A Beginner's Garden: How to Grow Brussels Sprouts

Brussels sprouts are a cool weather crop that needs a relatively long growing season. Most varieties require about 110 days to maturity. When they mature during hot weather, the flavor can be strong and bitter. Spring plantings in the southern half of the US often don't have time to mature before hot weather sets in, resulting in inferior tasting sprouts in the early summer.

I live in southern Indiana, and I plant Brussels sprouts in both spring and fall. My early spring plants go out into the garden as early in March as possible. Prepare a place for these early plants in the fall, so the soil will be ready the following spring. Brussels sprouts plants can tolerate heavy frost and freezes, and even some snow won't hurt them. I use lightweight mulch (wheat straw) around the plants; if really bad weather returns or temperatures dip below 25 degrees, I cover the early plants entirely with mulch until it warms up again.

When they are young, Brussels sprouts plants look very much like cabbage plants. Brussels sprouts soon begin to grow taller, though. Mature plants are typically between 2 and 3 feet tall. As the plants grow, their lower leaves will begin to turn yellow; this is natural, and it continues slowly on up the plant until the main stem is practically leafless. Remove the dead leaves as they occur and dispose of them. Don't leave old leaves lying around the base of the plants where they will encourage insect pests, molds and fungi.

As soon as the plants reach about 30 inches in height, pinch out or clip the top center growing point of the plant. If I can't pinch out the center easily, I use some garden pruners to get a clean cut. This limits the upward growth and redirects the plant's energy to growing the sprouts. I'm trying to beat the heat, and nipping the tops really helps move things along. These tips are fine to eat. I steam them, chop them and add them other vegetable dishes, or use them in stir-fry.

At the point where each leaf was joined to the upright stem, a sprout will grow. Just as the lower leaves begin to drop first, the sprouts at those lower leaf points will be ready to harvest first. I seldom wait for the entire plant stem to become a column of sprouts, the way they are pictured in seed catalogs. We like small, sweet sprouts, and I try to harvest them all before hot weather makes them bitter.

Fall Brussels sprouts plants should be started from seed in late July here. That's the hottest weather, and not a good time to start seeds. I have good luck with seedlings using a raised bed that receives about 4 hours of sun per day. The rest of the time the shade keeps the seedlings cooler. Fall Brussels sprouts plants are moved to the garden in late August. By Thanksgiving we are enjoying fresh Brussels sprouts again, with plenty for the freezer. Fall sprouts can remain on the plants through heavy frost and early snow, especially if you protect them with open, airy mulch that won't pack down around them. The flavor of the late sprouts seems to get sweeter the longer they remain on the plant.