Growing Brussel Sprouts

I put-in a few Brussel Sprout plants this year, I remember as a kid there was always bugs on them and it didn't matter to me, because - I wasn't about to eat them back then anyway.
I put some netting over to try and exclude cabbage moths- any growing tips or advice for bug prevention or higher success rates and yields?
I wouldn't mind doing it on a larger scale next year if I succeed.

We had no bugs on ours...first time growing them last year.

I hate brussel sprouts, the smell, taste, all of them, my wife loves them. Will follow this for her.

I'fn it was me I would get that plastic off of them. They are kind of a cool weather crop and they taste better after a couple good frosts in the fall.
They are going to get pretty hot in that plastic.
If cabbage loopers are a problem spray them with BT (bacillus thuringiensis) It is a natural bacteria that puts them out of business quickly and safely.
You can use it on all cabbage family crops, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, etc.

Zim

Totally agree I am going on 70 I never could get past the smell and look of them in the serving dish . And I would go to bed hungry before eating them

[quote=Zim]I'fn it was me I would get that plastic off of them. They are kind of a cool weather crop and they taste better after a couple good frosts in the fall.
They are going to get pretty hot in that plastic.
If cabbage loopers are a problem spray them with BT (bacillus thuringiensis) It is a natural bacteria that puts them out of business quickly and safely.
You can use it on all cabbage family crops, cauliflower, broccoli, cabbage, etc.

Zim,
It's just netting- no plastic

I'm with Zim...

I hated them as a kid because my mom always bought the biggest ones and overcooked them. Ever since I grew my own or bought small ones... I love them.

I never had any issues with bugs.

Good luck,

Pete

Good post. That's what I sprayed them with when I raised them.
My favorite vegetables are in this order: Asparagus, Broccoli, Brussel Sprouts, and Cabbage.

I have 16 plants in my garden. Sure are slow to mature. My buds are about the size of a 00 buckshot. When will they grow to maturity?

Growing them is easy. Choking them down is another story.

Watch some Youtube videos on growing them. From what I gathered you need to prune the lower leaves aggressively and just leave enough foiliage on top to gather energy from the sun. We grew some last winter in Florida and had some success but it was still too hot. We had to do the container thing and it's just too dang hot here.

This guy does a really good job explaining.

Feed them A LOT!!

Water them A LOT!!!

I tried using floating row cover , it works , I'm trying to stay away from sprays .
Keep on the north side of a building , they get plenty of sun until late August , and then they get cooler .

I never knew about pruning the leaves , but it makes sense .
If you try the floating row cover get the 10 foot wide one , I use 10 foot pieces of 1/2 inch pvc pipe stuck in the ground to form a half hoop .
Fits perfect in a 4 foot wide raised bed . I use it for all my cabbage family plants .
I don't buy from Amazon any more , do a search for the best price in your area.

https://www.amazon.com/Valibe-Cover...p;hvtargid=pla-4583795267135106&th=1