SHIFTING ROOTS

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How to Grow Bug-Free Brussel Sprouts from Seed

Brussel sprouts can be tricky to grow in a cold climate with a short growing season, like zone 3. They take a long time, are prone to bug pressure, and take up a lot of space. However, the taste of an organic, homegrown brussel sprout roasted to perfection makes it worth it!

It’s taken me 4 tries to finally grow brussel sprouts worth eating, and now I’m going to share it with you how I grow it from seed. My advice will work best for those who garden in zones 2, 3, and 4, but the bug pressure advice should work for any gardener in any zone.

So here’s how I grow (almost) bug free brussel sprouts in my zone 3 garden.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you if you purchase anything. You can read more about it in my privacy policy. Thanks for supporting Shifting Roots!

Before I get into the details, I know some of you would rather watch a video than read every detail. You can see me and my real life garden in the video below:

Alright, on to the good stuff!

Are Brussel sprouts easy to grow from seed?

Yes, but in a short growing season you’ve got to get the timing right. The bulk of my garden typically gets planted around the May Long weekend in Canada (sometime around May 20th), but brussel sprouts need to be both started from seed and put outside much sooner than that.

These brussel sprout seedlings were started 10 weeks before our last frost date–around the first week of March.

Brussel sprout seedlings under frost cloth in a raised bed garden.

Then, since brussel sprouts love and can handle the cold, I put them out in my raised beds under frost cloth and hoops around the beginning to middle of April. This step was the key to my success this year.

The brussels sprouts thrived in the cooler spring weather and were not stunted in size by staying in a seed starting pack for a longer time. The frost cloth kept them warm enough, but it was okay if there was a killing frost overnight, because brussels sprouts can handle colder temperatures.

It’s key to remember this fact in the fall. When it’s the beginning of September and the first frost comes, don’t worry about covering your brussels sprouts–they’ll be totally fine. In fact, if your brussels sprouts are still on the small side, just keep them in the ground until the temperature drops until around minus 10 celsius or lower. At the time of writing, it’s the beginning of October and my plants (except the one I pulled in the video) are still in the ground.

Can you Grow Brussels Sprouts in Raised Beds?

Yes! In fact, if you watch the video, my brussels sprouts are living quite happily in raised beds. I gave them around 18 inches of room this year, but next year I will give them closer to 24 inches. If you’re a square foot gardener, that means that you’ll plant each brussel sprout seedling in the middle of 4 squares.

P.S. If you need help with the spacing in your square foot garden, I personally love and use the Seeding Square, and you can also get 4 of my free plans below:

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What insects eat Brussel sprouts? (And what do I do about it?)

One of the things that make brussel sprouts so difficult to grow is that so many bugs like to eat them! Flea beetles, slugs, aphids, and more all love to get into them. It’s also frustrating, because of the way brussels sprouts leaves overlap each other, once the bugs get in they can’t really get out, and its very difficult to get rid of them.

Sadly, the best way to “get rid of bugs” from brussels sprouts is to prevent them in the first place. To do that, I keep the frost cloth over the plants as long as possible, as they also keep out most of the bugs. You can replace the cloth with actual bug cloth if you wish once the risk of frost is over.

The only downside of preventing bugs this way, is that you need to make the hoops really tall. Mine were only about 2-3 feet tall, and it was not nearly enough. Next year I will make them 4 feet tall, so I can keep them on through most of the bad bug pressure.

To make your own hoop system for keeping out bugs, read this post for creating one in rows, or this post for a raised bed version.

Unfortunately, the bug fabric won’t keep out the slugs. For that, I’ll be setting out pie plates with beer, and setting out copper tape. If that doesn’t work, I’ll try slug bait or a spray. Use one like Sluggo that’s safe for pets and wildlife.

slug damage in a brussel sprout.

Finally, if aphids are the bug that’s plaguing your vegetables, you can buy a colony of ladybugs from your local garden centre. Lady bugs naturally eat aphids, so they’re a great natural pest control.

How to Harvest Brussels Sprouts

If you’ve never grown brussels sprouts before and only seen them in the grocery store, you might not know that they grow along very tall stems with big leaves that stretch out. To harvest, pull out the plant and cut off all the branches. Then rip off the individual heads and clean them. That’s it!

