Grow Brussels Sprouts

You should learn how to grow Brussels sprouts in your backyard garden. Brussels enjoy cooler weather so fall and very early spring are the best times to plant.

Grow Brussels Sprouts - 12/15-12/21/2025

You can grow Brussels sprouts in your backyard garden, even if you’re a brand‑new gardener. They do look a little tricky, and yes, they hate hot weather. But once you understand their cool‑weather needs and follow some simple steps, you’ll be able to pick your own fresh sprouts right off the stalk.

Think of this as a friendly walk‑through. We’ll talk about when to plant in spring and fall, how to start from seed (like the ones you get from David’s Garden Seeds®), how to water and feed your plants, and how to harvest those tight little sprouts. I’ll also tell you how long it really takes from planting to harvest so you can plan ahead.

Before we jump into dates and details, there’s one big idea you need to remember: Brussels sprouts are a cool‑season crop. They like long, mild weather, not blazing heat. If you try to grow them in hot summer temperatures, they will get stressed, stop growing, and the sprouts will be loose and bitter.

So your main job is to time your planting so the plants are big and happy during cool weather. That usually means:
- Planting in early spring so they grow into late spring and early summer in cooler areas.
- Planting in late summer or early fall so they mature in late fall and early winter in warmer areas.

To grow Brussels sprouts in your backyard garden, it really helps to know your frost dates. Your last spring frost date is when the chance of a hard frost usually ends. Your first fall frost date is when cold weather starts again. You can find these dates online by searching for your ZIP code and “frost dates.”

In general, Brussels sprouts take a long time to grow. From the day you plant Brussels sprouts seeds until you harvest, it can be 90 to 120 days, sometimes even a bit longer. That’s about 3 to 4 months. This slow pace is why planning your planting time matters so much.

Now let’s talk about seeds. David’s Garden Seeds® has the freshest heirloom seeds including several varieties of Brussels Sprouts. When you start with good seed, you give yourself a better chance at a strong harvest. Heirloom varieties also tend to have rich flavor and do well in backyard gardens.

When you open a packet and look at those tiny seeds, it might feel a little scary, especially if this is your first time trying to grow a garden. Don’t worry. You don’t need special skills. You just need a simple step‑by‑step plan and a little patience.

First, decide whether you want a spring planting, a fall planting, or both. If you live in a cooler climate with mild summers, you can often do spring plantings. If your summers are hot, you’ll usually have better luck with a fall crop.

Here’s a quick rule of thumb:
- Cool or northern climates: Plant in early spring for a summer harvest, or midsummer for a fall harvest.
- Warm or southern climates: Focus on late summer or early fall planting for a winter harvest; skip trying to grow them in peak summer heat.

Let’s walk through planting for early spring first. The goal is to have strong young plants ready to go into the garden just a little before or right around your last frost date, as long as the soil isn’t frozen solid.

For early spring planting, start seeds indoors about 6–8 weeks before your last frost date. This gives your plants time to grow into sturdy transplants. For example, if your last frost is around April 15, start your seeds in late February or early March.

To plant Brussels sprouts seeds indoors, you’ll need:
- Seed trays or small pots with drainage holes
- Seed starting mix (light and fluffy, not garden soil)
- A spray bottle or gentle watering can
- A warm spot with bright light or grow lights

Fill your trays with damp seed starting mix. Then make a small hole, about ¼ inch deep, in each cell or pot. Drop one or two seeds in each hole, cover lightly with mix, and gently water. You don’t want the seeds floating around, just settled in.

Keep the soil moist but not soggy. A spray bottle works well for this. The seeds usually sprout in about 5–10 days, depending on the temperature. They like it around room temperature while germinating.

Once the seedlings pop up, they need plenty of light. Place them in a sunny window or under grow lights for about 12–14 hours a day. If they don’t get enough light, they will grow tall and weak, which makes them harder to transplant later.

When your seedlings have 2–3 true leaves (not counting the first tiny seed leaves) and are a few inches tall, you can thin them to one strong plant per cell or pot. Just snip the weaker one at the soil line instead of pulling it, so you don’t disturb the roots.

