蜜桃恋人

How to Grow Brussels Sprouts: The Complete Guide

Photo Credit
Pixabay
Botanical Name
Brassica oleracea
Plant Type
Vegetable
Sun Exposure
Full Sun
Soil pH
Neutral to Slightly Alkaline
Slightly Acidic to Neutral

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Planting, Growing, and Harvesting Brussels Sprouts

Catherine Boeckmann

Learn how to grow brussels sprouts, a cool-weather crop that is planted in early spring or mid- to late summer for a crop that matures in the fall. These nutritious vegetables taste even better after a few light frosts! Here鈥檚 how to plant, grow, and harvest brussels sprouts in your garden.

About Brussels Sprouts

Named for Brussels, Belgium, where they were first cultivated in the 16th century, brussels sprouts are a vegetable that is commonly seen in the grocery store, but not-as-commonly seen in the home garden. This is probably because they aren鈥檛 the easiest vegetable to grow! They require a fairly long growing season (80鈥100 days to harvest) and are a cool-season crop, meaning that they produce best when grown for a fall or early winter harvest. The sprouts improve in flavor after a light frost or two. 

As long as you plant them at the right time, keep them cool and well watered during the heat of summer, and protect them from pests, brussels sprouts are a rewarding vegetable crop to grow鈥攁n accomplishment!

Brussels sprouts are a cultivar (cultivated variety) of wild cabbage, Brassica oleracea, which is the same plant species that cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, kohlrabi, and a number of other popular food crops stem from. Over generations and generations, this versatile plant has been bred in different ways to highlight its different features鈥攆lowers, leaves, buds, stem, and root鈥攖o provide us with a wide variety of foods! Brussels sprouts form as buds along the main stem of the plant, just above each leaf axil. 

Brussels sprouts close up.

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Planting

Choose a planting site that gets full sun (6 to 8 hours of direct sunlight per day). Raised beds are especially recommended for cool-season vegetables, especially in the spring and fall, when temperatures are not consistent.

Soil should be well-draining and moderately fertile. Work several inches of aged manure and/or compost into the soil to improve soil fertility and texture.

When to Plant Brussels Sprouts

Due to brussels sprouts鈥 need for a long growing season, we recommend planting them with a fall or winter harvest in mind. They do best when allowed to mature during the cool days of fall.

To determine the optimum planting time, count backwards from your first fall frost date using the 鈥渄ays to maturity鈥 listed on the seed packet. Generally, this means sowing brussels sprout seeds about 4 months before your first fall frost date.

  • In regions with cold winters, where winter temperatures are often below freezing, start seeds in early to mid-summer. Plants will mature for a mid-fall or early winter harvest. 
  • In regions with mild or warm winters, where winter temperatures are occasionally or rarely below freezing, start seeds in mid- to late summer. Plants will mature for a mid- to late winter harvest.

Brussels sprouts may be started from seed indoors or sown directly into the garden. We recommend starting seeds indoors, as this gives seedlings a headstart and helps to protect them from summer heat and pests. Direct-sown seeds can take a few weeks longer to mature, so add 20 days to your planting date calculation if you plan to sow outdoors. (In other words, sow seeds outdoors about 20 days earlier than if you were starting them indoors.)

How to Plant Brussels Sprouts

  • Sow seeds about 陆 inch deep.
  • If direct-sowing seeds outdoors, sow seeds about 2 to 3 inches apart. (Seedlings should be thinned to 12 to 24 inches apart when they reach about 6 inches tall.)
  • Plant seedlings 12 to 24 inches apart.
  • Water well at time of sowing/transplanting.

Growing

  • Thin young plants to 12 to 24 inches apart when they reach 6 inches tall.
  • Fertilize with a nitrogen-rich product after thinning. Repeat every 3 to 4 weeks.
  • Mulch to retain moisture and keep the soil temperature cool through summer.
  • If growing during hot weather, be sure to keep the plants well watered. Inconsistent moisture can lead to subpar sprout development. Brussels sprouts should receive about 1 to 1陆 inches of water per square foot per week.
  • Consider using row covers to protect young plants from pests. Brussels sprouts are usually planted outdoors right when pests are at their worst!
  • Do not disturb the soil around the plants; roots are shallow and susceptible to damage.
  • Brussels sprout plants usually reach heights of 2 to 3 feet, so plan accordingly; they may require staking.
  • Remove yellowing leaves at the bottom of the plant to allow for more sunlight on the stalk and to focus plant energy on healthy growth.
  • To encourage the sprouts to mature faster, cut off the top leaves 3 to 4 weeks before harvest.
    • Note: If you intend to harvest sprouts into winter, leave the top leaves of the plant intact; they provide protection from snow. Also, cover plants with 10 to 12 inches of mulch.

