Long Island Improved Brussels Sprouts Seeds — Heirloom (Brassica oleracea)

Long Island Improved Brussels Sprouts Seeds — 1890s Commercial Heirloom | Firm, Prolific Sprouts, Frost-Sweetened Flavor

Brassica oleracea — Long Island Improved is the benchmark heirloom Brussels sprouts variety — the standard commercial variety grown in California dating back to the 1890s. Firm, prolific sprouts over a long season, excellent for freezing, and a flavor that actually improves with frost. Roast them with sausage, braise them with butter, or leave them standing in the garden through winter — this variety rewards patience and cool weather with some of the finest sprouts you can grow. 85–110 days.

Why Grow Long Island Improved?

• Historic commercial standard — the variety that defined California Brussels sprouts production since the 1890s
• Firm, prolific sprouts — tight, well-formed buttons over a long harvest season
• Frost improves flavor — cold temperatures convert starches to sugars; leave plants standing through light frosts for the sweetest sprouts
• Excellent for freezing — firm texture holds well through blanching and freezing
• Long harvest window — produces over an extended season; harvest from bottom to top as sprouts mature
• Open-pollinated heirloom — save seed year after year

Growing Notes

Brussels sprouts require a long, cool growing season — start seeds indoors 4–5 weeks before transplanting, then transplant to permanent locations 100 days before the first fall frost. Fertile, heavy soil is essential. Mulch around the base and water consistently in warmer months — drought stress causes bitterness. Harvest when sprouts reach 1 inch in diameter and are tight and firm. Remove the leaf directly below each sprout to encourage continued production. Works well in most U.S. regions; best in areas with long, cool summers.

Packed and shipped by Box Garden Seeds LLC — heirloom seeds grown without GMOs, selected for flavor, resilience, and your garden's success.