When the weather outside starts to warm up and the ground can be worked, it’s almost time to move your plants outdoors. But don’t rush. You need to “harden off” your seedlings first, so they can adjust to sun and wind.

Hardening off means you set the seedlings outside for a few hours a day, in a sheltered spot, and bring them back indoors at night. Do this for about 7–10 days, adding more time and more sun each day. This step helps prevent shock when you finally plant them into the garden.

After the hardening off period, and when the soil is no longer frozen and daytime temperatures are mostly above freezing, you can transplant your seedlings into your backyard garden. Brussels sprouts can handle light frosts, so a little chill is okay.

For fall planting, the timing works backward from when you want to harvest. Remember: plants need about 90–120 days from planting to harvest. Plus, they grow best in cool weather, especially in the final weeks.

As a rough guide, find your first fall frost date and count back about 14–16 weeks. That’s when you want to plant Brussels sprouts seeds outdoors, or about 16–18 weeks before if you plan to start them indoors and transplant later.

For example, if your first fall frost is around November 1:
- Start seeds indoors around early to mid‑July
- Transplant outside in early to mid‑August
- Harvest from late October into December, depending on your climate.

In hot areas, fall planting is usually the most successful. The young plants may go through some heat, but the sprouts themselves will form when the weather cools down. Cool nights give brussels sprouts their sweetest flavor.

Now let’s talk about your garden bed. Brussels sprouts like:
- Full sun (at least 6 hours of direct light a day)
- Rich, well‑drained soil
- Soil that is slightly on the neutral to slightly acidic side (most average garden soil is fine)

Before planting, mix in some compost or well‑rotted manure into the top 6–8 inches of soil. This gives your plants a slow, steady food source. It also improves drainage and soil texture, which helps the long growing season these plants need.

When you’re ready to transplant, space your Brussels sprout plants about 18–24 inches apart in rows that are 2–3 feet apart. They grow tall, sometimes up to 2–3 feet or more, so give them room to spread and let air move between them.

Dig a hole big enough for the root ball of each plant. Set the plant in at the same depth it was in the pot, or just a tiny bit deeper if the stem is long and you want extra support. Firm the soil gently around the roots to get rid of air pockets.

After planting, water each plant well to help settle the soil. This welcome drink helps the roots make good contact with the soil and reduces transplant shock. If the sun is strong, you can give them a little shade for the first day or two.

You can also direct‑seed Brussels sprouts outdoors in some climates, especially for fall crops. In that case, plant Brussels sprouts seeds about ½ inch deep and 2–3 inches apart in the row. Once they sprout and grow a few inches, thin them so the final spacing is 18–24 inches between plants.

Watering is one of the most important jobs once your plants are in the ground. Brussels sprouts like even moisture. They do not like to dry out for long periods, and they don’t like to sit in soggy soil either.

Aim to give your plants about 1–1½ inches of water per week, including rain. In hot or windy weather, they may need a bit more. It’s better to water deeply once or twice a week than a tiny bit every day. Deep watering encourages roots to grow down, making stronger plants.

Try to water at the base of the plant, not on the leaves, to help prevent disease. A soaker hose or drip irrigation works very well. If you only have a hose, water gently and in the morning so the leaves dry during the day.

Adding mulch around your plants (like straw, shredded leaves, or grass clippings without weed seeds) helps keep moisture in the soil and reduces weeds. Mulch also keeps the soil cooler, which Brussels sprouts appreciate in warmer weather.

Feeding your plants is also key. Brussels sprouts are heavy feeders, which means they need a good amount of nutrients over their long growing season. If you started with compost in the soil, you are off to a good start.

You can also use a balanced organic fertilizer. Follow the instructions on the package, but a common plan is:
- Mix some fertilizer into the soil at planting time.
- Give a light feeding again about 4–6 weeks after transplanting.
- Feed one more time as the sprouts start to form, if your soil is poor.

Too much quick‑release nitrogen can make lots of leaves but fewer sprouts, so don’t overdo it. Slow and steady feeding is best. Compost and slow‑release organic fertilizers are your friends here.

