Brussels sprouts are one of the many variations of cabbage. Here's how to successfully grow Brussels sprouts at home.
Brussels sprouts (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera), also known as Brussels cabbage, is a typical winter vegetable. Cooking with Brussels sprouts is no longer just for grandmothers. Many hobby gardeners and cooks swear by the nutrient-rich cabbage. Not only because Brussels sprouts are low in calories, but also because of their high protein and fiber content, they are a popular vegetable. Its sweet and slightly nutty taste makes it indispensable in he althy cooking! If you want to grow Brussels sprouts yourself, you have to be patient. We tell you how to plant Brussels sprouts, how to care for them properly and what you should consider when choosing the variety.
Planting Brussels sprouts: location and time
Brussels sprouts are highly consuming vegetables. To ensure high yields, the soil should be deeply loosened and enriched with humus. This can also happen in the previous year, since the nutrients are supplied over a long period of time. Brussels sprouts prefer loamy soils with a neutral pH, but will easily thrive in other conditions.
The right time to plant Brussels sprouts is mid-April to late May. Sowing can be done directly in the bed. However, it is advisable to grow sprouts on planting trays in early spring. Make sure that you keep a distance of at least 50 cm between the Brussels sprouts when planting. In the course of the year, the perennials can grow very sprawling.
Note: Brussels sprouts belong to the cruciferous (cabbage) family (Brassicaceae). The crop rotation in your bed should not have contained any other cabbage vegetables for at least 3 years, so that the transmission of species-specific diseases (clubroot etc.) can be avoided.
Growing Brussels sprouts: the right care
Like all cabbage vegetables, Brussels sprouts also need an adequate supply of nutrients in order to provide a good harvest. It is important to water and fertilize the sprouts at the right time.
Water and fertilize Brussels sprouts
In general, Brussels sprouts like it moist. After planting the Brussels sprouts, however, you should initially water them sparingly or not at all so that the small seedlings develop deeper roots. After the first week or two, you should then water your Brussels sprouts regularly. Here, too, it is important to avoid waterlogging. Ideally, water your Brussels sprouts several times a day with small amounts of water.
For a bountiful harvest, Brussels sprouts need fertilizer. In midsummer, the growth of the Brussels sprouts florets begins and now at the latest a moderate application of fertilizer should take place. Signs of nitrogen deficiency can be yellow and slightly wilted leaves. In the event of acute deficiency symptoms, fertilization should be carried out promptly using liquid mineral fertilizers or plant manure. In general, a good amount of a mainly organic long-term fertilizer should be worked into the soil when planting. Our Plantura organic tomato fertilizer is such a long-term fertilizer and contains all the important nutrients that Brussels sprouts need.
Warning: Do not over-fertilize your Brussels sprouts! Excessive amounts of nitrogen cause the florets to become soft and the winter hardiness to disappear. Over-fertilization is particularly problematic when mineral fertilizers are not applied properly. Long-term organic fertilizers in particular decompose slowly and do not pose this risk.
Caring for Brussels sprouts
It will take some time for the Brussels sprouts to reach their full size. The perennials only reach their final size in midsummer. Until then, the bed between the individual Brussels sprouts plants is unshaded and weeds have an easy time. Chop weeds into your Brussels sprouts bed regularly to avoid too much competition for nutrients and water!
Tip: The "Sprout De-Pointing" should help to improve the growth of the florets. The main shoot is shortened so that more of the energy is converted into the sprouts. However, pinching should only be used with early-ripening varieties, otherwise it is rather disadvantageous and could lead to increased frost damage, as the florets grow excessively!
An overview of Brussels sprouts cultivation and care:
- Loosen bed deeply; enrich with compost (possibly already in the previous year)
- Note crop rotation!
- Sow Brussels sprouts in spring; Plant seedlings by the end of May at the latest
- Planting distance at least 50 cm
- Initially water only a little to stimulate root growth; after thatregularly
- Fertilize from the beginning of the formation of florets (beginning of July)
Propagate your own sprouts or buy sprouts?
The Brussels sprouts can be sown directly into the bed. However, this is only recommended if spring promises even and warm temperatures. When sowing directly in the bed, the distance should be smaller than with Brussels sprouts (here approx. 50 cm), so that any non-germs can be compensated. If the conditions are good enough for an excessive number of sprouts to sprout, the seedlings can be isolated in the bed. Place the seeds no deeper than 2 cm. A bag of Brussels sprouts seeds is available for less than one euro.
The safer way to grow sprouts successfully is to start seedlings in early spring. The alternative to your self-grown seedlings are Brussels sprouts from well-stocked specialist shops or online from a specialist mail order company. You can get a planting plate with 10 to 12 seedlings from €2.50. Place the Brussels sprouts in the bed between mid-April and the end of May to ensure optimal growth.
Brussels sprouts: A small selection
The variety of Brussels sprouts is not comparable to related species, but it is still important to choose the right Brussels sprouts for our latitude. We have put together a small selection of the most suitable varieties for you:
Planting Brussels Sprouts: Early Varieties
- Selection: Can be harvested from September; sweet-spicy taste
- Groninger: Traditional variety; Harvest from November
- Rosella: Roundish oval florets; very fast growing and early ripe
Planting Brussels Sprouts: Late Varieties
- Roodnerf: Hardy; should be sown early as it is a rather late variety; strong in taste; slightly purple florets
- Sanda: Late-ripening Brussels sprouts; tolerant of drought and frost; light green florets
- Igor (F1 variety): Very productive; high nutritional values; slightly violet; medium late variety
Brussels Sprouts: Harvest and Freeze
The Brussels sprouts harvest can be stretched over several months. If you have fertilized properly, the florets will even last into the next spring. We'll tell you how to harvest your Brussels sprouts and how to preserve them.
Brussels sproutsharvest
When harvesting, you can either carefully break the Brussels sprouts from the leaf axils or cut them off with a knife. Always harvest the largest and most ripe florets first. If the conditions are good, you can eat your sprouts all winter long.
Tip: Some types of Brussels sprouts form a savoy cabbage-like base at the end of the main shoot. This can also be used as such!
Freezing and storing Brussels sprouts
If you want to keep some of your harvest beyond the season, you should freeze the Brussels sprouts. To do this, first remove the outer, dark leaves of the florets. Then carve them a few millimeters deep and blanch them in boiling s alted water for 2 to 3 minutes. Then pour the blanched Brussels sprouts into a sieve and rinse them with cold water. This keeps the florets crisp. When the Brussels sprouts are completely cool, they can be frozen.
As already mentioned, Brussels sprouts can be harvested well into winter if the conditions are good. You can find out which types of vegetables are suitable for the winter in our article on growing winter vegetables.