Early Half

Family: Brassicaceae Vegetable

Sweet, nutty sprouts emerge in a tidy, early rhythm—dense little globes with a gentle, cabbage-scented perfume and a crisp, tender bite.

“Early Half” forms a compact, upright stalk that rewards home gardeners with uniform heads for roasting, steaming, and savory skillet-style sides, plus beautiful results in hearty autumn sauces. For fall tables and freezer-friendly batches, these sprouts bring reliable texture and a pleasantly mellow flavor at just 75 days.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 75 DaysHabit: Upright

Planting schedules and alerts are optimized for Columbus (Zone 6b).

Crop Dates

Milestone	Date
Start Indoors	Mar 28th
Last Frost	Apr 25th
Transplant / Sow Outdoors	Apr 18th
Harvest Begins	Jul 2nd
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	75
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Early Half aims for a tidy, early rhythm—its sprouts tend to arrive sweet and nutty with a crisp-tender snap, so they roast beautifully without collapsing. Go hot and fast: you want browned cut faces and that gentle cabbage scent, then finish with lemony brightness or butter-mustard richness.

Best Uses

high-heat roasting until the cut faces bronze and go lightly caramel-sweet
quick steam then finish in a hot skillet for a crisp-tender ring
shredded or halved for autumn pasta and savory braises where they hold texture
freezer-friendly batch-cook: roast or blanch first, then reheat fast without turning mushy

Flavor Profile

sweet, nutty bite mild cabbage perfume with a clean, green edge tender-crisp globes that keep their shape

Kitchen Pairings

lemon butter bacon mustard parmesan hazelnuts

Frequently Asked Questions

Early Half (Brassica oleracea): what’s the most common disease/pest issue and how do I treat it?

Cabbage worms/loopers (the caterpillars that chew through Brassica leaves) are a top problem for Brassica oleracea. Hand-pick early and spray in the evening with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) once you see fresh chewing or small caterpillars; repeat after 5–7 days if activity continues. Keep the bed covered with fine row cover until plants are established to block egg-laying.

How often should I water Early Half during the main growing phase (days ~20–60)?

Aim for consistently moist soil—water when the top 1 inch (2–3 cm) dries out, then soak deeply so moisture reaches the root zone. For most home gardens this works out to about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, adjusted for heat and rainfall. Avoid letting soil swing between very dry and waterlogged, because that can slow growth and increase disease risk.

How can I tell when Early Half (Brassica oleracea) is ready to harvest at ~75 days?

Harvest when heads/foliage are fully formed for your type and the leaves look firm rather than slack, typically near the 75-day mark from transplanting or when growth has plateaued. Use a gentle squeeze: the plant should feel solid and heavy for its size, not hollow or overly loose. If you’re growing for leafy heads, pick outer leaves when they’re large and tender, before the plant shows signs of bolting (rising flower stalk/rapid height increase).