Brussels sprouts stack dozens of tiny cabbage-like buds up a tall, sturdy stalk, and unlike most vegetables, a light frost actually improves their flavor rather than ruining the harvest.
A slow-growing member of the cabbage family, Brussels sprouts need a long cool season to mature, making them a classic fall and winter harvest crop in many gardens.
Brussels sprouts want full sun and rich, well-draining soil, and they need a long growing season — often 80 to 100 days — so timing a planting to mature as the weather cools is key. Harvest sprouts from the bottom of the stalk upward as they reach about an inch across.
Waiting until after the first light frost to harvest genuinely improves flavor, as the cold triggers the plant to convert starches into sugars.
