How to Harvest Brussels Sprouts | Gardener's Path

How to Harvest Brussels Sprouts

While brussels sprouts may get a bad rap in some culinary circles, they don’t fare so poorly in my household.

On the contrary, my family will happily wolf down an entire pan of brussels without a second thought, particularly if they are glazed in maple syrup and accompanied by bacon.

I consider brussels sprouts – members of the Brassicaceae family – to be a real delicacy, slow to mature and expensive to buy. In my opinion, they are one of those veggies that is much tastier when picked fresh from the garden.

That is why I prefer to grow and harvest my own.

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While you may be inclined to feel intimidated by these strange towering stalks with their funny little edible buds we refer to as sprouts, the process of harvesting brussels is actually not too complicated.

Let’s get picking!

If you want to get a decent harvest, there are a few important tips and tricks to know about the growing process.

Brussels sprouts take a long time to mature. During the long waiting period, doing a little bit of careful pruning can help you maximize your yield.

Throughout the growing season, observe your plants regularly and strip off any leaves that start to turn yellow.

If you choose, you can actually remove all of the lower leaves regardless of whether they are beginning to lose color. This will speed up the time they take to mature by encouraging the plants to direct energy towards producing buds.

Just be sure to always leave some of the larger upper leaves on the plant. It is necessary for the plant to retain some of its foliage for photosynthesis.