for storage purposes, piling entire stalks that stick into the ground and later hanging them to dry in a cool, dark place is effective. Berkshire gardening is by no means hard; given proper attention, it will reward us with a sweet harvest for months.

Read the full article: How to Grow Brussels Sprouts Perfectly