🥬
Brussels Sprouts
Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera
Sown in spring for a winter reward — the sweetest after a hard frost.
Sun
Full sun
Water
Regular, deep
Soil
Firm, rich, pH 6.5–7.5
Spacing
60 cm apart
Days to harvest
90–180 days
Hardiness
Zones 3–9
Seasonal Calendar
H
SH
S
S
H
H
H
JFMAMJJASOND
Sow Harvest
The method
- 1
Sow early
The whole crop is on a long clock. Start indoors in February–March.
- 2
Firm the ground
They must be planted very firm — kick the base of each stem.
- 3
Stake tall plants
By autumn stems are top-heavy; stake or earth up.
- 4
Harvest from the bottom up
Snap sprouts off starting with the lowest, walnut-sized ones.
Common problems
Blown (loose) sprouts
Soil not firm enough. Tread hard around transplants.
Whitefly
Hose off; encourage ladybugs; avoid excess nitrogen.
Good neighbors
BeetOnionPotato
Field tips
- “Snap off the top rosette in October to force the remaining sprouts to bulk up.”
- “Leave sprouts on the stalk in the garden — they store best that way.”