It can take a lot of weeks for Brussel sprouts to mature. According to experts, it takes around 120 days until this plant reaches maturity. It is a massive plant with enormous leaves, and it flourishes in direct sunlight. So, the more sun you give to this plant, the more it will grow over time. If you’re looking to plant a fast-growing Brussel sprout plant, then try to find a location with maximum sunlight and heat. Even though these plants are somewhat easy to manage, you will often see gardeners complaining about black spots on Brussel Sprouts.
Most gardeners don’t know why their plants might behave like this. So, we will be listing some possible reasons that can help you with this problem.
How To Deal With Black Spots on Brussel Sprouts
1. Fungal Disease
The primary reason for this problem is related to fungus. Due to improper environmental conditions or sanitation issues, your plant might be infected with a fungal disease. Usually, if the problem is controlled and not that severe, you can get ahead using fungicide. Go to your local gardening store and buy the fungicide best suited for your plant after referring it to the local expert.
Don’t experiment with anything new that you have never tried in your garden. Using random products without proper guidance might further destroy your plants. If the damage is not that severe, using the recommended dosage should improve your plant’s health. However, if the black spots on your Brussel sprouts are enormous, you have little chance of fixing this problem by using a dose of fungicide.
To avoid this problem from the beginning, you should take good care of the plant. Fungal growth is encouraged if the environmental conditions are inappropriate and humidity levels have passed a specific limit. You want to keep the temperature hot and dry with maximum sunlight if you want to see a healthy Brussel sprout plant.
2. Infected Seed or Soil
Sometimes gardeners can run into this problem even if they are taking excellent care of the plant. The black spots on the Brussel sprouts can occur from using infected seeds or infected soil. Usually, users don’t refer to an authentic gardening store and buy cheap seeds for their garden. Buying cheap seeds and growing an infected plant might also damage the soil while also wasting your time.
So, it is best only to grow high-quality seeds and germinate them in a separate pot before adding them to the garden. That way, you can keep other plants safe from the diseases without going through much hassle. In some cases, if you plant the Brussel sprouts in infected soil, you will also receive similar results.
This is one of the reasons why experts always recommend beginners to follow proper sanitation methods. Being lazy can cause the disease to spread to the whole garden. So, it is best to fix the problem before it gets out of hand. If you’re not sure how to dispose of infected soil, then read up on your local policies regarding gardening waste removal.
3. Pests Infestation
It is common for pest-infested Brussel sprouts to run into this problem. Usually, when a plant is infested with APHIDS, it is not such a big deal. However, when this infestation goes past a certain point, it can tremendously damage the plant. If your Brussel sprouts are also infested with APHIDS, try using some pesticide recommended by your local gardening experts.
The infestation can lead to the development of honeydew left by the APHIDS. When it dries, some shiny spots appear on the Brussel sprouts. These spots later turn black due to fungus infection, and the whole plant has to be treated with fungicide at this stage. If the problem is not fixed right away, then the plant can die within a few weeks.
So, make sure to provide the perfect environmental conditions while also following proper sanitation methods. You can also reach out to a reliable dealer to source seeds. That way, you won’t have to worry about dealing with infected seeds with a low germination rate. Spending a few extra bucks on the seeds will save you a lot of trouble in the long run. Furthermore, you will get more products at the end of the cycle.