Brussels sprout is a member of the Gemmifera group of cabbages, grown for its edible buds. The leaf vegetables are 1.5–4.0 cm in diameter and look like miniature cabbages.
Brussels sprouts can be grown in just about any home vegetable garden if you have patience. Brussels Sprouts plants require a very long growing season. However they actually taste better when they are hit with a slight frost, so although they are a late harvest, they are a relatively long one. Because of their fondness for cool weather, Brussels Sprouts are a fall crop in warmer climates. As with broccoli, growing Brussels sprouts in warm weather and long days will cause the “sprouts” to open and be unsuitable for eating. Named after the city of Brussels, Brussels sprouts were first made popular in Belgium, where they’ve been grown since about 1200. The sprouts are buds that grow in the axils of each leaf. They look like tiny cabbages and are actually considered a type of wild cabbage. The plant itself looks like a small palm tree and the sprouts grow along the trunk-like stem. The green variety is the most commonly grown, but there are red Brussels sprouts too.
Sprout watering tools come in vibrant two-tone colors including blueberry blue, raspberry red, and gooseberry green. trusty sprout tools are built to last, helping gardeners grow fresh crisp vegetables, beautiful blooming flowers and lush green lawns season after season.
The ideal blend of soil for plant growth is called loam. Often referred to as topsoil or black dirt by landscape companies, loam is a mixture of sand, clay, and silt.
Use a fertilizer formulated specifically for your plant. Avoid over-fertilizing and follow the instruction on the label.
It is important to never remove more than a third of the foliage in any one year and to cut just above a node on the stem.
Brussels sprouts grow in temperature ranges of 7–24°C (45–75°F), with highest yields at 15–18°C (59–64°F).
Here’s a handy guideline: increase pot size by 2.5-5 cm (1 to 2 inches) in diameter for plants that are growing in pots 25.4 cm (10 inches) in diameter or less. For larger plants, those growing in pots greater than 10 inches in diameter, increase the pot size by 5 or 7.62 cm (2 or 3 inches) in diameter.
