Gladius

Family: Brassicaceae Brassica

Sweetly nutty and richly green, Gladius Brussels Sprout forms dense, tightly layered crowns that feel satisfyingly crisp at harvest.

Expect a refined bite with a tender, succulent texture—ideal for roasting to deepen flavor, steaming for a clean, fresh taste, or shredding into vibrant slaws and hearty skillet-style sides. Grow Gladius for a steady harvest window and a garden-to-plate experience that rewards patience with beautifully uniform sprouts.

Light: Full SunMaturity: 90 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 25th
Harvest Begins	Jul 24th
Harvest Ends	Oct 16th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	90
Sun Requirements	Full Sun
Growth Habit	Upright
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	45
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Gladius is built for the kind of heat that rewards patience: its tight, layered crowns roast into crisp-edged, sweet-nutty bites instead of turning watery or hollow. Use it cut-side forward—then finish with acid and salty fat (lemon or Parmesan) to sharpen the green’s flavor.

Best Uses

high-heat roasting until deeply caramel-browned at the edges
steaming to keep a crisp, fresh, grassy sweetness
pan-searing to blister cut sides for a nutty, toasty surface
shredding into slaws that hold crunch under vinaigrette

Flavor Profile

sweetly nutty brussels-sprout character clean, richly green vegetal flavor crisp-tender bite with tightly layered texture stands up to heat without going hollow

Kitchen Pairings

bacon maple lemon garlic balsamic vinegar Parmesan

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most often affects Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera (Brussels sprout-type) like Gladius, and what should I do?

Cabbage moth/cabbage loopers and cabbageworms are a common problem because Brassicaceae foliage is a prime host; you’ll see holes and frass on leaves and buds. Hand-pick caterpillars and spray with Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) when larvae are small, then remove any heavily infested leaves to reduce spread. Watch for clubroot (wilting with swollen roots) and avoid planting in the same soil if it appears—remove affected plants and don’t reuse that spot for brassicas.

How often should I water Gladius during the main growing phase to keep Brussels sprouts-type heads forming well?

During the main growth leading up to bud set (roughly mid-season), keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged—aim for about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, split across 1–2 waterings as needed. If the top 1 inch of soil dries out, water thoroughly to wet the root zone, because inconsistent moisture can lead to poor bud development. Mulch around plants helps stabilize moisture so the buds size up more uniformly by day ~90.

How do I tell when Gladius is ready to harvest?

Harvest when the individual Brussels sprouts reach firm, tight heads and a mature size for their position on the stem; they usually mature from the bottom upward. Start at about 90 days, picking bottom sprouts first when they’re about thumb-sized and deep green, then continue harvesting higher sprouts as they become firm. Don’t wait for all sprouts to be fully mature at once—pick regularly so developing ones aren’t shaded and overcrowded.