As your plants grow taller, you might notice the thick main stem getting heavy. In windy areas, it helps to stake your plants. Just push a sturdy stake into the ground next to the plant and loosely tie the stem to it with soft ties or strips of cloth.

Keep an eye out for weeds too. They compete with your plants for water and nutrients. Pull weeds regularly, especially when your plants are young. Mulch will cut down on how many weeds you have to deal with.

Pests can show up, but if you catch them early, they’re usually manageable. The most common visitors are cabbage worms, cabbage loopers, and aphids. These pests like all members of the cabbage family, including brussels sprouts.

Check the leaves often. If you see small green worms or holes in the leaves, pick off the worms and drop them into a cup of soapy water. For aphids, a strong spray of water from the hose can knock many of them off. You can also use floating row covers early in the season to keep moths from laying eggs on your plants.

As your plants grow, you’ll see leaves all along the main stem, and little buds will start to form in the leaf joints. These buds are the brussels sprouts. At first they’re tiny, but over time they swell and become the firm little cabbages you’ll harvest.

Sprouts usually start forming on the lower part of the stem first and then move upward. The ones further down will be ready before the ones at the top. This means you’ll usually harvest from the bottom up over several weeks, not all at once.

Many gardeners top their plants late in the season. This means they cut off the growing tip at the very top of the plant, leaving the rest of the stalk and sprouts. Topping tells the plant to put more energy into sizing up the existing sprouts instead of making new leaves.

You can top the plants when the lower sprouts are about the size of large marbles and you want them to fill out. Just cut off the top 3–4 inches of the plant. This step is optional but can help give you a more even harvest.

Grow Brussels Sprouts - Harvesting

Now let’s talk about how long you’ll wait and how to know when to harvest. From the day you plant seeds to picking, plan on 3–4 months, sometimes a bit longer in cool weather. Seed packets from David’s Garden Seeds will list the expected days to maturity for each variety.

Sprouts are ready to harvest when they are:
- Firm and tight
- About 1–1½ inches across (some varieties are a bit smaller or larger)
- A nice healthy green (or the correct color for that variety)

To harvest, start with the lowest sprouts on the stem. You can:
- Snap them off by bending them downward until they pop off, or
- Cut them off with a small knife, slicing close to the stem

As you remove sprouts, also remove the yellowing leaves below them. This keeps the plant neat and healthy and makes it easier to see what you’re doing. The plant will keep making sprouts higher up the stem as long as the weather stays cool.

Some gardeners like to wait for a light frost before doing a big harvest, especially for fall crops. A little frost can make Brussels sprouts sweeter, as the plant changes some of its starches into sugars to protect itself from cold.

You can also cut the whole stalk when most of the sprouts are ready. Just use a sharp knife or garden saw, cut the stem near the ground, and bring the whole stalk inside. Then you can snap off the sprouts in your kitchen as you need them.

Fresh sprouts from your own garden taste very different from the ones in the store. They’re sweeter, more tender, and you know exactly how they were grown. Roasted with a little oil, salt, and pepper, they can turn even sprout haters into fans.

When you grow Brussels sprouts in your backyard garden for the first time, don’t be surprised if you make a few mistakes. Maybe you plant a bit too late one year, or you forget to water enough during a hot spell. That’s normal. Gardening is a skill you build over seasons.

The good news is that once you learn the rhythm—cool weather, early seed starting, steady watering, and patient waiting—Brussels sprouts become one of the most satisfying crops to grow. They stand tall in the garden, and a single plant can give you dozens of sprouts.

So if you’re just starting to grow a garden, and you’ve got a packet of Brussels sprouts seeds from David’s Garden Seeds® in your hand, you’re already halfway there. Follow the simple steps in this guide, watch your weather, and give your plants time.

With each season, you’ll get better at timing and care, and before long, harvesting your own Brussels sprouts will feel easy and natural. Then you can look at that tall, loaded stalk and say, “I grew that myself,” and really mean it.

