Brussels Sprouts Variety Trials (1986)

Research report from OSU's North Willamette Agricultural Research and Extension Center

Delbert Hemphill
OSU Dept of Horticulture, NWREC

The objective of these trials was to evaluate several lines of Brussels sprouts for suitability for overwintered production. In 1980, the lines were seeded on April 23, transplanted on May 29, and harvested on March 13, 1981. In both 1980 and 1981, the same lines were seeded on July 25 and transplanted in early September. These late plantings did not produce marketable sprouts. All varieties went to seed in late winter and were not harvested. Cultural methods were similar to those described above for cauliflower.

Disease pressure and the tendency to blast (bolt) were greater in the April seeding than in earlier Brussels sprouts trials conducted in 1980. The variety Rasmunda stood out in resistance to both disease and bolting, but sprout size was small.

It is apparent that if Brussels sprouts are planted at the same time as overwintered cauliflower, the plants will bolt before producing marketable sprouts. When planted in spring, sprouts have formed by early autumn. These sprouts can be overwintered successfully for February-March harvest. The high incidence of mildew will reduce marketable yield and hand-trimming of sprouts will be necessary.

  Table 26. Ratings of Brussels sprouts quality characteristics, 1980                                                        Internal                                Sprout           Sprout  Variety             Mildew  browning  Smoothness  Solidity  Color  spacing  Shape  stem angle  Belfort                7       4          6           7       8       3       7       6  Fortress               2       4          4	      4       4       3       7       7  Glentora               3       4          6           6       5       4       7       8  Ladora                 3       4          7           7       3       6       7       5  Late Lime              4       5          4           4       4       4       6       5  Rasmunda               8       8          6           6       5       8       6       7  Roodnerf Gravendeel    4       5          7           6       5       7       6       5  Roodnerf Late Supreme  4       3          4           4       5       5       5       7  Sigmund                3       4          7           7       7       4       4       4  Ulysses                5       3          5           6       7       4       6       7  Zid (Fasolt)           4       6          6           6       4       6       7       5        Explanation of ratings: mildew and internal browning, 10 = none, 1 = complete loss; smoothness   and solidity, 10 = smoothest or most solid; color: 1 = yellow, 10 = dark green; spacing, 1 =   tight, 10 = wide; shape, 1 = round, 10 = elongated; angle, 1 = acute, 10 = right.      Table 27. Ratings of Brussels sprouts plant characteristics and sprout sizes          Variety           Deleafing   Picking    Uniformity        % sprouts in category                           ease       ease    among plants   less than 1"  1-1.5"  blasted  Belfort               -          7           5             65          2        33   Fortress              -          4           6             50          1        49   Glentora              -          5           5             63          3        34   Ladora                7          8           7             33          0        67   Late Lime             4          6           6             20          0        80   Rasmunda              4          9           8             65         20        15   Roodnerf Gravendeel   -          7           3             50          0        50   Roodnerf Late Supreme -          5           3             60         15        25   Sigmund               4          8           7             59         10        31   Ulysses               4          6           5             54          5        41  Zid (Fasolt)          6          -           4             48          2        50  	  Explanation of ratings: defleafing and picking ease, 10 = easiest; uniformity, 10 =    most uniform; blasted: sprout broken up, loose, bolting to flower.      Table 28: Sources and comments on Brussels sprouts varieties                          Variety            Source  Comments                                                   Belfort               3    Fairly uniform, short plants. Fair sprout quality;                             little mildew. Low yield potential.  Fortress              5	   Uniform type, short plants. Poor sprout quality.  Glentora              3    Fairly uniform type, short plants. Fair sprout                             quality. Low yield potential.  Ladora                2	   Fairly uniform type, pale green leaves. Much                             mildew; blasts easily.  Late Line             1    Fairly uniform type; fair sprout quality but                             blasts easily.  Rasmunda              3    Uniform type; good sprout quality but low yield potential.   Roodnerf Gravendeel   3    Variable type; all quality characteristics non-uniform.  Roodnerf Late Supreme 4    Highly variable plant size and sprout characteristics.                              Many purple sprouts.  Sigmund               3	   Fairly uniform type; fair sprout quality,                              outer leaves purplish.  Ulysses               1	   Fairly uniform type; small plants. Fair yield potential.  Zid (Fasolt)          3    Fairly uniform type; fair sprout quality. Blasts easily.   Sources: 1 = Asmer Seeds, 2 = Bejo Zaden, 3 = Elsoms, 4 = Territorial Seed,   5 = Zenner Bros.  

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