Variety field guide
What to expect from Catskill
Catskill is a biennial brussels sprouts selection grown for stalk-grown sprouts, cool-weather harvest, roasting, and seed saving.
Read the complete product descriptionTraits, flavor, garden use, variety notes, and the full catalog record
Catskill Brussels Sprouts seeds produce a sturdy open-pollinated Brussels sprout known for large plants and well-spaced sprouts that size during cool fall weather. Catskill Brussels Sprouts performs best when the crop is timed for cool weather, established in fertile, well-drained soil, and kept growing without drought checks. Fall harvest, northern gardens, stalk harvest, and traditional cooking are where this variety earns its place.
About Catskill
Catskill is a biennial selection of brussels sprouts, with an upright/erect habit and an expected height or spread of 25–30 in. It is best suited to stalk-grown sprouts, cool-weather harvest, roasting, and seed saving. Notable traits include medium to large sprouts on a tall stalk; dense brassica flavor that sweetens in cool weather.
Treat Catskill as a named seed line with its own observations, not as a generic stand-in for the entire brussels sprouts crop.
History and provenance
Broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, collards, kale, and kohlrabi are distinct crop groups within Brassica oleracea. Generations of selection emphasized different plant organs: flower buds, heads, leaves, side buds, or swollen stems. Their shared species identity is especially important in seed-saving isolation. Catskill is a long-established American open-pollinated Brussels sprout associated with twentieth-century seed trade. The variety is valued for practical fall production rather than novelty. Catskill is a long-established American open-pollinated Brussels sprout associated with twentieth-century seed trade.
Growing facts
| Scientific name | Brassica oleracea L. Gemmifera Group |
|---|---|
| Life cycle | Biennial |
| Maturity | 100-109 Days |
| Germination | 5-10 Days at 50–65 °F |
| Seed depth | 1/4 in |
| Plant height / spread | 25–30 in |
| Growth habit | Upright/Erect |
| Spacing | 24 in between plants; 30 in between rows |
| Sunlight | Full sun |
| Soil | Loamy; pH 6.0–6.5 |
| Water | Moderate |
| Support | No-Support |
Starting Catskill from seed
Sow 1/4 in deep and keep the seed zone evenly moist. Expect emergence in 5-10 Days when the seed-zone temperature is near 50–65 °F. Germination preparation: Start in clean seed-starting mix when season length requires it, then transplant at a sturdy but not root-bound stage. Light requirement: Cover evenly to 1/4 in. Soaking: None required. Stratification: None required. Scarification: None required.
Planting and care
Plant during summer and provide full sun. Space plants 24 in apart with 30 in between rows. Use loamy with a pH near 6.0–6.5, and follow a moderate watering plan. Support requirement: No-Support. Frost response: Semi-Hardy. Large container or in-ground bed; provide the listed support and root volume
Harvest and use
Approximately 100-109 Days, from transplanting to the primary market harvest stage. Weather, soil temperature, and planting method can shift the actual harvest date. Harvest: Medium to large sprouts on a tall stalk. Uses: Stalk-grown sprouts, cool-weather harvest, roasting, and seed saving. Flavor: dense brassica flavor that sweetens in cool weather. Seed saving: Insect-pollinated Brassica oleracea. Best uses include stalk-grown sprouts, cool-weather harvest, roasting, and seed saving. Flavor and eating quality: dense brassica flavor that sweetens in cool weather.
Saving seed
Select several healthy, true-to-type Catskill plants that match the expected upright/erect habit and overall plant form. Avoid saving seed only from the earliest or largest individual unless that is your deliberate selection goal. Pollination system: Insect-pollinated Brassica oleracea. Crop groups within Brassica oleracea can cross with one another. Separate compatible varieties that may flower together, or use cages, barriers, hand pollination, or another documented control appropriate to the crop. Catskill is a biennial. Seed production may require overwintering, vernalization, or more than one growing season, depending on climate and crop biology. Clean the seed carefully, dry it thoroughly away from direct heat, label the lot with variety and year, and store it cool, dark, and dry. Test germination before an important planting or distribution season.
Common problems
Common concerns: Flea beetles, imported cabbageworm, cabbage loopers, aphids, slugs, root maggots, and clubroot risk where the pathogen is present. Management: Use rotation, insect netting before pests arrive, regular leaf inspection, sanitation, and well-drained soil. Do not plant the same brassica family repeatedly in one bed. Diagnosis note: Similar symptoms can have different causes. Compare plants of the same age, record weather and irrigation, and use local Extension or diagnostic support before applying a control.
Frequently asked questions
Frequently Asked Questions - Catskill
When is Catskill ready? Use 100-109 Days. Approximately 100-109 Days, from transplanting to the primary market harvest stage. Weather, soil temperature, and planting method can shift the actual harvest date.
How long does germination take? Expect 5-10 Days at about 50–65 °F. Cooler, hotter, crusted, saturated, or dry seedbeds can slow emergence.
How large does it grow? Expect about 25–30 in with an upright/erect habit. Space plants 24 in apart and rows 30 in apart. Support: No-Support.
Can it grow in a container? Large container or in-ground bed; provide the listed support and root volume Use a container with drainage and enough volume to maintain the listed spacing and steady moisture.
Can I save seed? Insect-pollinated Brassica oleracea. Keep compatible varieties isolated and allow selected plants to reach full seed maturity.
