Scottish growing tool

Brussels Sprouts Variety Selector: Which One For Your Garden

Every recommendation below traces back to our full Brussels Sprouts varieties comparison — this page is the fast route to one answer for your specific situation, no clicking through required.

If: My soil is acidic or untested, club root is a real risk → Earlier picking, from September or My soil is acidic or untested, club root is a real risk → Not sure, just give me the safest all-round choice or My soil's already limed to pH 6.5+, or I know it's clear of club root → Not sure, just give me the safest all-round choice or Not sure, just give me the safest all-round choice

CrispusAGM

For most Scottish gardens with acidic or untested soil, Crispus is a safer default: its club root resistance is individually confirmed, not just part of a general blanket statement. It's the earliest of the confirmed-resistant varieties, giving pickings from September.

If: My soil is acidic or untested, club root is a real risk → Later, holding through to February or I want the longest standing crop through deep winter

MaximusAGM

Maximus resists club root too, individually confirmed rather than just carried on a general list. It's the latest and longest-standing of the confirmed-resistant varieties, holding condition well over its full September-to-February harvest window.

If: My soil's already limed to pH 6.5+, or I know it's clear of club root → Yes, it's exposed or My site is exposed and windy

CascadeAGM

Cascade is hardy enough for exposed sites across the UK, the standout claim among this group. Where club root is a real risk, treat Cascade as less certain than Crispus and Maximus, since its resistance claim doesn't hold up consistently across RHS's own pages.

If: My soil's already limed to pH 6.5+, or I know it's clear of club root → No, it's fairly sheltered

IgorAGM

On soil already limed to pH 6.5 or higher, Igor is reasonable: its main selling point, uniform sprouts, isn't undermined by an uncertain resistance claim once disease pressure is removed. It's the variety to be most cautious with on unlimed, acidic ground.

If: I just want a novelty variety for the table

Red Bull

A genuine colour exception among these five, a purple-sprouted variety worth growing for variety on the plate, but not a serious rival to the resistant workhorses. Grow it alongside a resistant green variety rather than instead of one.

Answer these as a quick wizard instead →

Brussels Sprouts growing guide →Full Brussels Sprouts varieties comparison →