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Vegetable

Brussels sprouts

Brassica oleracea var. gemmifera

A slow, cold-loving brassica that needs a long cool season to form firm sprouts; it's best in the Adelaide Hills or from an early summer sowing on the plains. Plants grow tall and top-heavy, so firm the soil and stake them. Sprouts sweeten after cold nights.

When to plant where you live

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Planting times for other areas

Varieties (2)

  • Hybrid F1 types (e.g. Ruby Crunch, Igor)More uniform, tighter sprouts; better results in milder climates
  • Long IslandOlder open-pollinated type, compact plants; widely available as seed

Neighbours

Grows well with

Keep away from

From seed to plate

  1. Plant

    60 cm apart, seed 10 mm deep. Full sun.

  2. Water

    Regular.

  3. Feed

    Firm, rich soil.

  4. Pick, from about 16 weeks

    Pick sprouts from the bottom up.

Good to know

  • Harvest from the bottom of the stem upward when sprouts are firm and 2 to 3 cm across
  • Remove yellowing lower leaves to improve airflow
  • Pinch out the top in late autumn to make sprouts mature together

Common problems

  • Loose, open sproutsusually too warm or dry; plant earlier so sprouts form in winter, water evenly and firm soil around the stem
  • Cabbage white caterpillars and aphidscover with insect mesh from planting; hose off aphids; use a Bt-based registered product following label directions for caterpillars
  • Plants topplingstake and hill up soil around stems
  • Club rootrotate brassicas over at least 3 years

If you use a garden chemical, follow the label exactly. Try organic options first, and ask the community or Plant Doctor if you're unsure.

Ask the garden helper about brussels sproutsAny question, answered from the plant libraryHow others are growing brussels sproutsQuestions, tips and harvests from the community
Where this information comes from
  • Australian seed company regional sowing charts (temperate zone) (germination, low confidence)
  • ABC Gardening Australia fact sheets (growing, low confidence)
  • SBS Food: How to grow brassicas (growing, medium confidence, checked 27 Oct 2026)
  • Sustainable Gardening Australia: planting guides (sowing window, low confidence)

Reviewed by AI cross-check (Claude), not a horticulturist on 27 Oct 2026. Version 2.