Brussels Sprout

vegetables · garden plants · cabbage family

Tiny cabbage buds. Brussels sprouts aren't actually baby cabbages, even though they look like them. They're special buds that grow in clusters along the stem of one plant, kind of like how leaves would grow, but much bigger and packed tight.

Named after a city. These vegetables got their name from Brussels, Belgium, where farmers grew them a very long time ago. People there loved growing and eating them, and eventually the idea spread to other countries.

Same family as cabbage. Brussels sprouts belong to the same plant family as cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower. They all have that same crunchy texture and are packed with vitamins that help keep your body strong.

Harvest from the bottom up. Farmers don't pick all the sprouts at once. They start by harvesting the ones at the bottom of the stalk first, and as the plant keeps growing, more sprouts develop higher up to pick later.

Taste better in winter. Cold weather actually makes Brussels sprouts taste sweeter and less bitter. Many farmers pick them after the first frost because the cold changes the plants in a way that makes them more delicious.