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.

Couves-de-Bruxelas

Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera

Semeie as sementes de couve-de-bruxelas entre março e abril, em ambiente interior ou num canteiro de sementeira; transplante-as com 60 cm de distância entre elas, em solo firme e fértil, entre junho e julho. As couves-de-bruxelas são muito resistentes (RHS H5–H6) e constituem uma das culturas com a época mais longa no Reino Unido — semeadas em março, a colheita decorre de outubro até março do ano seguinte. A geada, na verdade, torna as couves mais doces; as colhidas antes da geada têm um sabor mais áspero. Cubra com rede contra as borboletas-da-couve durante o verão e novamente contra os pombos durante o inverno. Fixe bem com estacas no momento da plantação — as plantas maduras ficam com o peso concentrado na parte superior durante as tempestades de outono. Colha de baixo para cima à medida que as couves amadurecem; a parte superior folhosa permanece na planta até novembro para alimentar o crescimento.

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