If you watch the video up above, you’ll see how easy it is to snap them off.

In the kitchen, wash the brussels sprouts off, cutting off the ends and any sketchy looking bits. Then either eat them that evening or put them in a bag to freeze.

As for eating them, I like to keep it simple and roast them in the oil with a little salt, pepper, parmesan cheese, and garlic powder.

So that’s how you grow brussels sprouts from seed. All is really takes is knowing the right timing and protecting it from bugs from day 1.

I’d love to know in the comments if you have any additional growing tips to share. Please mention what zone you’re in, as it helps other readers. Thanks!

NEED HELP IN THE GARDEN?

Green thumbs aren’t just given out at birth. They’re a combination of learning about gardening and trial and error. If you wish you knew more about gardening and had more confidence in your abilities, you need the Growing Roots Gardening Guide. 

It’s an e-book plus 6 bonuses–everything you need to go from complete garden newb to confident in one growing season. Get all the details of what’s inside here.

Ready to grow? Click this button and buy now:

Happy gardening!

How to Prepare Your Garden for the First Frost (PLUS 18 Vegetables That will Survive)

You’ve planted the garden, it’s come up great, it’s the end of the gardening season, and to be honest, you’re kind of sick of the gardening. But now fall is in the air and the first frost of the season is looming. And now you have questions. What vegetables will survive a frost? How cold is too cold for a garden? And so many more. In this post I’ll tell you what you need to do when frost is in the forecast, and what can wait until later.

These tomatoes will not survive a frost, you’ll have to pick them even if they’re green.

When Do I Need To Start Worrying About the First Frost?

Three weeks before the typical first frost in your area, you’ll need to start checking the weather every day to see what your nightly forecasted low is. When the forecast is predicting temperatures ranging from 2 degrees Celsius or lower, it’s time to get your garden ready for the first frost of the year.

Unsure when your first frost date is? Google the search terms “first frost date” and [your location, ex. Saskatoon, SK]

Next, you need to decide if you’re going to cover your plants when the frost hits, or pull everything and keep letting it grow. If you decide to cover everything, you’ll want to source out some old sheets and blankets now, so you’re ready for the first risk of frost. Sheets will protect your vegetables from approximately 2 degrees Celsius to -2 or -3 degrees Celsius.

What’s the difference between a frost and a hard frost or killing frost?

Speaking of frosts, not all frosts are created equal. A normal frost happens when the temperature reaches 0 degrees Celsius, or 32 degrees Fahrenheit. A hard frost or killing frost happens when the temperature reaches -5 degrees Celsius or lower. At this point, all but a few varieties of kale and most root vegetables will be okay. There are always exceptions, of course.

If you decide to pull your garden, here’s which vegetables must be pulled and which ones can wait until a hard frost is imminent.

What Vegetables are not Frost Tolerant?

All heat loving vegetables, like tomatoes, squash, eggplant, and cucumbers need to be pulled, or they will be ruined by a frost. Pick the tomatoes and squash even if they are green. They will continue to ripen indoors.

Other vegetables I would typically pull, but that could also tolerate a light frost if needed. Vegetables like pumpkins, corn, and potatoes will all be fine up to -2 degrees Celsius.

18 Frost Tolerant Vegetables

Thankfully, there are many cold-tolerant vegetables that will survive a frost without you doing anything. Some of these are fine until -2 Celsius, while others will hold up until around -10 Celsius. Here’s a list of vegetables that can stand the cold:

  • arugula
  • asian greens (bok choi, pak choi, etc.)
  • beets
  • broccoli
  • brussels sprouts
  • cabbage
  • carrots
  • cauliflower
  • collard greens
  • corn
  • kale
  • lettuce
  • parsnips
  • peas
  • pumpkins
  • spinach
  • Swiss chard
  • turnips

Will My Flowers in Containers Die in a Frost?

Yes. Almost all of your annual flowers will die, except for Snapdragons, rudbeckia, chrysanthemums, and petunias. There may be others that will hang on, but most will not make it. If you want to avoid your pots dying, bring them indoors or put them in a sheltered place, like a garage or shed. Then take them out again in the morning. You could also put a blanket over them if you need to keep them indoors.

