When do you plant Brussels sprouts in Australia?

In temperate zones, sow from December through to April. Summer sowings sound strange, but the plants need 80–140 days and must mature into cold weather to form tight sprouts.

Why are my Brussels sprouts loose and leafy instead of tight?

Usually loose soil, late nitrogen feeding, uneven watering, or maturing in warm weather. Plant into firm, settled ground, stop feeding once sprouts start forming, and keep moisture consistent.

Do Brussels sprouts really taste better after frost?

Yes. Frost triggers the plant to convert starches to sugars, so sprouts picked after a few cold snaps are noticeably sweeter and milder.

What is eating holes in my Brussels sprouts leaves?

Almost certainly caterpillars of the cabbage white butterfly or cabbage moth. Fit fine exclusion netting from seedling stage — it is the most reliable control for a crop that stands this long.

When to plant Brussels Sprouts in Temperate Australia

Sow brussels sprouts in temperate Australia from December to April. Method: raise seedlings,sow direct. Seeds germinate in 6-12 days, with harvest roughly 80-140 days after sowing.

Temperate zone — applies to Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, Newcastle and similar areas. Growing elsewhere? Cool · Subtropical · Tropical · Arid.

In temperate Australia, sow Brussels sprouts direct from December through to April, just 6 mm deep. The timing looks odd for a winter vegetable, but it is deliberate: seed started in the heat of summer produces plants that mature into the cold — and sprouts only firm up and sweeten properly in cold weather. Germination takes 6–12 days, then it is a long haul of 80–140 days to picking, so allow the full 50–75 cm between plants and 90 cm between rows. Be prepared to net against cabbage white butterflies from the moment seedlings emerge.

Sowing calendar — temperate zone

Green months are your sowing window: December to April.

Growing notes

Brussels sprouts are the ultimate slow game in the temperate garden. A December or January sowing hits maturity as winter bites, which is exactly what you want — plants are fully hardy, and frosts around May onwards actively improve them, converting starches to sugars. Sowings at the April end of the window mature in late winter and early spring instead; they still crop, but anything that buttons up during a warm spell will be looser and stronger-tasting.

Soil preparation matters more here than for almost any other brassica. Sprouts need firm, deep, moisture-retentive ground: prepare the bed early, tread it down, and plant into soil that has settled. Feed generously early in growth, then stop — late nitrogen is a classic cause of "blown" sprouts that open into loose rosettes instead of tight buttons. Uneven watering does the same, so mulch well and keep moisture steady through summer.

Because the plants stand in the garden through the peak cabbage white butterfly and cabbage moth season, caterpillar pressure is relentless. Exclusion netting from day one is far more effective than picking caterpillars off a shredded plant in March. Stake tall plants before autumn winds arrive, and harvest from the bottom of the stem upwards as each sprout reaches golf-ball size.

Brussels Sprouts at a glance

Sowing depth	6 mm
Plant spacing	50-75 cm
Row spacing	90 cm
Germination	6-12 days
Days to maturity	80-140 days
Frost tolerance	Hardy
Method	Raise Seedlings,Sow Direct

Companion planting

Grows well with

Nasturtiums Sage Sage

Nasturtiums: Trap crop for cabbage white butterfly

Sage: Reduces diamondback moth pressure

Sage: UMN Extension research: reduces diamondback moth pressure

Common questions

When do you plant Brussels sprouts in Australia?: In temperate zones, sow from December through to April. Summer sowings sound strange, but the plants need 80–140 days and must mature into cold weather to form tight sprouts.
Why are my Brussels sprouts loose and leafy instead of tight?: Usually loose soil, late nitrogen feeding, uneven watering, or maturing in warm weather. Plant into firm, settled ground, stop feeding once sprouts start forming, and keep moisture consistent.
Do Brussels sprouts really taste better after frost?: Yes. Frost triggers the plant to convert starches to sugars, so sprouts picked after a few cold snaps are noticeably sweeter and milder.
What is eating holes in my Brussels sprouts leaves?: Almost certainly caterpillars of the cabbage white butterfly or cabbage moth. Fit fine exclusion netting from seedling stage — it is the most reliable control for a crop that stands this long.

Track brussels sprouts in your garden — sow dates, harvest countdowns, reminders. Free.

Add to my garden