How to grow Brussels Sprouts in Australia
Plant Brussels sprouts in full sun in firm, rich, well-drained soil, as loose ground gives blown, open sprouts. They need a long, cool growing season, so plant early.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Advanced
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 6 litres a week, watered every 2 days
- Spacing: 60 cm
- Time to harvest: 120 days
- Time to germinate: 8 days
- Soil pH: 6.5 to 7.5
- Frost tolerance: Frost hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | February to April | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | February to April | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | December to February | Sow Dec to Jan, transplant Jan to Mar. Cold west, Hawkesbury and mountains only; the frost-free coast rarely forms firm sprouts. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | December to February | Sow Dec to Jan (Feb at the latest), transplant Jan to Mar. Sprouts must mature into autumn cold; later sowings blow open in spring. Frost improves flavour. |
| Adelaide & SA | November to January | Sow Nov to Jan and transplant by Mar so plants are full sized before winter. Sprouts firm up in cold; best in the Hills. Autumn sowing is too late. |
| Perth & WA | December and January | A Hills crop; the plain stays too warm for firm sprouts. Sow trays Dec to Jan in bright shade, transplant late summer, harvest winter. On the plain it is a Melbourne hobby. |
| Tasmania | October to December | Sow Oct to Dec, plant out by Jan. Sprouts firm up in frost. Tasmania is ideal sprout country. |
| Canberra & ACT | October to January | Sow Oct to Jan, transplant by Feb. Long season crop; sprouts mature through winter and sweeten after frost. |
| North Queensland | Not suited | Not viable. Sprouts need months of real cold to form; the coastal NQ dry season never gets there. |
| Darwin & Top End | Not suited | Not viable. Sprouts need cold nights to form and Darwin dry season days stay near 30C. |
Companion planting
Good companions
Avoid planting near
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Pick sprouts from the bottom up once they are firm, tight and walnut sized. Twist or snap each one off and the stem keeps maturing sprouts upward.
Storage
Fridge on the stalk for up to 1 week, or loose in a bag for 4 days. Blanch and freeze.