NEED HELP IN THE GARDEN?

Green thumbs aren’t just given out at birth. They’re a combination of learning about gardening and trial and error. If you wish you knew more about gardening and had more confidence in your abilities, you need the Growing Roots Gardening Guide. 

It’s an e-book plus 6 bonuses–everything you need to go from complete garden newb to confident in one growing season.  Get all the details of what’s inside here.

Ready to grow? Click this button and buy now:

Weeds vs Plants: Simple Tricks to Differentiate Between Weeds and Vegetables in the Garden

Your garden is in and your seeds are finally starting to poke above the ground. . . hurray!  But there’s also some other things growing in your garden, and frankly, you’re not sure which is which.  While I can’t possibly know every single weed in North America, I can give you some tips and things you can try before planting to help you figure out which plants are weeds, and which plants are those vegetables you worked so hard to grow.

Planting a vegetable garden for the first time? You'll need to know how to figure out what are weeds and what are plants. Whether you garden in raised beds, small spaces, or by rows, you need to know these beginner gardening tips! #weeds #vegetablegardening #gardening #planting #seedlings #beginnergardener #firsttimegardener

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase something after clicking one of my links, I earn a bit of money at no extra cost to you.  Thanks for supporting Shifting Roots!  You can read more about it in my Privacy Policy.

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15 Fast Growing Vegetables (Plus 7 You Should Avoid)

Do you live in a short growing season, or find yourself starting a garden later in the season than you planned? Don’t worry, there are lots of vegetables you can still grow in a short amount of time. In this post, I’ll give you a list with pictures of the best vegetable seeds to grow for fresh vegetables as fast as possible.

Sprouts: 2-7 Days

If you need greens in a hurry, sprouting is your answer! Depending on the type of seeds you choose, your sprouts can be ready in as little as two days, and up to 7. The other great thing about sprouting is that you don’t need natural light in your house. Sprouts actually prefer a darker spot to grow.

Click here for instructions and important tips.

Arugula: 20-40 Days

The Rocket variety of arugula is the quickest, and delicious in salads, on pizza, eggs, or lightly fried in butter.

Spinach: 30 Days

Spinach is a quick growing, cool weather loving crop. Try planting seeds as soon as the ground is workable after the snow is melted. There are many varieties of spinach you can grow, but I have had the best success with Bloomsdale.

Green Onions: 30 Days

While onions grown from seed take a long time to mature, you can always use them as green onions in as little as 30 days. You can also clip off some of the greens while the plant is growing. It provides two benefits–you get to eat the greens now, and it helps send more energy to develop the bulb.

Photo by sheri silver on Unsplash

Bok Choi and Other Asian Greens: 30-50 Days

Grow Asian greens so you can eat delicious and healthy greens in a hurry. Try book choi or pak choi. Harvest them at the baby stage, or wait until they’re full grown. Either way they’re delicious!

Photo by sheri silver on Unsplash

Endive: 30-50 Days

I tried endives for the first time on a trip to Luxembourg and they were delicious! When you think endive, you probably think salad, but they are extremely delicious roasted with butter or cream sauce.

Radishes: 30-45 Days

Sow radishes as soon as the ground is workable for best results. Plant only a small amount (16-32 seeds) and sow every two weeks for a continuous supply in the Spring and Fall. Radishes will bolt in the heat, so avoid planting in summer, or try a shade cloth if you must.

Kohlrabi: 30-50 Days

Kohlrabi is a very versatile vegetable. It can be eaten raw or cooked, and the leaves are edible too!

Photo by sheri silver on Unsplash

Swiss Chard: 40-60 Days

If you’ve been reading this blog for awhile, you’ll know that growing Swiss Chard is a constant struggle for me. It’s one of my favourite vegetables, but the neighbourhood birds have also decided that it’s their favourite too. So we’re in a constant battle of who gets it first. Spoiler alert–the birds usually win.

Use Swiss Chard cooked in omelettes, in a quiche, or fried in butter with other vegetables. My favourite variety is Bright Lights, but I’ve had the most success growing Fordhook Giant.

