Catskill Brussels Sprouts Seeds

GROWING INSTRUCTIONS

A delicious, vintage vegetable to grow, brussels sprouts thrive in the cool of the spring and fall. Enough space and a long growing season is required, but a fresh bounty of brussels sprouts is worth the time and effort.

Start seeds indoors in winter or early spring to beat the heat of summer. For a fall harvest sow the seeds directly into the garden 6-10 weeks before the first frost. To start seeds, plant 1 cm deep in flats with pre-moistened starter mix. Keep seeds moist, warm and, after germination in 7-10 days, use lights to prevent seedlings from getting leggy.

Harden off the seedlings before transplanting outdoors, which should be after the danger of the last frost has passed. A couple weeks before transplanting outside, spread a layer of compost or mulch over the bed to warm up the soil. Transplant when the young plants are 10-15 cm tall and space them 45 to 60 cm apart. The gnarly stalks will need space to grow tall and bud out successfully.

Brussels sprouts do best under full sun in fertile, well-drained soil. Make sure the plants get 3-6 cm of water/week, a little more during dry spells. A good amount of mulch around the base of the plants will greatly benefit the shallow roots, keeping them cool and moist. Brussels sprouts, like other brassicas, are heavy feeders and should be fertilized once a month. This is especially important during their flowering phase.

Harvest the sprouts from the bottom of the stalk up. When the heads are firm, dense and still tightly closed, at about 3 cm in diameter, harvest by hand, with a knife or pruners. Be careful not to damage the main stalk. For uniform maturity and size, plants can be pinched when lower sprouts are 1-2 cm in diameter.

QUICK FACTS

- Forerunners to modern Brussels sprouts were originally native to the Mediterranean region and later appeared in northern Europe around the fifth century. Brussels sprouts as they are now known were cultivated in the 13th century near Brussels in Belgium.

- Being very tolerant to frost, Brussels sprouts are a good vegetable to grow in colder climates.

- Brussels sprouts seeds will remain viable for 4 years if stored in a cool, dark place, ideally between 4 and 10⁰C. After that, the germination rate may start to go down.