At the turn of November and December, we already have the garden harvested and cleaned, so that it can have a good rest in the frosty season. But if Brussels sprouts were left on the bed, you can congratulate yourself. You probably haven’t harvested it in such good condition before.
Brussels sprouts are an inconspicuous, but nutritionally very important gem of winter gardens. Unfortunately, it often has an undeservedly bad reputation in Czech kitchens – but it’s not her fault, it’s our own fault. If these little balls have a bitter taste on the plate and are too aromatic with cabbage, we probably harvested them at the wrong time.
How about Brussels sprouts? Check out the YouTube video on Menu by Koko:
Frozen cabbage is the best
The secret of the true delicacy of brussels sprouts lies precisely in the timing of the harvest. Experienced gardeners and cooks know very well that the best and sweetest taste of cabbage is obtained only when . Right now, when the temperatures at least drop below zero at night, we can harvest the tastiest rose crop.
Defense mechanism of cabbage
Changing the taste of this vegetable is a purely chemical process and is actually a defense strategy. In order to protect (not only) brussels sprouts, but also other vegetables from frost damage, they begin to store sugars in their cells. Thus, there is a transformation of taste-neutral starches into simpler sugars such as fructose and others, which our tongue already recognizes and identifies as something really sweet. In addition, frost reduces the content of bitter substances in cabbage, which also contributes to its better taste on the plate.
Don’t worry about bloating
What else could result from the effects of frost than more delicious vegetables? Let’s be honest, another problem we have with cabbage is its unpleasant ability to bring the digestive system into a bit of a . And as we know, gases must also come out of the body, which in many life situations we simply do not want and cannot afford. But what if we told ourselves that over-frozen cabbage does not cause such problems? Do you also find him a bit more likable at the moment?
How to harvest Brussels sprouts?
So now we already know that it is the right time to harvest it. On the other hand, it is not advisable to linger too long, even though it is very resistant and during a mild winter it can stay in the flowerbed for a really long time. All it took was one hard frost and our entire farming effort would be in the dust.
Easy to follow rules
How to harvest? First, remove the lower leaves, which only needlessly take energy from the cabbage and are no longer needed. Then harvest the cabbages from the bottom up, you can gradually during the “safe” days, because it is in this direction that the florets ripen. As soon as we remove the lower ones, the plant concentrates on the ones located above, and we thus obtain the largest amount of tasty and high-quality vegetables. Harvesting is very simple, all you have to do is break off the individual parts or cut them with a sharp knife.
Take her to the basement
At the moment when the weather forecast leans towards stronger frosts, we can make a radical cut. Simply cut off the entire stem at the ground and move it to a cool basement where you plant it in a container of moist soil or sand. This way they last quite a long time, and you can then harvest the cabbages gradually, as if they were still growing in the flower bed. This way, you will have a really rich source of vitamin C, but also group B and vitamin K throughout the winter. So don’t hesitate and take care of every tasty rose. Even unpopular and neglected vegetables can become a favorite delicacy of the whole family.
