With plenty of sun, nutrients, and water, Brussels sprouts will reward you with a bumper crop.
This guide will help you plant, grow, and harvest Brussels sprouts in your garden.
Crop rotation is crucial to prevent soil-borne pests and diseases and avoid nutrient depletion.
Credit:Kindra Clineff
Plant Brussels sprouts transplants in spring inwell-drained soil, and watch them grow all summer.
Space the plants 24 inches apart in rows 36 inches apart.
Move the seedlings outside to harden off for a week when they are 45 inches tall.
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Then plant them in the garden.
Soil and Water
These plants grow best in well-draining soil.
Temperature and Humidity
Brussels sprouts tolerate cold temperatures down to about 20F for short periods.
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Theirflavor is improvedby light frost.
For most of the season, this plant thrives in temperatures of 45F-75F.
Humidity isnt a concern as long as the soil is kept moist.
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Fertilizer
Like many leafy vegetables, Brussels sprouts are heavy feeders.
They do best in rich soil and withregular applications of a nitrogen-rich fertilizer.
This bang out of fertilizer slowly breaks down to add nutrients to the soil over time.
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Pollination
Pollination is only relevant if you intend to collect the seeds of the plant for propagation.
Brussels sprouts are pollinated by insects.
A single plant needs at least a 12-inch wide and 12-inch deep container with several drainage holes.
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A 5-gallon container, like a paint bucket, holds two plants.
Fill the containers with well-draining potting mix and keep it moist.
Move the containers to sunny areas as needed.
No repotting is necessary.
Usingrow covers protects the plantsearly in the season.
Watch for insects, such ascabbage worms, later in the summer after you remove the row covers.
Hand-pick the worms or treat the sprouts with an organic insecticide or insecticidal soap according to label directions.
Wait for the seeds to dry on the plant before collecting the seed pods.
Dont harvest in hot weather; warm temperatures make them bitter.
Use thesprouts in a wide variety of dishes.
Most people find them especially tasty when grilled, roasted, steamed, or sauteed.
They are also eaten raw in salads.
In addition, the colorful sprouts are higher in antioxidants than green varieties.
Start harvesting about 85 days after transplant.
Jade Cross E
Better Homes and Gardens
This hybrid variety has good disease resistance.
It grows only 28 inches tall, making it a good choice for containers and small-space gardens.
‘Jade Cross E is ready for harvest about 85 days after transplant.
Catskill
‘Catskill produces numerous extra-large sprouts on 24-inch compact plants.
This heirloom variety has a delicious flavor and is excellent for fresh eating or freezing.
It matures in 90-100 days from transplant.
It enjoys the same well-draining soil and full sun as Brussels sprouts prefer.
Like Brussels sprouts, chard delivers the best flavor in cool weather.
Carrots
Carrotsgrow best in cool weather, like Brussels sprouts.
Plus, carrots and other root vegetables improve the soil structure, which benefits Brussels sprouts.
Sprouts have a slightly sweet flavor right after being picked and develop bitterness over time.
If the sprouts arewashed and trimmed, they will last 5-10 days in the fridge.
They are alsosuitable for freezing.
The plant is named for Brussels, Belgium, where they were first widely cultivated in the 16th century.