Brussels sprout plants in a field

Types

  • 鈥楥丑耻谤肠丑颈濒濒’ is an early maturing plant, adaptable to most climates.
  • 鈥楧颈补产濒辞鈥 is known as a heavy producer.
  • 鈥楩补濒蝉迟补蹿蹿鈥 has a red/purple hue that holds when cooked
  • 鈥楯ade Cross’ is a high-yield compact plant, resistant to some diseases and known for its tolerance for hotter weather.
  • 鈥楲ong Island Improved鈥 is an heirloom and a compact plant that prefers a cool summer.
  • 鈥极濒颈惫别谤’ is an early-maturing variety with a shorter growing season requirement (80鈥90 days).

Harvesting

  • Sprouts mature from the bottom of the stalk upwards. Harvest sprouts from the bottom when they reach about 1 inch in diameter.
  • If desired, after a moderate frost, pull up the entire stalk, roots and all. (Remove leaves first.) Then hang stalk upside down in a cool, dry basement or garage or barn.
  • Store stalks (no roots) for about 1 month in a root cellar or basement.

How to Store Brussels Sprouts

  • Do not wash the sprouts before storing them, only right before use.
  • Keep fresh-picked sprouts in a plastic bag for up to 5 days in the refrigerator.
Brussels sprouts on the plant. Photo by audaxl/Getty Images.
Photo by audaxl/Getty Images
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Wit and Wisdom

  • In 2013, a team of scientists and schoolchildren lit an 8-foot-tall Christmas tree in London with the energy from 1,000 brussels sprouts (a total of about 62 volts).

Pests/Diseases

Brussels Sprouts Pests and Diseases

Pest/DiseaseTypeSymptomsControl/Prevention
AphidsInsectMisshapen/yellow leaves; distorted flowers/fruit; sticky 鈥渉oneydew鈥 (excrement); sooty, black moldGrow companion plants; knock off with water spray; apply insecticidal soap; put banana or orange peels around plants; wipe leaves with a 1 to 2 percent solution of dish soap (no additives) and water every 2 to 3 days for 2 weeks; add native plants to invite beneficial insects
Black rotFungusYellow, V-shape areas on leaf edges that brown and progress toward leaf center; leaves eventually collapse; stem cross sections reveal blackened veinsDestroy infected plants; choose resistant varieties; provide good drainage; remove plant debris; rotate crops
Cabbage loopersInsectLarge, ragged holes in leaves from larval feeding; defoliation; stunted or bored heads; excrementHandpick; add native plants to invite beneficial insects; spray larvae with insecticidal soap or Bt; use row covers; remove plant debris
Cabbage root maggotsInsectWilted/stunted plants; off-color leaves; larvae feeding on rootsUse collars around seedling stems; monitor adults with yellow sticky traps; use row covers; destroy crop residue; till soil in fall; rotate crops
CabbagewormsInsectLeaves have large, ragged holes or are skeletonized; heads bored; dark green excrement; yellowish eggs laid singly on leaf undersidesHandpick; use row covers; add native plants to invite beneficial insects; grow companion plants (especially thyme); spray Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt)
ClubrootFungusWilted/stunted plants; yellow leaves; roots appear swollen/distortedDestroy infected plants; solarize soil; maintain soil pH of around 7.2; disinfect tools; rotate crops
Downy mildewFungusYellow, angular spots on upper leaf surfaces that turn brown; white/purple/gray cottony growth on leaf undersides only; distorted leaves; defoliationRemove plant debris; choose resistant varieties; ensure good air circulation; avoid overhead watering
Flea beetlesInsectNumerous tiny holes in leavesUse row covers; mulch heavily; add native plants to invite beneficial insects
StinkbugsInsectYellow/white blotches on leaves; scarred, dimpled, or distorted fruit/pods; shriveled seeds; eggs, often keg-shape, in clusters on leaf undersidesDestroy crop residue; handpick (bugs emit odor, wear gloves); destroy eggs; spray nymphs with insecticidal soap; use row covers; weed; till soil in fall
White moldFungusPale gray, 鈥渨ater-soaked鈥 areas on stems, leaves, and other plant parts that enlarge and develop white, cottony growth, later with black particles; bleached areas; crowns/sprouts rot; plants wilt/collapseDestroy infected plants; ensure good air circulation; water in morning; weed; destroy crop residue; rotating crops on 5-year or longer cycle may help

