growing brussels sprouts: variety choice & whether or not to top · black plastic mulch. 6’...
TRANSCRIPT
Replicated variety trial & topping study
Black plastic mulch6’ row centers18” spacing
Seed – Harvest:2013: 6/3 – 11/62014: 5/12 – 10/19 to 11/182015: 5/13 – 11/13 to 12/4
How many brussels sprouts do you grow?
A. < 100 row-feetB. 100-500 row-feetC. 500-1000 row-feetD. >1000 row-feet
How many varieties of brusselssprout do you grow?
A. OneB. TwoC. ThreeD. FourE. Five or more
Do you top your brussels sprouts (remove the apical meristem)?
A. Yes, alwaysB. SometimesC. No, never
How would you define your success with brussels sprouts?
A. Very successful – they always do well
B. Mostly successful –they do pretty well in most years
C. Not that successful –occasional crop failure
D. Very unsuccessful –many crop failures
Which of the following have limited success with brussels sprouts on your farm?
A. Nothing!B. Variety performanceC. Pests (cabbage aphid,
caterpillars, etc.)D. Diseases (Alternaria, etc.)E. Not sure whether or not
to topF. Post-harvest storage
problemsG. Other problemsH. I don’t know
Results: Variety yield
“marketable”
0.75-2.5 inchesFirm sprouts
Little alternariaAphids ok
Other important traits
Recommended varieties
Octia, Nautic, Diabloall three are mid-late, need long season
Early Marvel, Gustus, Jade Cross EHestia, Confidant (1 year only)less resistance to Alternaria
Photo: cornell universityPhoto: umass
Nautic
- Good sprout quality, very uniform- Excellent resistance to Alternaria- High yield potential
Diablo
- Excellent sprout quality, very uniform- Excellent resistance to Alternaria- Moderate yield potential
Octia
- Good sprout quality- Moderate resistance to Alternaria- Very high yield potential
Gustus
- Early-season- Very high yield potential- Moderate Alternaria symptoms
Early Marvel
- Mid-season- High yield potential- Moderate Alternaria symptoms, poor germination
Jade Cross E
- High yield potential- Sprouts very closely spaced, very rugged stalks- Moderate Alternaria symptoms
Only evaluated in 1 year (2015)
- Good sprout quality, uniform- Moderate (Hestia), Very high (Confidant) yield- Moderate Alternaria symptoms
Hestia
Confidant
roodnerf
falstaff
doric
catskill
red bull
Several performed poorly: variable, poor sprout development
Also: Churchill, Igor, Nelson
Lateral branching
Topping = removal of apical meristem to encourage upper sprout development
Does it increase yields? When should it be done?
Are basal sprouts 1” diameter?
yes no
Top!
Leave them alone
Topping = removal of apical meristem to encourage upper sprout development
8/4106 dph
2.5-3.8 cm
8/2684 dph>3.8 cm
Untopped9/4
75 dph>3.8 cm
8/1496 dph>3.8 cm
Jade Cross E
Diablo
Topped: 24 Aug 7 Sept 14 Sept 21 Sept
28 Sept 3 Oct 12 Oct Untopped
cv. Nautic - Photos taken 13 November 2015
Sta
lk h
eigh
t (in
)
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
8/24 9/7 9/14 9/21 9/28 10/5 10/12 U
Nautic
Jade X
* *
*
Mar
keta
ble
Wei
ght (
oz)
Are basal sprouts 1” diameter?
yes no
Is it Sept 10 or later ? OR
Do you plan to sell them within 30 days?
yes noTop!
Leave them alone
Recommended varieties (yield, alternaria, sprout quality) 1: Octia, Nautic, Diablo2: Early Marvel, Gustus, Jade Cross E
Hestia, Confidant (1 year only)
ToppingIf too early, you sacrifice yield and stalk heightAt the right time, it can increase yields for some varieties.It can make stalks more attractive.
Based on what you heard today, do you think you will:
A. Try new varieties?B. Start topping?C. Change timing of
topping?
