Brussel Sprouts

After talking to Denise and Amy about Brussel Sprouts I decided to go home and read up on them. I've never grown them, only cooked and eaten them. Turns out there are a couple of things to remember when you are ready to harvest them.

Cut the sprouts from the bottom up.

They are best harvested in the cool months.

Don't cut the top until you are finished with the plant.

Remove the leaves from the bottom of the plant after you harvest the sprout from the leaf node so the plant will send all its energies to the other sprouts.

If you want more information here are two articles that had a lot of good information about growing brussel sprouts.

Garden Grower - How to Grow Brussel Sprouts

Gardening Know How - Harvesting Brussel Sprouts


The University of Georgia Extension Service has a really excellent publication about when to harvest vegetables. The chart tells you the proper maturity size to harvest produce for a wide range of vegetables. It also tells you when it is too early and too late to harvest for good quality produce.

When to Harvest Vegetables - C935


       Vicki

Black Swallowtail

Hey Vicki,

Those were black swallowtail caterpillars and carrots are considered a host plant.  I always knew about the dill, fennel, parsley and such, but have never had them on anything else.  I will definitely be checking my carrots on a regular basis now.  Thanks for the heads up!  Learned something new today!  Here is a link and look midway down, that was the little guys, they were just a bit younger.

http://www.joyfulbutterfly.com/articles/blackswallowtailindoors.html

Hey, where is the Pocahontas photo?  You are too funny!

Denise