davidmaynard1 wrote:

Also, this is my first time ever growing Brussels sprouts, what should
I watch out for, and how should I harvest them? I am growing them to
prove to my Dad that I like Brussels sprouts. I am 18, and always hated
them as a child! I’m trying to prove that I WILL eat home grown ones as
my Dad grew them when I was 8 and I hated them!

As with all brassicas, you'll need to protect the plants from pigeons in
the spring while they're young, caterpillars in the summer when they're
leafy, and slugs always. You harvest them by cutting the sprouts off
the stem, starting from the bottom as they become ready and leaving the
ones nearer the top for a little longer to swell a little more. They
like a nice firm soil (walk around them lots and tread heavily when
you're picking off the caterpillars and eggs) and depending on the
variety (I have no experience with Brigitte) and how much wind you get
you may need to stake them.

That's based on growing them in the ground. I've never tried pots, but
I should imagine the following would apply: They're quite tall so make
sure the pots are large and firmly fixed down to avoid overbalancing. I
suspect that (because of the firm soil requirement) you'd be better off
putting garden soil in the pots than normal compost. As with anything
in pots, you'll need to feed them; leafy crops like lots of nitrogen (I
normally add pelleted chicken manure when I'm growing them in the ground).

Rhiannon, finally got USENET access working again.