Brassica oleracea (Gemmifera Group) 'Maximus'

RHS Plant Profile
Brussels sprout 'Maximus'
Brussels sprout 'Maximus' Michael John Day
Award of Garden Merit
Annual Biennial

An easy to grow hardy annual vegetable producing a high yield of excellent quality, smooth, sweet tasting buttons on tall stems. One of the most reliable sprout varieties, it shows strong disease resistance and has a long standing period. Sprouts can be harvested between September - February, perfect for Christmas dinner

Position

Full sun

Soil Types

Loam, Sand

Max Height

0.5-1 metres

Max Spread

0.1-0.5 metres

Size

Time to Maturity
1 year
Max Spread
0.1-0.5 metres
Max Height
0.5-1 metres

Growing Conditions

Loam Sand
Moisture
Well–drained
pH
Neutral or Alkaline

Position

Full sun
Aspect
South–facing or West–facing
Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H4

Colour & Scent

Season Stem Flower Foliage Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Botanical Details

Family
Brassicaceae
Native to GB/Ireland
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Columnar upright
Genus
Brassicas can be annual, biennial or perennial plants, most are upright with alternate, often glaucous leaves, long taproots and clusters of cross-shaped, yellow or white flowers. The genus includes a number of species bred to produce food crops, such as cabbages, turnips, mustards and oilseed rape, as well as others grown for their ornamental value
Name Status
Accepted

How to Grow

Cultivation

Grow in fertile, moist but well drained, non-acid soil in full sun. Sow indoors from February or sow direct between March - April at a depth of 1cm and a distance of 30cm between rows. See vegetable cultivation

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds or sowing seeds indoors

Pruning

No pruning required

Pests

May be susceptible to birds, cabbage caterpillars, cabbage gall weevil, cabbage root fly, cabbage stem flea beetle, cabbage whitefly, cutworms, flea beetles, mealy cabbage aphid, slugs and snails, swede midge

Diseases

Generally disease-free. This variety shows excellent disease resistance to club root and downy mildew