Brussels sprouts are a cultivar of cabbage that belongs to the family Brassicaceae. It has long, smooth, and leathery leaves which can be green to purple in color and are arranged alternately on the stem. The plant is originated from northern Europe and grew as an annual plant. Brussels sprouts may also be simply referred to as sprouts and eaten cooked as a vegetable. Moreover, they may also be pickled in vinegar. If you’re a hobby gardener then you must want to grow your own Brussel sprouts in pots or containers r your kitchen garden for a healthy and versatile diet.
How to Grow Brussel sprouts in Pots?
Growing Brussels sprouts in a pot are not difficult, and with little effort, you have this sweet vegetable at home. The plant needs the right conditions in order to grow well and produced a good yield.
Choosing the right pot to grow brussels sprouts
Brussels needs a large pot to grow well. The first step to growing Brussels is to choose a suitable pot. Brussels sprouts need a pot at least 12 inches deep and 12-14 inches diameters to thrive well. If you want to grow a couple of plants together then choose a pot at least 18 inches in diameter. Moreover, clay pot works well for Brussel sprouts because it remains cool, drains well, and has decent air circulation.
Location
Find a place that has plenty of sunlight and good air circulation to have productive plants. Brussels sprouts are unstable plants due to their thin basis. Therefore, avoid the windy site otherwise, plants may fall over.
Soil
Brussels sprouts need loose, well-drained soil that has been enriched with organic compost for growing. The soil pH should be about 6.8. Otherwise, you can use potting mix for its cultivation. If your soil is too acidic, you can add lime to neutralize it.
When to plant brussels sprouts?
Brussel sprouts are a cool-season crop that needs to be planted in either the fall or spring. This vegetable crop is slow-growing and very rewarding over a long season. Sprouts will thrive when temperatures are somewhere 45 to 75 degrees. 
Brussels sprouts can be grown from both seeds and cuttings. If you want to grow Brussels from the seeds, sow the seeds ½ inches deep in a pot and cover them with soil or potting mix. After you put the seeds in a container, water them thoroughly to keep the soil moist. Be patient, it takes 5-20 days to germinate. Once the seedlings have appeared their first pair of leaves, thin them and save the healthiest one only.
Moreover, if you want to grow brussels sprouts from the seedlings, it is much easier and requires less planning. You can start your plant after the first frost and put your pots outdoors. You can plant more than one seedling in the same pot if it’s big enough.
Care for brussels sprouts in a pot
- Growings crops in a pot is a bit tricky, needs special care for growing well. Here are the most crucial things that you need to know.
- Water them regularly to keep the soil moist but avoid overwatering.
- Used balanced fertilizers for ideal growth
- Put a stake into the pot, it will help prevent the plants from falling over.
- Remove the lower leaves, it encourages the plants to become taller and put more energy into producing new sprouts.
When to harvest Brussels sprouts?
When the sprouts are 1 to 2 inches in diameter, harvest them by gently twisting them off the main stalk. You will notice that the lower Brussel sprouts on the stalk will mature the fastest. You don’t harvest Brussel sprouts all at one time.
Instead, you should collect from the bottom-up as they reach the size that you want.
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