Brussels sprouts are great to grow in the garden. They are delicious to eat and some people start making their first garden and they plant brussels sprouts. But in some cases, brussels sprout leaves may turn yellow. When the leaves are yellow it will affect the plant’s growth so there will be less harvest.
Brussels sprout Leaves Turning Yellow
Watering Problems
Overwatering
Overwatering can cause yellow leaves on the Brussels sprout. The Brussels sprout cannot handle too much water and it causes stress. Overwatering can happen when too much water is given to the Brussels sprout or it can happen when heavy rains come.
A watering can or a garden hose can be used to water your Brussels sprout but just give the tree the right amount of water. Check the soil moisture before watering the Brussels sprout if the soil is dry you can water it but if the soil is moist you don’t need to.
There are ways to check the soil moisture like pressing your finger a few centimeters in the soil, pressing a screwdriver, or using a soil moisture meter. Any of those ways can be used to know the soil moisture and gives you an idea of when to water the Brussels sprout.
A well-draining soil is also helpful to avoid waterlogging. Sometimes heavy rainfall comes to your location and you must make good waterways to prevent your Brussels sprout from getting flooded. Too much water can cause root rot which makes leaves yellow but when it’s prevented the leaves are safe.
Lacking Water
Lacking water can also cause yellow leaves on the Brussels sprout. Water is essential for the Brussels sprout to grow well which helps it to grow healthy and able to produce more fruits. Water the Brussels sprout regularly and make a watering schedule so that you know when to water your plant.
The Brussels sprout needs more water when the weather becomes hot. With the right amount of water, it can make the plant cool and hydrated. The Brussels sprout needs at least 1 inch of water per week.
Aging Brussels sprout Leaves
It is normal to see yellow leaves on any plant or tree. Commonly these yellow leaves are aging leaves. It is normal to see these kinds of leaves even on Brussels sprouts because it is part of their growth.
It is a cycle for the Brussels sprout leaves to grow and then get old. The young leaves will grow and after a few weeks or months, they turn yellow, and eventually, Brussels sprout leaves turn brown.
If there are only a few yellow leaves on the Brussels sprout then probably they are just aging leaves but if there are too many yellow leaves you need to analyze and observe if there are other reasons causing the problem.
Nutrient Deficiencies
Nitrogen is an important nutrient needed by the Brussels sprout to keep its leaves growing and staying green. Nitrogen deficiency causes yellow leaves on the Brussels sprout and to prevent it from happening you need to make the soil rich in nitrogen. You can use a soil tester to check the soil and then apply the right amount of nitrogen.
The Brussels sprout needs nitrogen because this nutrient helps the production of chlorophyll in the leaves. Chlorophyll helps the Brussels sprout convert sunlight into food which makes helps it grow better. Aside from nitrogen, Iron deficiency can also cause leaves to turn yellow on Brussels sprouts.
There are many kinds of fertilizer and some of them have nitrogen and iron along with other nutrients which is helpful for the Brussels sprout to grow well if applied.
You Overfertilized Brussels sprout
You also need to be careful not to overfertilize Brussels sprouts. Too much fertilizer can burn roots and when roots get damaged it can cause yellow leaves. When roots are damaged the Brussels sprout cannot get enough water and nutrients because the roots are not functioning well.
Avoid overfertilizing Brussels sprouts especially if you are using chemical fertilizers because they can burn Brussels sprout roots.
If you are practicing organic gardening then you can use compost and other organic fertilizers. You can also add mulch to keep soil moisture.
Brussels sprout Is Lacking Sunlight
The Brussels sprout needs sunlight to grow healthy and be able to produce more food. Grow the Brussels sprout in a place where it can get a lot of sunlight so that the yellowing of leaves can be prevented. The Brussels sprout needs at least 6 hours of sunlight per day.
Avoid growing the Brussels sprout near tall trees because it may not get enough sunlight because those tall tress may block the sunlight. When the Brussels sprout is getting consistent sunlight per day it will grow healthy and can give you a lot of fruits.
Weather Changes
Weather changes can also affect the Brussels sprout which may lead to its leaves turning yellow. Even if the Brussels sprout needs more sunlight, extreme heat is not good. Too much sunlight can affect the leaves which can make them yellow. Keep the plants hydrated when the weather becomes hot.
Pests And Diseases
There are pests and diseases that may also cause yellow leaves on your Brussels sprout. You need to monitor your Brussels sprout and see if there are pests and diseases that attack your Brussels sprout. In that way, you can protect them and you can use pesticides or fungicides to get rid of them.