Recipes

Cream of Brussels Sprouts Soup
Easiest Brussels Sprouts
Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Shallots & Bacon
Brussels Sprouts With Sun-Dried Tomatoes

Cooking Notes

We prefer roasting sprouts鈥攖hey have a lovely carmelized flavor!

Vegetables
About The Author

Catherine Boeckmann

Catherine Boeckmann loves nature, stargazing, and gardening so it鈥檚 not surprising that she and The Old Farmer鈥檚 蜜桃恋人 found each other. She leads digital content for the 蜜桃恋人 website, and is also a certified master gardener in the state of Indiana. Read More from Catherine Boeckmann
 

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Comments

Megan_garden (not verified)

9 years 5 months ago

Hello,

I planted my brussels sprouts seedlings outside in late April..they are doing great and getting tall and leafy. How long will it take for the stalk to form in the center where the sprouts will be? Is there something I should do to promote this growth?

Thanks!

Tracy the newbie (not verified)

9 years 5 months ago

I am new to gardening, this year I have a beautiful garden growing. I planted Brussels sprouts and they look great so far but my brother is telling me to pull off the bottom leaves and only leave the top, or the won't produce. Is this true??

The sprouts will grow on their own, without leaf removal, but for larger sprouts, it helps to remove some of the leaves. When a leaf below a sprout begins to turn yellow, you can remove it to give the sprout more room to grow, as well as exposing it to more sunlight. It also helps the plant to focus its energy on developing the sprout rather than maintaining a decaying leaf. Trim the leaf back to about 1 inch from the main stem.
 
Some gardeners do this earlier on, when the lower sprouts are just begin to develop, or when they are about half the size that they'd like them to be. Often, one would work on the lower third of the plant first, then as the middle third of sprouts develop to the proper size, those leaves would be trimmed as well. One should leave the top third or so leaves on the plant, so that it can make food for itself.
 
You might like to read this page from the University of Illinois Cooperative Extension for more information:
 
http://extension.illinois.edu/veggies/brusselssprouts.cfm

northern ny (not verified)

9 years 6 months ago

I had a great Brussels sprout last fall. This spring 1-2 new 4-5 inch plants are growing from the base of some of the old "dead" stems. If I allow them to grow, you think these new plants will produce sprouts or just go to seed?

Brussels sprouts are biennial and they grow their sprouts in the first year. Once picked, the sprouts do not grow back.The sprouts form flowers in their second year and become unpalatable. So most gardeners plant Brussels sprouts as "annuals" and pull them out.

marta diaz (not verified)

9 years 7 months ago

Why are my Brussel sprouts opening up??

If your Brussels sprouts are opening, your soil may be too loose and infertile. This plant likes heavy soil, even on the tight side.
It's best to mix in lots of well-rotted compost in autumn to give the soil time to settle and firm up.
The other reason sprouts can open up:  the weather got too warm. They are cool-season veggies.

If you plant in spring once the frost date has come, they're going to have to grow through the summer. So how can they NOT get too hot? I live in zone 5, btw.

It really depends where you live.  Many southern gardeners find that Brussels sprouts grow better in the fall than late spring/summer because it gets too hot there. We think they taste great in the fall after a nice fall frost.

George1000 (not verified)

9 years 8 months ago

Hi, I planted cabbage from seed last year and they never seemed to look especially healthy, I'm just tidying up and sorting my veg patch again but the cabbage (and sprout) plants are looking really good! We have had e winter and most of the frost now. I'm wondering if I should just leave them in the ground and see what happens this year? What do you think? Thank you very much :-)