🥦 Brussels Sprouts
Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera
vegetables
brassica (cole crop)
☀️ Sun
Full sun (6, 8 hours)
💧 Water
High; 1, 1.5 inches per week; consistent moisture is critical for tight, sweet sprouts
🗺️ Zones
3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9
🧪 Soil pH
6.5, 7.5 (neutral to slightly alkaline preferred , helps prevent clubroot)
🪴 Soil Type
Rich, firm, well-drained loam; Brussels sprouts prefer FIRM soil , do not over-loosen; they are tall, top-heavy plants that need solid anchoring
🚿 Drainage
Well-drained but moisture-retentive
📏 Spacing
18, 24 inches apart; rows 30, 36 inches; some varieties grow 3+ ft tall , allow headroom
⏱️ Maturity
80-120 days (from transplant); 100-140 days from seed
🍴 Edible Parts
🍽️ Sprouts (axillary buds along stem)
🍽️ Tops/leaves (similar to collard greens)
🍽️ Stems (peeled)
Key:🤝 Grows well together❌ Keep apart☀️ Sun needs💧 Water🗺️ Hardiness zone
🤝 Companions (6)
Improves flavor; attracts beneficials
Attracts parasitic wasps for cabbage worm and aphid control
Repels aphids; antifungal may reduce disease pressure
Trap crop for aphids; repels cabbage pests IMPORTANT management caveat: without active management, nasturtiums can become a SOURCE of aphids that migrate to nearby crops. Either remove aphid-infested nasturtium plants promptly, or treat the trap crop itself to eliminate the aphid colony before it spreads. Strategic placement within 4-5 feet of protected crops is key.
Strong scent repels cabbage moths
Repels flea beetles and cabbage moths
⚠️ Keep Apart (3)
Allelopathic
Mutual inhibition
Brassica allelopathy stunts tomatoes
💊 Medicinal Uses
Medicinal Properties
- Contains sulforaphane and indole-3-carbinol (anti-cancer compounds)
- Extremely high in vitamin K (over 200% DV per serving) and vitamin C
- Good source of folate, manganese, and fiber
- Contains glucosinolates being studied for DNA protection
📝 Growing Notes
Brussels sprouts have the longest growing season of common brassicas: 90, 180 days. They require frost to develop sweetness (cold triggers sugar production in sprouts). Harvest from bottom up as sprouts mature (1-2 inches diameter, firm). Stake tall plants in windy areas. Pinching the top growing tip in late summer/early fall directs energy to sprout development. Excellent crop for overwintering in mild climates (zones 7+).
🛒 Buy Seeds & Plants
Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds
Johnny's Selected Seeds
Botanical Interests
True Leaf Market
Burpee
Territorial Seed Company
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