DIY Network

Basics: Brussels Sprouts and Cauliflower Basics: Brussels Sprouts and Cauliflower From "Fresh from the Garden" episode DFFG-115

Mention cauliflower and Brussels sprouts and you usually get frowns and wrinkled noses! But cooked just right, these cabbage kinfolk make a great meal. Cauliflower and Brussels sprouts can be grown in most areas of the country. Read on to learn the secrets to successfully growing these healthy veggies in your own backyard....

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Materials:

Cauliflower transplants
Brussels sprouts transplants
Garden fork
Fertilizer
Soil thermometer
Trowel
Garden hose
Misting nozzle
Hardwood mulch
Bacillus thuringiensis
Compost tea
Fish emulsion
Twist ties
Colored rubber bands
Sharp knife
Spray bottle
Hot peppers
Water

Cauliflower

• Cauliflower and Brussels sprouts don't tolerate the heat very well and prefer cool climates. However, cauliflower is more sensitive to the cold but Brussels sprouts taste sweeter after some light frost has fallen on them.

• You should start cauliflower and Brussels sprouts from transplants instead of from seed. Seeds are too slow to take root in the garden and the crop will grow uneven. You can purchase transplants from your local nursery or garden center.

• The transplants should be in the ground 90 to 100 days before the first frost date for your area. You should plant the seedlings in early to midsummer about the same time you would plant late season cabbage. When planting both cauliflower and Brussels sprouts, you should get the sprouts in the ground first. They take longer to mature than the cauliflower – about 90 days.

• Sprouts should be planted in areas that receive at least 8 to 10 hours of full sun. If you sow in the shade, the plants will be weak and may fall over; the sprouts will also grow smaller and more widely spaced on the stems.

• To grow a planting of Brussels sprouts the soil should be fertilized with a 10-10-10 formula, meaning there are added amendments of 10% of each primary element -- nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium. Using a garden fork you turn the fertilizer into the soil at least 12 inches deep. Next, insert a soil thermometer into the ground to make certain the temperature is above 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
  

  Brussels sprouts

• To transplant seedlings, you use a trowel to dig a hole to the same depth the seedlings are growing in the plant container. You set the seedlings in a raised bed and space the plants about 16 to 18 inches apart. Try not to disturb the plant roots as you transplant the seedlings. Finally, pack soil around the seedlings and then lightly water the plants. Try not to plant Brussels sprouts in sandy soils. It may produce leafy vegetables with no hearts.

• Because it takes a long time for sprouts to mature, they will need a lot of attention. You'll need to keep the plants well watered – they need about an inch of water per week. The sprouts will grow better in cool, evenly moist soil. Use a garden hose equipped with a misting nozzle to lightly water the sprouts.

• Brussels sprouts also need cool moist air to promote growth. You should place hardwood mulch around the plants to control soil temperature during warm months and to stunt weed growth. You can use any organic mulch, like straw, compost or leaves to retain soil moisture.

• Sprouts are heavy feeders so you will need to side dress them once a month during the growing season with a balanced fertilizer. Caterpillars and worms love to attack freshly planted sprouts. To help stop them from eating the plants add Bacillus thuringiensis or BT. This is an organic way to control the pests. The BT will only stop the harmful pest like the caterpillars and will not harm beneficial bugs like ladybugs.