What it is

Brussels Sprout Igor F1 is a reliable late season F1 hybrid variety from Mr Fothergill's Seeds, produced in partnership with the RHS and awarded the RHS Award of Garden Merit for its consistent performance and excellent flavour in British growing conditions. It is a Brassica oleracea var. Gemmifera, grown for its abundant crop of solid, mid-green buttons which form tightly and uniformly along the full length of the plant stem. Igor F1 is a vigorous, strong growing variety that stands well in the ground through the winter without deteriorating, making it one of the most practical and rewarding Brussels sprout varieties you can grow for a Christmas and New Year harvest that continues right through to March.

Why it is good

Igor F1 is notably sweet for a Brussels sprout, with a mild, nutty flavour that improves meaningfully after a frost, which is one of the reasons late season varieties like this are so valued by serious growers. The buttons are solid and well filled rather than loose and open, which matters both for flavour and for how they cook: tight sprouts steam, roast and stir fry far better than looser ones. Yields are impressive, with plants producing abundantly from top to bottom of the stem, and the standing ability through hard winters means you can harvest as you need rather than picking everything at once and trying to store it. It is also suitable for all soil types, which removes one of the common barriers to growing sprouts successfully on more challenging plots.

Growing performance

Brussels sprouts are a long season crop and Igor F1 is no exception: sown indoors from February, transplanted in April or May, and not ready until December. That timeline requires some planning but the reward is a self-sustaining source of fresh, nutritious vegetables through the coldest months of the year when the rest of the plot has very little to offer. Plants grow to a medium height of around 75 to 80cm and benefit from a sunny, sheltered position in firm, fertile, well drained soil. Firm planting is important as loose soil causes plants to rock in autumn winds, which reduces sprout quality. Earth up around the stems in autumn and stake taller plants in exposed positions if needed. As with all brassicas, crop rotation is essential: do not plant in ground used for brassicas in the previous year, and net with fine mesh from transplanting to protect against cabbage white butterflies and pigeons.

Harvest and outcome

Harvest from December through to March, working from the bottom of the stem upwards: the lowest buttons mature first. Pick when buttons are firm, tight and around 2.5 to 4cm across, and remove the leaf below each picked sprout as you work your way up the plant. Regular picking encourages the upper buttons to develop and keeps the harvest going over a long period. Do not pick too early: buttons benefit noticeably from a few hard frosts, which convert starches to sugars and give the sprout its characteristic sweetness. Once most of the stem is harvested, the leafy top rosette of the plant, known as sprout tops, can be picked and cooked as a tender, flavourful green.

Who it is for

Igor F1 is an excellent choice for any grower who wants fresh homegrown vegetables on the table through the deepest part of winter. It suits allotment growers who plan their plot across the full year and want a reliable, high yielding late season crop to fill the winter calendar. Kitchen gardeners who cook regularly from December through to spring will find it one of the most productive and satisfying things they can grow. For anyone who has dismissed Brussels sprouts as difficult or bitter, Igor F1 is a genuinely convincing argument to reconsider: properly grown from seed, picked after a frost and eaten fresh from the plot, they are a completely different vegetable to the ones most people remember.