Early maturing with medium green, firm, button-like sprouts that are evenly spaced and well formed. Transplant in late April for masses of tasty sprouts late August through September. Plant more seeds in June to be ready for late fall and winter harvests, so you can be the one to bring Brussels sprouts to the holiday dinner parties. Avoid transplanting Brussels sprouts into high nitrogen soils. Gustus Brussels sprout seeds replace the much loved but now unavailable Oliver Brussels sprouts.
Matures in 110 days
West Coast Seeds Gustus F1 Brussel Sprouts Seeds, Per Package
Starting
Sow 3-4 seeds per pot, 1cm (1/2”) deep, under very bright light. Thin to the strongest plant. Transplants should be set out when they have 6-8 true leaves. Space transplants 45-60cm (18-24″) apart in rows 75-90cm (30-36″) apart.
Timing
The goal is to harvest mature sprouts after they have been kissed by frost. Seeds can be direct sown any time once the daytime temperature is steadily above 10°C (50°F). Otherwise start the seeds in small pots or transplant beds and transplant into the garden so the plants are in the ground for 45-60 days before the first hard frost. Optimal soil temperature for germination: 10-30°C (50-85°F). Seeds should germinate in 7-10 days.
Harvest
Sprouts are sweeter after moderate freezes. Pick when sprouts are firm and well-formed, beginning with the ones at the bottom. The upper sprouts continue to form and enlarge as the bottom ones are harvested. For a once over harvest, to ensure you have enough for your holiday meal, pinch out the growing point at the top of the stem when the lower sprouts are 1-2 cm (½-¾”) in diameter. A full stem of evenly sized sprouts will develop in about 2 weeks.
After harvesting the sprouts, there may be another harvest in early spring where winters are mild. The plant sends up long, edible flower stalks which are tender and sweet when steamed, or served raw with a dip.
