Grow your own Brussels Sprouts

As you may have imagined, Brussels sprouts originated in Brussels in Belgium. They thrive during the cold winter months, so June is the ideal month to plant them.

Step-by-step guide for growing your own Brussels sprouts :

• Choose a sunny spot in your garden with well draining soil. Work in a generous amount of compost and 2:3:2 fertiliser.
• Sow seeds directly into the soil in rows 1m apart.
• Keep the soil evenly moist and apply a layer of mulch to retain moisture and discourage weeds. When the plants reach 30cm high feed again with 2:3:2.
• Brussels sprouts have shallow root systems, so they often need a little help to stay upright. Mound soil around the base of the plants to keep them steady.
• Brussels sprouts grow from the leaf joints of the plant. They grow from the bottom up, so when the bottom ones are about the size of a large marble you can start to pick them. If you leave them on the plant for too long they will become bitter.

Did you know? Brussels sprouts are very good for you! They contain more vitamin C than oranges and three times the amount of vitamin A of cabbage.