Monday, December 15, 2025

Good morning. I have been awake since before 5am. It is cold at 40° right now. David has some sort of meeting at the local school. I have no idea what it is about.

No goat babies on Day 161. It stayed cold all day long. I mailed out two large USPS bags of onion starts, each in boxes. I worked on that for most of the day.

We got a bunch of packages delivered here today. A bunch are mine. I did not take the time to open them as my stomach was hurting this evening.

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Good morning. What an awful night I had...I hope today is better. It is chilly and 42°.

I have been reading about the murders of Rob Reiner (Meathead) and his wife by their younger drug addicted son. An article said he has been battling addiction for 15 years and has been through rehab for 17 years. The public fight they had at Conan O'Brien's "holiday" party was about him getting off of drugs. Apparently, he did not like that so the next day he went into the main house (he lived in the guest house at 32 years of age) and slit his parents' throats. Problem solved...Their daughter found them and immediately told police who she thought did it...

Maybe if Hollywood would teach their children about God instead of being atheists, these crazy things wouldn't happen with so many of their children. So sad...

Nothing happening out in goatland on day 162. It is overcast and chilly. I have chicken and vegetables in the crockpot and I have some bread rising. The house smells amazing. I am back out in the office now trying to send out a newsletter on pelleted seeds, something that we have not had in years. We still have some onion starts left but the Texas 1015Y starts are gone.

Wednesday, December 17, 2025

Thursday, December 18, 2025

Friday, December 19, 2025

Saturday, December 20, 2025

Sunday, December 21, 2025

Return from Grow Brussels Sprouts to Year 7 Of Farm Life

Anything To Share On This Topic?

Would you like to share additional information about this topic with all of us?

Enter Your Title

Tell Us Your Story! [ ? ]

Upload 1-4 Pictures or Graphics (optional)[ ? ]

Add a Picture/Graphic Caption (optional)

Click here to upload more images (optional)

Author Information (optional)

To receive credit as the author, enter your information below.

Your Name	(first or full name)
Your Location	(e.g., City, State, Country)

Submit Your Contribution

Check box to agree to these submission guidelines.
I am at least 16 years of age.
I understand and accept the privacy policy.
I understand that you will display my submission on your website.

(You can preview and edit on the next page)

Since 2009, over 2,000,000 home gardeners, all across the USA, have relied on David's Garden Seeds® to grow beautiful, productive gardens. Trust is at the heart of it. Our customers know David's Garden Seeds® stocks only the highest quality seeds available. Our mission is to become your lifetime supplier of quality seeds. It isn't just to serve you once; we want to earn your trust as the primary supplier of all of your garden seeds.

Watch Our 2022 TV Commercial!

Sing Along To Our Jingle

Matt with one of our Barred Rock chickens. The chickens adore him. ♪♫♪♪♫♫

♪♫♪♪ ♫ ♪ ♫♪♫♫

♪♫♪♪♫♫

Peppers and peas

And lots of yummy greens

You can't go wrong

With Squash This Long

At David's Garden Seeds

♪ ♫ ♪ ♫

Our New 2024 TV Ad

Please like and subscribe on YouTube and come visit us at our Farm Store! The music on our TV ad was written, played, and sung by our son, Matthew Schulze. You can meet him when you come to the farm. He just might give you a tour. Ask him to grab a guitar and sing our jingle that he wrote.

David of David's Garden Seeds® zipping along on his little tractor across the farm. He is having a blast!

We are David's Garden Seeds®. If you need great seeds, we've got over 1,200 varieties to choose from.

Subscribe To Mrs. David's Garden Seeds® Newsletter For FREE!

Hi! I am Juanita aka Mrs. DGS. This photo was taken in our commercial kitchen during a potluck.

Mrs Davids Garden Seeds in the greenhouse with Lucy the lap dog.

Find out what is going on down on the farm by reading our blog and by subscribing to our free newsletter for all of the information going down at David's Garden Seeds® and on the farm. I love to share helpful information with you. Please let your friends know and y'all come on down for a visit when you get the chance. We would love to meet you!