Organic Brussels Sprout Seeds

Brussels Sprouts Darkmar 21 20 Organic Brussels Sprout Seeds £0.60 123

• A traditional favourite.
• Produces dark green sprouts with a delicious flavour
• Harvest through the winter.
  

Sowing Instructions

Sow: Under glass in late March or outdoors in April, very thinly, about 10cm apart, and around 1cm deep, directly into well prepared soil. Sprouts prefer a partly shaded site and one which is fairly sheltered.  Mature plants are top heavy and are likely to suffer from wind rock in exposed sites.

Transplant:  Once frosts have passed, transplant to about 50-60cm apart and firm in well.  Transplanting Brussels sprouts will encourage a stronger root system.

Aftercare: Water well in dry conditions and stake if the site is windy.  This is one vegetable that will not appreciate fertiliser.  Instead, use a mulch of well rotted organic compost.  Remove lower leaves which turn yellow.

Harvest: Once again, a rare vegetable, in that the harder the frost, the better.  Harvest from October using a knife to cut off individual sprouts (pulling them off may weaken the main stem).  As the sprouts mature from the bottom of the plant, pick the lower ones first, and work your way up.  Pick evenly from all plants, saving the top sprouts to the end of the season.

Cooking Tips

Rinse well, trim the stem and remove any damaged leaves.  Using a sharp knife, score a deep cross into the base of larger sprouts, to ensure even cooking. Steam or boil for 5-10 minutes, test regularly and drain when al dente.  Serve with melted butter, either on their own or, for a treat, quickly stir-fry your cooked sprouts with some chopped chestnuts or diced pancetta. Yum!