Overview

While likely cultivated since the time of ancient Rome, these little sprouts were popularized in Belgium around the year 1500, giving them the name “Brussels sprout.” It’s also no coincidence that the buds from this plant look like teeny little cabbages: as a member of the brassica family, the two are close relatives. Considered by many children and adults to be one of the… less palatable vegetables, we think Brussels sprouts haven’t been given the love they deserve. Bake or sauté this cool weather crop with olive oil, some garlic, and lemon, and we bet you’ll agree that these little gems should have a place in your kitchen as well as your garden.

The hybrid Nautic F1 Brussels sprout features disease resistance, cold hardiness, and increased productivity. Like its relative, cabbage, it’s actually a biennial plant grown as an annual for its edible sprouts. The green sprouts are small buds that grow to about 1″ across and remain tightly wrapped when ready for harvest. Timing your plantings for a post-frost harvest will result in a sweeter veggie. Alternatively, in mild climates, you can grow them as a winter crop. The Nautic variety’s sprouts are well-spaced along the stem, which provides good air circulation and also means they can easily be harvested individually. Plants will grow to about 2–3′ tall.

  • Botanical Name: Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera
  • Plant Type: Vegetable
  • Variety: Nautic F1
  • Growth Cycle: Annual Biennial
  • Season(s): Spring Summer Fall Winter
  • Climate Zone(s): 2a 2b 3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a
  • Light: Full Sun Partial Shade
  • Soil Type(s): Loamy
  • Yield: 0.5–1 lbs per plant
  • Garden Dimensions: 1 plant per 2 square feet
  • Germination: 6–10 days
  • Maturity: 100–155 days
  • Harvest: 100–155 days

Cultivation

Propagation

Seed:
Seed Depth: 1/4″
Space Between Plants: 12–18″
Space Between Rows: 18–36″
Germination Soil Temperature: 50–85°F
Days for Germination: 6–10
Sow Indoors: 6 to 8 weeks before average last frost if you live in an area with mild summers. For a fall crop, 12–14 weeks before average first frost date. If overwintering in mild climates, plant in the fall.
Sow Outdoors: When soil temperature is at least 50°F. For a fall crop, 10–16 weeks before average first frost date.

Vegetative: It is possible to propagate by taking root cuttings but is not common.

Climate

Prefers cool to cold weather, especially during maturation. For this reason, a fall crop will be more successful than a spring crop unless your summers stay under 75°F. Sprouts usually begin to form when nighttime temperatures are less than 60°F. The sweetest sprouts will come from a fall planting, with harvest time occurring after the first few light frosts. If you live in an area with mild winters, like USDA Zones 8 or 9, it should be grown as a winter crop.

Light

Natural: Full sun to partial shade. Prefers afternoon shade in warm weather.

Artificial: Will grow well under fluorescent or LED lighting. Needs at least 6 hours of light daily; however, more is preferred.

Growing Media

SOIL: Prefers well-drained loamy soil with high levels of organic matter, but will tolerate clay or sandy clay soils as well. A pH of between 6.5 and 7.0 will keep plants healthy and nourished.

Soilless: Seeds and container-grown plants will do well in a soilless mix comtaining peat moss, perlite, and/or vermiculite.

Hydroponics: Thrives in a media-based hydroponic system. Additionally, microgreens can be grown using a sprouter or on a soilless growing media like wool felt.

Aeroponics: Thrives in aeroponic systems given enough space.

Care

Water: Requires moderate to high levels of water. Provide more in hot weather. Plants may survive hot and dry conditions, but the sprouts won’t form as well or taste as good.

Nutrients: Requires high levels of nutrients. Amend soil with compost or a balanced organic fertilizer before planting. Side dress with compost or feed with liquid kelp or fish emulsion when sprouts begin to form, repeating every 2 weeks. Brussels sprouts prefer a higher balance of potassium and phosphorus rather than excessive nitrogen. Sufficient boron and calcium levels are also important.

Foliar: Will benefit from a foliar feeding containing potassium and other minerals.

Pruning: Pinch off the top set of leaves on young plants to encourage branching. Remove the leaves below each budding sprout to direct the plants energy into the sprouts only. If you want all the sprouts to be ready at the same time, pinch off the top of the main stem when most of them are about half their mature size. Otherwise, sprouts will ripen more gradually from the bottom to the top.

Mulching: Use mulch to keep weeds under control, moderate soil temperature, conserve moisture, and protect plants during cold winters.

Troubleshooting

Pest(s):

  • Aphids
  • Birds
  • Cabbage loopers
  • Cabbage root maggots
  • Cabbage worms
  • Cutworms
  • Diamondback moths
  • Flea beetles
  • Harlequin bugs
  • Leafhoppers
  • Mammals
  • Nematodes
  • Thrips
  • Webworms

Disease(s):

  • Aerial stem rot
  • Black rot
  • Blackleg
  • Clubroot
  • Damping-off
  • Downy mildew
  • Fusarium yellows/Fusarium wilt
  • Powdery mildew
  • Rising spot
  • Rust
  • White blister
  • Wirestem

Deficiency(s): A boron deficiency will cause hollow stems—amend soil with compost before planting to prevent this issue. To fix an issue that is already occurring, a dilute mixture of borax and water can be sprinkled on the earth around the plants’ stems. A potassium deficiency may cause slowed growth and yellowing of leaves. Fix or prevent this by adding clean wood ash to soil before and/or after planting.

Rotation and Companion Plants

Rotation: A 2- to 4-year rotation away form all plants in the brassica family is recommended to prevent pest and disease issues. Plant after a nitrogen-fixing legume, like peas or beans.

Companions: Grows well with beets, buckwheat, cabbage, carrots, chamomile, dill, hyssop, marigolds, mint, nasturtiums, onions, rosemary, sage, spinach, and thyme. Avoid strawberries.

Harvest and Storage

Harvest: Cut or pick sprouts starting from the bottom of the stalk while they are still small and leaves are tightly wrapped. You can take an entire stalk by cutting it at the base and removing individual sprouts. Time harvests to occur between the first few fall frosts and the soil freezing.

Storage: Sprouts can be kept refrigerated for about one to two weeks in a plastic bag.

Other Info

Fun Fact: Brussels sprouts gained popularity in Belgium in the 1500s. The plant is thought to have arisen from a mutation of the savoy cabbage.

Consumption

Preserve and Prepare

Preserve: Sprouts can be pickled, lacto-fermented á la kimchi, or blanched and frozen for later use.

Prepare: Cut the buds from the stalk and remove any stems they may have. The outer layer of leaves is usually discarded. You can cook them by boiling, steaming, stir frying, grilling, roasting, or even deep frying in batter. Before cooking, they are sometimes chopped in half, or the base of each sprout is slit with a knife to aid heat distribution throughout. Be sure not to overcook: if you do, the sprouts will release a sulfur-containing compound that most people don’t enjoy the smell or taste of.

Benefits

Nutritional: Provides vitamin(s) A, C, K, potassium, iron, antioxidants, moderate amounts of B vitamins, and even some protein. It is also a good source of dietary fiber.

Medicinal: Like other cabbage family plants, Brussels sprouts are considered a very healthy addition to the diet. Several phytochemical compounds found in the plants are being researched for anti-cancer proprieties as well as other immune system benefits.

Warnings: The vitamin K content in Brussels sprouts may cause problems for people taking anticoagulant medications.

Culinary

Learn more about pickling and preserve your harvest by making these Basil Brussels Sprout Pickles.

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