Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Gardening

A complete guide to growing delicious Brussels sprouts in the winter

Want to grow Brussels sprouts this winter? Here's how

By

Brussels sprouts are a nutritious, delicious vegetable, and they’re especially tasty when fresh. Winter isn’t known for freshly harvested vegetables in most regions, though, which can be put a damper on your gardening enthusiasm. However, there are some vegetables that you can still grow during winter, and if you guessed that Brussels sprouts are one of them you’d be correct.

If you're excited to start growing your own Brussels sprouts, then you're in luck! We have a handy guide full of tips and tricks on how to grow Brussels sprouts.

Recommended Videos

Difficulty

Easy

Duration

45 minutes

What You Need

  • Mulch

  • Fertilizer

  • Brussels sprouts seeds of your choosing

A fresh bowl of Brussels sprouts
Image used with permission by copyright holder

When should you start your winter Brussels sprouts?

There are two factors to consider when deciding when to plant your Brussels sprouts. Here's how to choose the best start time:

Step 1: Choose a start date based on your Brussels sprout variety.

Faster maturing varieties, such as Tasty Nuggets, take three or four months to mature, while the slower growing varieties, such as Falstaff, can take five or six months. For slower growing varieties, you may want to plant in mid-late spring for a winter harvest. Faster growing varieties can be started in autumn for a late winter or early spring harvest.

Step 2: Plant your Brussels sprouts when the weather is cool.

Brussels sprouts are naturally cold tolerant plants, and can survive temperatures well below freezing for short periods of time. However, they don’t fare quite as well in the heat.

If you live in a region with a hot summer and mild winter, an autumn planting time is ideal. For more northern regions, with a mild summer and a cold winter, you can plant in spring or autumn. In areas with particularly brutal winters, it’s recommended to plant your Brussels sprouts in mid-summer and harvest them in early to mid-winter, before you have any sustained freezes.

Related
A plant full of Brussels sprouts
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How to get started

Here's how to choose the best planting location for your Brussels sprouts:

Step 1: Start your Brussels sprout seeds indoors, then transplant them into the garden after four or five weeks.

This is a great choice for slower growing varieties, especially if you want to grow them through winter for an early spring harvest. Starting them indoors allows you to protect them from the heat of summer.

Step 2: Plant your Brussels sprouts in soil that’s well-draining and rich in organic matter.

Step 3: Make sure the soil is slightly acidic.

This helps to prevent severe cases of clubroot disease. Clubroot disease affects members of the cabbage family, such as broccoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts.

Step 4: Choose a planting site that gets at least six hours of sun a day.

If you’re starting your plants in early autumn, when the weather is still warm, try to give them some shade in the afternoon. Morning sun is ideal, since the temperatures are typically cooler than in the afternoon, when the sunlight is more concentrated.

A Brussels sprout plant full of sprouts
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Caring for your Brussels sprouts

This is how to care for your Brussels sprouts:

Step 1: Give your Brussels sprouts between 1 and 1.5 inches of water each week.

Step 2: Water your Brussels sprouts below the leaves, to avoid getting the leaves wet.

Wet leaves can lead to an increased risk of fungal infections and frost damage.

Step 3: Apply a layer of mulch around the base of the plant.

A layer of mulch can help with water retention, and can give your Brussels sprouts some protection if you’re expecting a hard freeze.

Step 4: Fertilize your Brussels sprouts.

Brussels sprouts require a lot of nitrogen and phosphorus. Some gardeners prefer to use a phosphorus heavy fertilizer soon after planting to promote leaf growth, and nitrogen a few months later. Others choose a single application of slow or continuous release fertilizer. Testing your soil’s nutrient balance can help you decide on the right fertilizer.

A Brussels sprout plant with snow on it
Image used with permission by copyright holder

How and when should you harvest them?

Here is how to recognize and harvest ripe Brussels sprouts:

Step 1: Begin harvesting three to six months after planting, depending on the variety.

Step 2: Look for sprouts that are firm, but not hard, and between 1 and 2 inches across.

Be aware that some varieties have smaller or larger sprouts.

Step 3: Start from the bottom of the plant, as these sprouts grow first and ripen first.

Work your way up the plant, harvesting as they ripen rather than all at once. Harvesting over a period of time also encourages new growth, which results in a larger harvest.

Step 4: Gently twist or snap them off of the plant.

Now you’re ready to grow your own Brussels sprouts for a plentiful and tasty winter harvest. Although it can seem odd to grow vegetables in winter, Brussels sprouts are well suited to it. In fact, winter-grown Brussels sprouts taste sweeter than others, due to the process of chill-sweetening. This occurs when the plant converts starches to sugars, to keep warm, and results in a sweet, tender Brussels sprout you’re sure to enjoy!

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Cayla Leonard
Cayla Leonard
Contributor
Cayla Leonard is a writer from North Carolina who is passionate about plants.  She enjoys reading and writing fiction and…
The complete guide to growing and caring for mulberry trees
Growing and harvesting mulberries
Mulberries ripening on the bush

Homegrown fruit is a delicious and delightful treat. Whether you want to grow your own fruit for an occasional snack, for pies and other baked goods, or just to attract birds to your yard, there are many wonderful options. Mulberry trees and bushes are an option you might not have considered, though. Mulberries may not be as common as apples and pears, but they are easy to grow and wonderful to eat. If you want to get started growing your own mulberry tree, here’s the complete care guide for you.

Types of mulberry trees
There are three common species of mulberry trees or shrubs that you’re likely to find in nurseries. These are red mulberries (Morus rubra), white mulberries (Morus alba), and black mulberries (Morus nigra). The names relate to the color of the unripe berries (ripe mulberries are always black or dark purple). There are also Everbearing mulberries, which produce more fruit.

Read more
How to grow morel mushrooms at home and save yourself tons of money
A complete care guide to growing your own morel mushrooms
A pair of morel mushrooms

If you're a fan of mushrooms, then you're probably familiar with morel mushrooms. While there are many types of mushrooms you can grow at home, morels are primarily foraged. These mushrooms are elusive and delicious, leaving many gardeners wondering if they can be grown at home.

If you’ve never had one, you may wonder what makes them so special. Not to worry, we’re here to explain everything. We’ll clue you in on how to grow morel mushrooms, why they're so sought after, and what makes growing them different from growing a vegetable garden.

Read more
Is a cucumber a fruit or a vegetable? The answer might surprise you
Everything you need to know about delicious, nutritious cucumbers
Two cucumbers growing from a vine on the ground, with a yellow flower in front

By now, you've probably heard that tomatoes are scientifically considered a fruit  (though they're almost always treated as vegetables). We hate to tell you this now that you've finally gotten that one figured out, but tomatoes aren't the only borderline fruit or vegetable enigma. Believe it or not, crisp, fresh cucumbers also fall into that gray area.

So what exactly is the distinction between fruits and vegetables, and why does it matter as long as you know how to grow them? And is a cucumber a fruit or a vegetable? If you’re curious or confused, then you’re in the right place. We’ll explain everything you need to know about the differences between fruits and vegetables, what cucumbers are classified as, and why it’s important to know.

Read more