The Brassica family contains the highest number of food bearing plants in all of the plant families, including Brussels sprouts, cabbage, kale, collards, cauliflower, and broccoli. All of these plants share the quality of being cold-tolerant. With crop protection, most of the crops in this family can be grown in cold climates even through the winter. Check out the video below to learn all about growing brassicas and what to look out for during planting, transplanting, growing into a larger size, and harvesting.

Planting

  • Brassicas for fall or winter should be started indoors at the end of spring, transplanted in summer to mature in fall or over winter to produce in early spring.
  • Use lights to start indoors. Start seeds in single cell trays, planting 2 seeds per cell.
  • Wait 7–10 days for seeds to germinate.
  • Then, thin to 1 seedling per cell.
  • Once we see 6–8 true leaves, they’re ready to be transplanted. Or if your garden is still full of other plants, you can pot up to 4” to grow to a larger pot before transplanting.

Transplanting

  • Dig a hole in your garden. Add handful of organic fertilizer, top off with compost, and then you’re ready to put seedling into the hole.
  • Gently grip seedling at its base where it meets the soil and squeeze the pot to prepare it for transplanting into the garden.
  • Place seedling into planting hole, pull some soil and gently pat down around the base.

Harvesting

  • Harvest kale and collards often and continuously for best success.
  • Watch for garden pests and use a cloche or cover to keep them out in the first place.
  • Squeeze check on cabbage and Brussels sprouts will tell you if it’s ready to harvest. The firmer, the better.

Varieties featured in this video:

Other products mentioned: