Brussels Sprouts (Long Island Improved)

Botanical Interests Long Island Improved Brussels Sprouts Seeds

Modern chefs have transformed this historically disliked vegetable into a much-sought-after food that is delicious deep-fried, steamed, or roasted. Give them plenty of water, nutrients, and time to grow before they begin forming sprouts. Covering plants with row covers after sowing/transplanting will help exclude pests. You can leave plants in the garden into the winter, as they are hardy to 10°F; frost actually improves the flavor. The plants resemble little palm trees.

Sowing Information:

• Light: Full sun to partial shade
• When to Start Inside: RECOMMENDED. 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting outside, about 4 months before your average first fall frost date so sprouts mature in cool weather. The optimal soil temperature for germination is 60°–85°F.
• When to Sow Outside: 4 months before your average first fall frost date, when the soil temperature is at least 40°F.
• Seed Depth: Plant seeds ¼" deep.
• Seed Spacing: A group of 3 seeds every 24"
• Thinning: When 2" tall, thin to 1 every 24"
• Days to Germinate: 5–10 days
• Days to Maturity: 85–110 days

Growing Notes:

• Harvesting: Brussels sprouts start maturing from the bottom of the plant to the top. Buds should be picked when they are firm and about the size of a large cherry, between 3/4" and 1" in size. Break off the leaf just below the buds and snap or cut off the sprout. Brussels sprouts can be left in the garden through a freeze, which sweetens the flavor.
  
• Variety Information: 1"–1½", blue-green orbs that look like tiny cabbage heads, and grow tightly and densely against the main trunk of the plant. The cluster of leaves at the top of the plant gives it a palm-tree-like look. 'Long Island Improved' was developed in the 1890s, quickly becoming the garden standard, and continues to be a dependable heirloom for home gardeners.