Here’s the 10 Easiest Vegetables for Beginners to Start Growing in their Garden.

Lettuce: 50 Days

I love growing lettuce because there are so many different varieties in a rainbow of colours. Clockwise: Drunken Woman, Romaine, Deer Tongue, and Kale (not a lettuce variety, actual kale).

Kale: 50 Days

Kale is a cool weather loving vegetable that gets sweeter in the first cool days of fall. Some varieties will survive up until -10 degrees Celsius, and any variety I’ve grown can handle up to -5 degrees Celsius.

This cooked dish is my favourite way to eat kale.

Bush Beans: 40-60 Days

Once bush beens start producing, they usually come fast and furious. Plant a new crop every 3 weeks for a constant supply in the summer.

Turnips: 40-60 Days

Turnips are one of the quickest root vegetables you can grow, and possibly one of the prettiest. I like this globe top variety that’s pictured. Eat them roasted or mashed.

P.S. My soil probably has too much nitrogen in it, because the leaves are giant and the these are the biggest turnips I was able to grow that year. But if I was growing for the leaves, this would be awesome.

Beets: 40-70 Days

Different beet varieties have different lengths of maturity. Thin out your row and eat the baby beets while you’re waiting for the longer-growing varieties to mature. The leaves are also delicious in this casserole.

If you’re not a fan of the typical beet taste, plant the sweeter and milder varieties of golden beets. My favourites are Bolodor (golden) and Bulls Blood (purple). I also personally prefer the cylindrical beets, as I find they’re easier to harvest.

Peas: 50-70 Days

I love peas, but personally have the worst time growing them. Make sure you provide peas with a trellis, and pick them every second day once they start to mature.

My favourite variety for fresh eating and storing is Green Arrow.

Photo by Jessica Ruscello on Unsplash

Some exceptions to the List

When you’re out seed shopping, you might be able to find some varieties of vegetables not on this list that have dates to maturity around 60 days or less. For example, there are some varieties of tomatoes that are ready around the 50-60 day mark, like Early Girl or Arctic. You can also find cucumbers like the Russian variety that are mature around 55 days.

However, because these vegetables like the heat, they might not produce as well if you’re trying to grow them at the end of the growing season. If you’re planting them at the beginning of the season hoping to have a harvest sooner than usual, then they will be fine.

Long Season Vegetables That Won’t Work When You’re Short on Time

On the flip side, if you’re a new gardener, you might not know which vegetables are a no-go when you’re short on time. Here’s a quick list of vegetables that would be difficult to impossible to grow in a time period of two months or less:

  • Peppers
  • Tomatoes
  • Pumpkins
  • Squash
  • Artichoke
  • Cabbage
  • Brussel Sprouts

Don’t Forget Flowers!

Even if you don’t have a lot of time to grow a vegetable garden, it’s always a good idea to plant a few flowers with the vegetable garden to encourage bees and other pollinators to visit your vegetables. In general, blue, purple, and yellow flowers encourage bees, but here’s a whole list of flowers you can try.

Which fast-growing vegetable will you try?

10 Easy to Grow Vegetables for Beginners (Plus 5 You’ll Want to Avoid)

Planting your very first garden can be both exciting and scary.  You can’t wait to eat fresh vegetables you’ve grown yourself, but you soon realize that there’s so much about gardening you just don’t know.  Add in a few incidents with killing houseplants and it’s enough to make a beginner gardener throw in the trowel.

Don’t give up before you get started.  You can grow vegetables as a beginner and be successful at it too.  As long as you have a location with 6 or more hours of light a day, are willing to add some compost to your soil, and you water regularly, you can grow a vegetable garden this year.

I’ll show you the 10 easiest vegetables to grow, plus 3 I think you should avoid your first year.

P.S. All the vegetables you see in this post are ones I have personally grown in my own garden.

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Welcome!

Hi, I’m Kristen and I help new gardeners learn to grow their own vegetables and beautify their yards. I also share recipes that use all that delicious garden produce. Grab a coffee (and your gardening gloves) and join me for gardening tips, simple recipes, and the occasional DIY, all from the lovely city of Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.

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