Growing Brussels sprouts

Brassica sp. : Brassicaceae / the mustard or cabbage family

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

(Best months for growing Brussels sprouts in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)

  • S = Plant undercover in seed trays
  • T = Plant out (transplant) seedlings
  • 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 45°F and 86°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 18 - 24 inches 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

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25 Oct 11, Ruth-Barrington Tops (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
re your spring greens, my girlfriend is english, together we searched for her favourite greens!!! and found Collards (www.edenseeds.com.au) and are have been continuosly harvesting the delicous tasty cabbage like greens, nothing to do with brussel sprouts, although in the same family cheers,Ruth
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28 Apr 10, Liz (New Zealand - sub-tropical climate)
Mo, Brussel tops are the leaves from the top of the B Sprout plants. In some places, the whole stem is cut and sold with sprouts and top. A google search shows recipes for using the tops. Spring greens are cabbages which are started just before winter and still small but usable in spring. You might have difficulty growing Brussel sprouts in a sub-tropical area as they prefer cold weather.
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09 Aug 09, Chris (Australia - temperate climate)
Alison, they do need a good winter chill, even frosts to form good sized sprouts. Force feeding won't help.
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26 Jun 09, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
my favorite sprouts recipe is lightly steamed sprouts finished in the oven at about 180 for 20 minutes with cream, cooked bacon pieces and ground pepper. One of our plants has small firm sprouts but the others are just loose leaves- no heart- can't make sense of it
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15 Jun 09, dick ward (Australia - temperate climate)
when should i pick off the leaves on my sprouts
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31 May 09, Shane Paterson (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
My brussel sprouts have grown the leaves etc and to a reasonable height but no sign of "fruit" yet. Instead the heart of the flowering leaves is covered in soft substance, bit like insect poop. I also have bugs on them, I spray them with insect spray but they keep coming back (I think they're aphids). We've had a lot of rain so not sure if this is the problem? Can you help me.. thanks
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24 May 09, Alison (Australia - temperate climate)
My sprouts are pea-sized too. Have used Thrive every fortnight for 3 months and some plants don't even have "peas" yet. Easy to grow? Don't know about that - maybe its me. Any suggestions? Thanks
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02 Apr 09, Sally (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Thanks for the help. My Brussell Sprouts are all leaves and dont look like they are going to firm up, what might be the problem?
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01 Mar 09, Alan (Australia - temperate climate)
I suggest you do a "google" on a product Yates sell under the name of "Success". (Do a google on "Yates success") The product is a naturally occurring bacteria found in the ground. Would that suit?
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09 Feb 09, Trinette (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
You can make a "tea" by boiling chilies and garlic in some water. When it cools spray it on. Haven't tried it on Brussell Sprouts but works on brocolli. You have to be fairly consistent and spray 1 - 2 times a day. I have also read if you squish soem of whatever it is doing the damage and soak in some water that will repel them also. Good luck
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Hi Sally, A friend gave me a great tip this year that has kept my broccoli and cabbage pest free! I got a packet of ping pong balls and drew big eyes on them with permanent marker and stuck them onto skewers and put them in the garden so they were visible and that's worked a treat and I have no even seen any white butterflies in the garden at all. I have no idea how it works and I was sceptical but she swore by it and it has worked for me too, as for snails, I find mulching and some sawdust helps.

- Vicki

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