Brussels Sprouts 'Long Island Improved'
Brussels Sprouts 'Long Island Improved' is a heirloom brassica variety (Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera 'Long Island Improved'). Harvest begins around day 100-120; seed germinates in 5-10 days. Set plants 18-24 inches apart. Grow in soil pH 6.0-7.0, zones 6-9, full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours). Plants reach 10-24 inches.

Sowing
Start seeds indoors 12-14 weeks before first fall frost, or direct sow in late spring for fall harvest. Transplant when 4-6 inches tall.
Cultivation
- Sun
- Full sun to partial shade (4-6+ hours)
- Water
- 1-1.5 inches per week, consistent moisture
- Soil
- Rich, well-drained soil with high organic matter content
- Soil pH
- 6.0-7.0
- Spacing
- 18-24 inches
- Height
- 10-24 inches
- Season
- Cool season
Appearance & flavour
- Colour
- Deep green
- Size
- 1-2 inches diameter
- Shape
- Compact, round mini-cabbages clustered along stem
- Flavour
- Sweet and nutty when harvested after frost, mild cabbage flavor
In the kitchen
Roasting, steaming, sautéing, grilling, shredding raw for salads, braising with bacon
Pests, disease & resistance
- Pests
- Cabbage worms, aphids, flea beetles, cabbage loopers
- Diseases
- Clubroot, black rot, downy mildew, powdery mildew
- Resistance
- Good tolerance to clubroot and black rot
Planting calendar by USDA zone
| Zone | Start indoors | Transplant | Direct sow | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | April – May | June – July | June – July | September |
| 2 | April – May | June – July | May – July | September |
| 3 | March – April | May – June | May – June | August – October |
| 4 | March – April | May – June | April – June | August – October |
| 5 | February – March | April – May | April – May | August – November |
| 6 | February – March | April – May | April – May | July – November |
| 7 | February – March | April – May | March – May | July – November |
| 8 | January – February | March – April | March – April | June – December |
| 9 | January | February – March | February – March | May – December |
| 10 | January | February – March | January – March | May – December |
| 11 | January | January – February | January – February | April – December |
| 12 | January | January – February | January – February | April – December |
| 13 | January | January – February | January – February | April – December |
Companion planting
8 beneficial pairings indexed for this variety, 3 to avoid.
Avoid
Nutrition (per 100 g)
- Protein (g)
- 3.98
- Fat (g)
- 0.565
- Carbohydrate (g)
- 9.62
- Fibre (g)
- 4.78
- Vitamin C (mg)
- 143
- Folate (µg)
- 86
- Calcium (mg)
- 38.6
- Iron (mg)
- 0.73
- Magnesium (mg)
- 25
- Phosphorus (mg)
- 78.5
- Potassium (mg)
- 477
- Zinc (mg)
- 0.366
Where to buy seed and equipment
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Cultivar facts compiled from public horticultural references including USDA GRIN and NC State Extension. Descriptions are original to this catalogue.
Grown Brussels Sprouts 'Long Island Improved'?
Post a crop report — day counts, reservoir readings, what worked. Variety-specific logs are the most useful thing on the forum.
Similar varieties
Other brassicas with a comparable time to harvest, so a season that suits Brussels Sprouts 'Long Island Improved' suits these too.
- Detroit Dark Red 100 days
- Early Flat Dutch Cabbage 100 days
- Gladius 98 days
- Silvia 103 days
- Romanesco 95 days
- Divino 110 days