How to Trim Brussels Sprout Plants

Brussels sprout plants are hardy vegetables that are members of the cabbage family. Their small, round, leafy vegetables look very similar to tiny cabbage heads. Although planted during the summer months, Brussels sprout plants are cool-weather plants that do not produce any sprouts until the fall or winter. Although severe pruning is not required, lightly pruning Brussels sprout plants will actually encourage more vigorous growth and additional sprout development.

Brussels Sprout Plants That Produce Large Sprouts

When grown under the right cultural conditions, healthy Brussels sprouts are bright to deep green in color and look like small, tight heads of cabbage. A long-growing vegetable, Brussels sprouts require approximately 80 to 100 days when grown from seed until harvest. The typical Brussels sprout is between 1 to 2 inches in diameter. The plant requires full sun and fertile, well-draining soil with a pH of 5.5 to 6.5. Note that larger Brussels sprout cultivars typically have less uniformity, and the sprout itself has looser leaves and is less compact, characteristics that in the typical Brussels sprout plant are indicative of excess nitrogen in the soil. However, the large cultivars are known to produce sprouts with these characteristics. The “Dolmic” is a smaller plant that is ready for harvest after 115 days, although this variety is difficult to harvest by hand.