Brussels sprouts
A classic winter vegetable, much maligned but delicious when home-grown. Requires a long growing season but provides a harvest when little else is available.
Brussels sprouts seeds
£2.29 in the shop
Calendar
Sow
Indoors: March – April. Outdoors: April – May.
Plant out
May – June, when seedlings are strong and have 4-5 true leaves.
Harvest
October – March (the following year)
Conditions
Sun
Full sun, 6-8 hours a day
Water
Consistent and generous, especially during dry spells.
Soil
Deep, fertile, well-drained, firm soil. pH 6.0–7.5
Spacing
60-75cm between plants – they grow tall!
Containers
Not suitable due to large size and long growing season.
Indoors
Starting indoors gives plants a good head start and stronger growth.
Care and harvest
Feeding
Heavy feeders. Enrich soil with compost/manure. Feed with a balanced liquid feed every few weeks during growth. Requires firming of soil around base.
Pruning
Remove yellowing lower leaves. Remove the top 'cabbage' (called 'stopping') in late autumn to encourage sprout development.
Harvesting
Twist off sprouts from the bottom of the stem upwards as they mature and firm up. Harvest all winter.
Storage
Store in the fridge for up to a week. Can be blanched and frozen.
Good companions: Marigolds, Mint, Rosemary, Nasturtiums, Onions