When to plant Brussels sprouts?
Brussels sprouts are sown indoors from February to April and outdoors from early March to May, and planted out in late spring or early summer, at 60 cm. Campania, Sicily and Umbria have no Brussels sprout sheet, and no regional month is written.
When, by region
| North | Centre | South | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sowing | Indoors, from February to April, two seeds a module at 2 cm. Outside from April, at least 10 cm tall. Outdoors, from early March to May, seed 2 cm deep. Plant out in late spring or early summer, at 10-15 cm tall. | Umbria's 2025 sheets list cauliflower, broccoli, broccoli raab and savoy. Brussels sprouts are not there, and no month is written. | Campania's cabbage sheet lists cauliflower, headed cabbage, savoy, broccoli and kohlrabi. Brussels sprouts are not there. In Sicily the cabbage chapter lists cauliflower, broccoli, leaf cabbage and kohlrabi. Brussels sprouts are not there. |
| Spacing | In place, 60 cm in the row and at least 60 cm between rows. In a seedbed, rows 15 cm apart and plants 7.5 cm apart, then 60 cm in early summer. In a pot, one plant in at least 30 cm. The soil wants to be firm, with a pH of at least 6.5. | As in the north for the RHS spacings. Umbria does not write a spacing for Brussels sprouts. | As in the north, until a southern guide writes its own spacing. Campania's 15-18 °C on the cabbage sheet, and Sicily's 10-25 °C, are written for the cabbages those pages list, not for Brussels sprouts. |
Frost sweetens the sprouts. Pick them from autumn into late winter, while they are still closed.
February-April, early March to May, 2 cm (¾ in), 10 cm (4 in), 10-15 cm (4-6 in), 60 cm (2 ft), 15 cm (6 in), 7.5 cm (3 in), a 30 cm (1 ft) pot, a pH of at least 6.5 and 2 buckets of compost per square metre are from the RHS. Umbria's 2025 list is cauliflower, broccoli, broccoli raab and savoy. Campania's list is cauliflower, headed cabbage, savoy, broccoli and kohlrabi. Sicily's list is cauliflower, broccoli, leaf cabbage and kohlrabi. Headed cabbage, which has the RHS months, is in when to plant cabbage. The months are in the February calendar, March, April, May and June.
February indoors, March outdoors
The RHS sows indoors from February to April, for an earlier crop and where clubroot is in the soil: the plant makes roots before it goes into the ground. Two seeds a module, 2 cm (¾ in) deep. Keep the stronger one. They are up in a couple of weeks. Outside from April, at least 10 cm (4 in) tall and with a good root ball.
Outdoors, from early March to May. If it is still cold, a cloche or fleece. Seed goes 2 cm deep. In a seedbed the rows are 15 cm (6 in) apart, and you thin to 7.5 cm (3 in). In place, a few seeds every 60 cm (2 ft), rows at least 60 cm apart, then one plant. The pot is in the homemade seedbed.
Out in late spring
In late spring or early summer, once the plant is 10-15 cm (4-6 in) tall, move it to its final spot. That covers the seedbed, indoor sowings and bought plants. Harden off the indoor ones first. Plant them deeper than before, lowest leaves level with the soil, 60 cm (2 ft) each way. The wide spacing gives light and air.
The soil wants sun, fertility, drainage, and to be firm: Brussels sprouts make plants about 90 cm (3 ft) tall and the wind rocks them. If the soil is very acid, lime goes on the winter before, for a pH of at least 6.5. Two buckets of compost per square metre, better the autumn before. Compost is in the compost guide. In late summer, mound soil around the stem, and stake the tall plants. In June or July, on poor soil, the RHS gives a nitrogen-rich fertiliser.
Winter, a pot, the family
Pick from autumn into late winter. The flavour is sweeter after frost. Snap them from the bottom, once they are the size of a walnut, firm and still closed. Early varieties start in autumn. The main crop is winter. At the end, the leafy top is worth cutting too.
A pot of at least 30 cm (1 ft) holds one plant of a compact variety. Not more: the RHS wants that air. See the container garden. While young, water often. Later, only if the soil dries out. How much is in watering. They sit with the cabbages. Cover them with fine mesh, pinned to the ground. The plan, including clubroot, is in crop rotation. Cabbage and cavolo nero are in when to plant cabbage and when to plant cavolo nero. Insects and pigeons are in pests and diseases.
In the app
Every plant in the catalogue has its own sowing calendar, and weather alerts for your area help you judge whether to sow now or hold off.
Frequently asked questions
When do I sow in the north?
Indoors from February to April, two seeds 2 cm deep, and outside from April once the plant is at least 10 cm tall. Outdoors from early March to May, seed 2 cm deep. Plant out in late spring or early summer, at 10-15 cm, 60 cm apart.
What month do Campania, Sicily and Umbria write?
None. Campania lists cauliflower, headed cabbage, savoy, broccoli and kohlrabi. Sicily, cauliflower, broccoli, leaf cabbage and kohlrabi. Umbria 2025, cauliflower, broccoli, broccoli raab and savoy. Brussels sprouts are not on those lists.
How far apart, and in a pot?
60 cm in the row and at least 60 cm between rows. In a seedbed, rows 15 cm apart and plants 7.5 cm apart, then 60 cm again in early summer. In a pot, one plant in at least 30 cm. If the soil is acid, take the pH to at least 6.5 the winter before.
When are they ready?
From autumn into late winter. The RHS wants them after frost, walnut sized and still closed. Start at the bottom. Early, mid and late varieties spread the harvest.
Can I plant them where cabbage was?
The RHS keeps them in the cabbage bed and moves that bed, because of clubroot and the other soil problems. If clubroot is already there, start them indoors, so the roots are strong before transplanting. Umbria's 2-year gap with no other brassicas is written for cauliflower, broccoli and savoy, not for Brussels sprouts.