Brussels Sprouts Seeds (Heirloom)

Hard-to-find heirloom Brussels sprouts

Store-bought Brussels sprouts are frequently picked too early, as seen by their harsh flavor and brittle texture. End the dinnertime dispute by growing your own heirloom Brussels sprouts! They are soft and sweeter when picked fresh from your garden, providing a completely new dining experience. Brussels, Belgium, is where these miniature cabbage-like crops are thought to have been first widely cultivated in the 16th century.

Starting heirloom brussels sprouts at home

Heirloom Brussels sprouts are a winter vegetable farmed for their delicious buds. These seeds do best if they are started indoors approximately six weeks before the final spring frost and then transplanted onto raised beds with a temperature of 45 to 75°F with either full sun or at least six hours of direct sunlight every day. Cover your heirloom Brussels sprouts seeds with about 1/4 inch of dirt when sowing them. Transplant seedlings into your outdoor garden when they reach four to six inches tall and/or sprout two to four leaves, leaving 15 to 18 inches between plants. Watering near the plant's base will keep the soil evenly moist. One inch of water each week is required for heirloom Brussels sprouts. Mulch around your plants to keep the soil cool if you're growing in a hotter season or zone.

When to harvest heirloom brussels sprouts

Harvest heirloom Brussels sprouts when they reach a diameter of a half to one inch, or 90 to 180 days after planting. If you're not going to chop the entire stalk, proceed by harvesting the sprouts from the bottom. Store your heirloom Brussels sprouts in the freezer for three to five weeks after harvesting or in the refrigerator for one to two weeks.

Eat healthy with heirloom brussels sprouts

Heirloom Brussels sprouts are one of the most remarkable cold-weather superfoods, packed with vitamin C, antioxidants, and cancer-fighting glucosinolates. Heirloom Brussels sprouts can help with high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease, and diabetes, among other health problems. Furthermore, they help with inflammation, digestive health, and eye health. Grow and harvest your own heirloom Brussels sprouts to reap the various health benefits they offer. Roasting, sautéeing, grilling, baking, or pan-frying heirloom Brussels sprouts are some common ways to prepare a Brussels sprouts dish and your tastebuds will not be disappointed!

For more information about planting, growing, and caring for heirloom Brussels sprouts seeds, see the Brussels Sprouts Seeds Planting Guide.