When to plant Brussels sprouts
Calendar windows
Dates shift with your latitude — they are calculated from your local last-spring-frost date, not from a fixed calendar.
At a glance
Overwinters outdoors in a temperate garden.
Practical notes
A long-season crop that must be planted firm — loose soil gives open, blown sprouts. Stake tall varieties before autumn gales, and never over-feed with nitrogen late.
Knowing when to pick
Pick from the bottom of the stem upwards once the sprouts are walnut-sized and firm. Flavour improves markedly after the first hard frost.
Storing the crop
Cut the whole stem and stand it in a cool shed — sprouts stay fresh on the stalk for two weeks.
Crop rotation
Rotate on a 4-year cycle: clubroot spores survive in soil for up to 20 years.
Grows well with
Keep apart from
Watch for
Full guide: brussels sprouts diseases and pests (4) → with spread routes, compost verdicts and the prevention this list justifies.