When Is the Best Time to Plant Brussels Sprouts

The planting time for Brussels sprouts needs to be determined according to the variety and the cultivation region. For open-field cultivation in the Shanghai area, early-maturing varieties are generally chosen, sown in late July to early August; for protected cultivation, early and mid-maturing varieties can be chosen, sown from late July to early September.

Pest and Disease Control for Brussels Sprouts

1. Damping-off: occurs at the seedling stage. After the plant is infected, wilting and drying can be seen within a few days, until it dies. The germination of this pathogen requires a relative humidity of above 98%, so water must not accumulate at the seedling stage. In the early stage of the disease, remove the diseased plants and then spray with 75% chlorothalonil.

2. Downy mildew: it generally occurs easily in rainy weather, with poor ventilation, and in continuous cropping land. Field management should be done well, and after the disease occurs, spray with 25% metalaxyl.

3. Black rot: it is a bacterial disease. In the early stage of the disease, the diseased plants should be removed promptly, and 72% agricultural streptomycin sulfate or 60% phosethyl-Al should be used for control. The pesticides should be used in rotation, once every 10 days, for 2-5 times in a row. 

4. The main ones are aphids, cabbage caterpillars, diamondback moths, etc. They should be inspected and controlled promptly, and can be sprayed with Kuailing or imidacloprid. Physical methods such as silver insect-proof nets, yellow sticky boards and frequency-vibration insect-killing lamps can be used to repel and trap aphids, diamondback moths and noctuid adults. For biological control, the biological pesticide BT emulsion can be used to control diamondback moths and cabbage caterpillars, and parasitic wasps can be released or sex pheromones can be applied to trap and kill diamondback moths and cabbage armyworms. The use of chemical pesticides should comply with the provisions of GB4285 and GB8321. Insecticides such as imidacloprid, acetamiprid, thiamethoxam, abamectin, Anda, fipronil, chlorfenapyr and Caixi can be used to control pests such as aphids, diamondback moths, cabbage armyworms and cabbage caterpillars.