Brussels sprouts grow in a wonderfully odd fashion, with little cabbage-like buds tucked into the leaf axils along a tall central stalk. The lower sprouts mature first while newer ones develop higher up, which makes leaf removal more nuanced than grabbing pruning shears and giving the plant a haircut.
A few well-timed cuts can make harvest easier, but healthy leaves deserve to stay. It’s important to understand the process of removing lower leaves on your Brussels sprouts before you dig into the garden.
