Growing Brussel Sprouts in a new raised bed

[rodofgod76]

Is it possible to grow Brussel Sprouts in a newly created raised bed? Going to build one in the next few weeks, and would like to grow as many things as possible in it.

Also, what should I fill the bed with? eg, soil, compost or a mixture?

[TEB]

Should be no problem, they like a firm non acidic soil, watch out the dreaded cabbage white butterfly, as to what to fill the bed with, depends on how rich you are, I would go for a mixture of compost and soil, if you use compost make sure it isnt peat based (because of the acidity).

[allotmentlady]

I dont see any problem with that, courgettes and pumpkins thrive in new compost, I had an abundance last year lol......good luck, so exciting building new beds

[rodofgod76]

Wonderful.

The local GC had some new "railway sleepers" in the other day. Each sleeper is about 8"x4". Would 8 inches be deep enough for growing sprouts, onions and maybe carrots in? Garden beneath is clay.

[Alan Farmer]

Last year I used a new bed filled with commercial compost to grow my Brassica seedlings. I find they need to be grown hard out of doors for sturdy plants. The problem with growing Sprouts in a raised bed surely is going to be one of space as they need plenty of room(i.e one per square yard or so.) I also recommend staking each plant to stabilise them against the wind and to prevent disease spread. If you intend to use commercial compost then you will need to check the PH as Sprouts in line with most brassicas prefer a low acid soiland benefit from some liming prior to planting, depending on where you are. I'm on chalk! Good luck

[Alan Farmer]

Sleepers are good if not soaked in poisonous compounds, and wonderful for carrot beds. Your sprouts may be better foff in the clay, see above.

[Alan Farmer]

P.S. I also cover my raised beds with Enviromesh, that way I get to eat the produce, and not the pigeons, cabbage white butterflies, flea beetles, carrot root fly etc etc.

[Basher]

Would the new soil in the raised bed need to be very firm/settled for Brussel sprouts?

[rodofgod76]

Sleepers are good if not soaked in poisonous compounds, and wonderful for carrot beds. Your sprouts may be better foff in the clay, see above.

Not sure what's on the sleepers TBH. The garden centre has loads of raised beds made of them, in which they grow allsorts every year.

RE planting the sprouts in the clay. Technically it's a lawn, but it's all clay in the area I want to build a raised bed and as there's a slight depression there as well it "floods" whenever we have a day or two of rain. Kinda like a 2"-3" deep pond. I dug a trench this afternoon, as I was thinking of putting in some kind of soakaway. Two feet down I got it, and it's still all clay. Would the sprouts still be able to cope in such heavy soil?? And what's the chances of the soakaway actually working assuming I line the bottom of it with rubble and then gravel? Sorry for all of the questions, I'm new to all of this!

[allotmentlady]

dont buy used railway sleepers if they are black, you can get new ones cheaply. My raised beds, the boarding are 3ft deep, i made mine out of scaffolding planks. Try a local scaffolding company, they have to get rid of them every so often, health and safety, so they could be willing to get them to you, offer them petrol mooney to deliver to you.

Good luck

[rodofgod76]

Good idea allotmentlady. The sleepers I'm looking at are brand new.

[Snadger]

I find brussel sprouts take up a lot of room, but as long as you have the room and heal them in to stop them blowing they should be fine!