Growing Brussels sprouts

Brassica sp. : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
    S                  
        T              
        P              

(Best months for growing Brussels sprouts in USA - Zone 5a regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • P = Sow seed
  • Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 7°C and 30°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 45 - 60 cm apart
  • Harvest in 14-28 weeks. Pick sprouts when small. .
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Dwarf (bush) beans, beets, celery, cucumber, onions, marigold, nasturtium, rhubarb, aromatic herbs (sage, dill, chamomile)
  • Avoid growing close to: Climbing (pole) beans, tomato, peppers (chili, capsicum), eggplant (aubergine), strawberry, mustard

Your comments and tips

28 Apr 13, Derek Victoria (Australia - temperate climate)
is there a gauge for testing the soil? if yes where do we get it from.
30 Apr 13, Sustainable Jill (Australia - temperate climate)
Most garden centres or larger hardware stores sell pH testing kits.
30 Apr 13, jo (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Derek. You can pick up pH testing kits from most garden supplies/hardware stores. When you test the soil make sure that you dont handle it (use a spoon) and that you get a selection from different areas where you're planting and mix it all together to get a representative sample. Then you mix it with the indicator liquid and compare the colour with the chart. this will give you the pH of the soil. It can then be amended with lime (for acid soils) or sulphur (for alkaline). these can be brought from the same shops.. regards, Jo
29 Mar 13, Margo Pten (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
This is my first attempt at growing Brussel Sprouts in Tasmania East Coast, do I need to do anything special as they are looking nice and leafy, but cannot see any actual sprouts yet.
23 Jan 14, Gerri (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi Margo I had the same problem earlier this year and ended up eating my sprouts as spring greens. A friend who farms in UK told me they need a nitrogen-rich soil so although mine were in a commercial compost mix (Bunnings moo poo) I think that may have been the problem.
11 Mar 13, Kahanamoku (Australia - temperate climate)
Anyone got any tips on how to get the seeds to germinate and sprout? I dont seem to be having much luck 'undercover' - could it be that the temperature is still to hot given that we're in a strange heatwave in victoria at the moment?
30 Mar 13, Bob (Australia - temperate climate)
Hi , I had the same trouble till i put them into a plastic soft drink bottle which i cut the top half off at the taper .I kept the bottle without any drain holes and added 2 hanfulls of broken up horse manure then filled the rest with beach sand almost to the top .I soaked the sand with water and left it fora few days before planting 6 seeds and added the top half of the bottle to act as a mini glass house so no night time raiders could get to the shoots once they emerged. Left it so that it got the full sun till mid day and have just transplanted the 6 seedlings into the main bed. I'm going to put the plastic bottle parts over them till the get fully established. Hope this helps you .Bob
16 Jan 13, (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
Sorry it should read birds eating my brusselsprouts
13 Jan 13, Violet Bossut (South Africa - Dry summer sub-tropical climate)
What can I use to stop eating my brussel sprouts. That is the only plants they go for.
15 Nov 12, Andrew S (Australia - temperate climate)
Managed to get the kids to eat them.. halved..steamed ..then added to balsalmic vinegar, olive oil and a dash of rock salt and pepper.. like a warm brussel sprout salad...
Showing 141 - 150 of 197 comments

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