Long Island Improved Brussels Sprouts
Item Details
A single stalk of this variety can bear 50-100 dark-green BruSeed Savers Exchangels sprouts (florets) over an extended period. Compact plants produce sturdy spikes with edible florets that mature from the bottom up and take on sweeter tones after a light frost. Toward the end of the growing season, cut off the top 4-6 inches of the plant to force it to put it's energy into the existing sprouts; the remaining sprouts should mature in 3-6 weeks. Introduced in the 1890s, this historic variety was once the most important commercial sprout in the United States.
- 80-115 days from transplant
- Conventional
- Compact plants
- This variety will grow well in most regions of the United States but prefers a long, cool summer season
- Yield 50-100 sprouts over a season
- Sprouts grow to 1.5 inches
- Sweet flavor when harvested after frost
This variety works for:
- Steaming
- Boiling
- Baking
- Soup
- Freezing
Brussels sprouts are sweetest when they are small heads and have been exposed to at least one frost. Sauté them with butter and shallots or roast them with bacon then top with a maple and cider vinegar dressing.
You can add your sprouts to casseroles, gratins, and soups. Try tossing them in a warm winter greens salad with pistachios and pancetta.
Growing Instructions
Instructions - In cool climates, sow seeds indoors early, 4-6 weeks before the last frost. In warmer climates, Brussels sprouts can be direct sown for a spring harvest. Plant ¼" deep. A slow-growing, long-season vegetable that requires an even supply of water, Brussels sprouts also survive frost and light snowfalls.
- Start Indoors: 6-8 weeks before last frost
- Germination: 5-10 Days
- Plant Outdoors: 24” Apart
- Light: Full Sun
Ratings & Reviews
4 reviews
Great flavor and amazing look.
by Roger
Very productive once they get going. they grow very slowly, but the taste is worth the wait. Also, they are fun to grow with kids since they grow so different than most of the plants they see out and about.
Maybe good for Long Island weather, but not for Maine.
by Danielle Stanley
Plants grew tall with beautiful large edible leaves......the sprouts, however
did not grow larger than acorn size.
Yes I started them in time but such slow growth saw only acorn size by December. Very disappointing .
Seed Savers Response: Brussel Sprouts are very heavy feeders and need to be fertilized on a very regular basis. This could be one reason for small sprouts that didn't grow beyond acorn size.
No sprouts
by Ann
Easy germination. Big, beautiful plants. No problems with disease. Unfortunately, they never grew any sprouts. I've tried two years in a row without luck.
Seed Savers Response: I’m sorry to hear this variety didn’t do well in your garden. Please reach out to our customer service team for variety and planting suggestions and tips.
Disappointed
by Cindy
Big plants but no sprouts! I have planted Brussels sprouts before and had great luck. More sprouts than we could eat. Was excited to plant them this fall and now no sprouts. My friend had the same issue with hers. Do not think this is an improved version!.