Mid-October to early November is the best and really the only time to plant Brussels Sprouts seeds according to Lambley Nursery so here we go!
LAMBLEY NURSERY. https://lambley.com.au/plant/brussels-sprouts-abacus-f1-brassica-oleracea
Brussels Sprouts 'Abacus' F1 (Brassica oleracea)
A replacement for ‘Diablo’ and in our trials here has proven to be just as impressive. These are the best Brussels Sprouts strain I’ve ever grown and I’ve tried twenty or so. Abacus produces crops over a long period from late autumn through most of the winter if seeds are planted no later than November. Later plantings are not worthwhile.
Brussels Sprouts In addition to containing a rich concentration of vitamins, minerals, and health-promoting sulfur compounds, Brussels sprouts also provide the powerful phytonutrient antioxidants, lutein and zeaxanthin. Members of the carotenoid family, these two phytonutrients help defend your cells from the damaging effects of free radicals and have been shown to protect your eyes from developing age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.
While the origins of Brussels sprouts are unknown, the first mention of them can be traced to the late 16th century. They are thought to be native to Belgium, specifically to a region near its capital, Brussels, after which they are named. They remained a local crop in this area until their use spread across Europe during World War I. Brussels sprouts are now cultivated throughout Europe and the United States. In the U.S., almost all Brussels sprouts are grown in California.
This was one of my my Brussels Sprout plants which I had planted towards the back of one of my beds. I had noticed it looking wilted, which after 50 mls of rain was not possible, but didn't have a close look at the time and I had hoped it would sort itself out.
Anyhow a few days later it was getting worse so I thought I'd better take a closer look and gasp, shock, horror, it was covered in aphids.
Now I had two choices (maybe more but these were immediate), I could walk down to the shed and find something to spray them with (of which I didn't have anything) or pull the poor thing out and throw it over the fence into the chook pen (hoping the chooks would devour the aphids) which is about two mts away.
So being the enthusiastic walker I am option two won out and over the fence it went.
Again, gasp, shock, horror, and to my disappointment my chooks took no more than a cursory look at the aphids ( I kept telling them its protein it's good for you) before going about their business (me phinks me feeds 'em too well).
I usually let nature do its own thing around here but if the other four Brussels sprouts I have planted become infected I'll be doing a whip around the garden and harvesting as many lady beatles as I can find and put them on the remaining Brussels sprouts to control the aphids.
After the embarrassment of So, ya wanna' sow some seed do ya!!, I've been busy redeeming myself by getting it right for a while.
So it is that I can report some pretty successful seed raising results.
First cab off the rank is some of Mr. Fothergill's, Evesham Special, Brussels Sprouts. And how many did get to strike I hear you ask, well only 100% I say(patting myself on the back).
The Brussels Sprouts are flanked by the tomato's I planted at the same time as I did my So, ya wanna' sow some seed do ya!! Just a note on Brussels Sprouts. I'm no expert on growing these and as of now I am still to produce a viable crop, but I keep planting these things earlier and earlier. My trusty, 'fruit & vegetable GARDENING in Australia', by The Royal Horticultural Society advises me to sow late Summer early Autumn, but I'm getting in ahead of recommended time. What I hoping is that planting seed now will mean the Brussels are forming in the coldest part of winter and not bolting or over producing leaf as they have in the past. So, watch this space.
Now as reported in So, ya wanna' sow some seed do ya!! update. #1 I had planted my digger's seeds into punnets, some Five colour Silverbeet, Listada Di Gandia Eggplant, Rouge D'Hiver Cos Lettuce(red brown var.) and Red Iceberg.
Apart from the Red Cos(3 from 5) I also had 100% strike(so far so good eh!)
Of the remaining seeds planted everything went very well also.
The first carrots to arrive were the Early Chantenay which after 10 days from sowing are doing exceedingly well.
Very happy Jan
Also doing well after a good strike rate are the Beetroot Chioggia which I'm dying to try.
And last but not least the carrot Top Weight were a little sporadic but all came up and are a little slow compared to the Early Chantenay. The proof is in da eating as they say.
anyhow I hope these successes have helped me redeem myself and for now I'll just let myself feel fairly pleased with myself.
Just a photo of a happy lilium. A yellow one of course
it was covered in aphids.
