When should I sow Brussels sprouts in the UK?

March to April. Earlier (February) sowings tend to bolt; later (May) sowings don't have time to mature decent sprouts before winter. Transplant the seedlings to their final position in June or July when they're pencil-thick.

Why are my Brussels sprouts loose and blown rather than tight?

Loose soil at planting time. Brussels sprouts need a firm, settled bed — they're top-heavy plants that rock in wind, and any movement at the roots produces blown (loose, open-leaved) sprouts. Tread the bed firm before transplanting; firm the soil hard around each plant; stake from autumn onwards.

Do Brussels sprouts really taste better after frost?

Yes, scientifically. Frost triggers the plant to convert starches to sugars as an antifreeze response, sweetening the sprouts dramatically. Pre-frost sprouts (September) tend to taste rough and earthy; post-frost (November onwards) they're sweet. The reason Christmas sprouts always taste better than September ones.

When do I pick Brussels sprouts?

From October when the lower sprouts are walnut-sized and tight; pick through to March the following year. Snap the bottom sprouts off first; work upwards over weeks. A single plant gives 30–50 sprouts spread over 4–5 months of picking — far better value than a single-harvest commercial-style crop.

What's the best variety for the UK?

For uniform commercial-style crops, F1 hybrids (Diablo, Trafalgar, Brigitte) give predictable results. For better flavour and a longer picking window, heritage varieties (Bedford Fillbasket, Long Island Improved) crop over a wider date range with variable sprout size. Most allotment growers split between an F1 (reliability) and a heritage cultivar (flavour).

My sprouts have aphids inside them — what do I do?

Mealy cabbage aphid (Brevicoryne brassicae) gets between the leaves of developing sprouts. Net against butterflies as standard; that doesn't stop aphids. For severe infestations, hose down the plants weekly with a soft soap spray (a teaspoon of washing-up liquid in a litre of water). Encouraging hoverflies and ladybirds (plant flowering dill, coriander, fennel near the brassica bed) is the long-term defence.

Cavolino di Bruxelles

Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera

Semina i semi di cavoletti di Bruxelles da marzo ad aprile in casa o in un semenzaio; trapianta le piantine a una distanza di 60 cm l'una dall'altra in un terreno compatto e fertile da giugno a luglio. I cavoletti di Bruxelles sono molto resistenti al freddo (RHS H5–H6) e rappresentano una delle colture con la stagione più lunga nel Regno Unito: se seminati a marzo, si raccolgono da ottobre fino a marzo dell'anno successivo. Il gelo, infatti, rende i cavoletti più dolci; quelli raccolti prima del gelo hanno un sapore ruvido. Proteggere con una rete dalle farfalle bianche del cavolo durante l'estate e dai piccioni durante l'inverno. Fissare saldamente con dei tutori al momento della piantagione: le piante mature sono sbilanciate verso l'alto e possono essere danneggiate dalle raffiche autunnali. Raccogliere dal basso verso l'alto man mano che i cavolini maturano; la parte superiore fogliosa rimane sulla pianta fino a novembre per favorirne la crescita.

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