Do Brussels sprouts require full sunlight?

Brussels sprouts love the sun, however, they hate the sun during the heat of the afternoon. My plants in Zone 8 received sun from 6 AM to noon and then protection from the sun with shade cloth. The ones that received sun all day made bitter sprouts and sprouts that were loose. Brussels sprouts need a happy medium, like sunbathing with a timer (and a dark tan!).

The sun in the morning promotes growth without overheating it. I track a sprout's light intake like a trainer tracks workout time. The leaf is working hard to take in energy from 6 AM until noon when it starts to get shade. The post-noon shade has a similar purpose to a cool-down stretch and is critical for producing the sugar that makes the sprout plump.

Gardeners in southern history experience different problems. In Austin, I planted sunflower hedges as living umbrellas for my plot. Flowering four feet west of the sprouts, the hedges cast a shadow by mid-afternoon. This reduced leaf scorch (typical in the afternoon sun) by 70%, as well as providing a haven for ladybug pests. A real two-for-one.

Like a dashboard of nature, monitor leaves indicate sunburns with curling edges, then I will immediately drape 50% shade cloth. Blue-green hues indicate the light is right on the leaves. Yellowing? Try more sun. I have shown myself the correlation between hourly temperatures and changes to leaves in my journal a sun recipe.

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