Brussels sprouts are a long-season brassica that reward patience with heavy winter harvests when many other crops have finished. They’re hardy, nutritious, and improve in flavour after frost. Success depends on firm planting, generous spacing, steady feeding, and good pest control.

This guide covers how to grow sprouts from seed and plug plants, when to plant, spacing, watering and feeding, pests and diseases, container vs ground growing, and proven ways to improve yields.

🌱 1. Types of Sprouts You Can Grow

🥦 Early Varieties

• Crop from September–November

• Shorter plants

• Good for milder areas

🥦 Mid-Season Varieties

• Crop from November–December

• Reliable, balanced growth

🥦 Late Varieties

• Crop from January–March

• Tall, very hardy

• Best flavour after frost

(Growing methods are the same; timings differ.)

🌰 2. Ways to Grow Sprouts

From Seed (Most Common)

Pros

• Cheapest option

• Wide variety choice

• Strong root systems

Cons

• Needs early pest protection

Plug Plants

Young sprout plants grown in modules.

Pros

• Faster establishment

• Less early pest damage

• Good for beginners

Cons

• More expensive

• Limited variety choice

👉 Both methods work well — firm planting and spacing matter more than starting method.

🗓️ 3. When to Sow & Plant Sprouts

From Seed

• Sow indoors: March–April

• Sow outdoors (seedbed): April–May

Plug Plants

• Plant out: May–June

Sprouts need a long growing season to bulk up properly.

🌾 4. How to Grow Sprouts in the Ground

Soil & Position

• Firm, fertile soil

• Open, sunny position

• Plenty of organic matter added the previous season

Sprouts dislike freshly manured soil — it encourages leafy growth and instability.

Spacing (Critical for Stability)

• Between plants: 60cm

• Between rows: 60–75cm

Crowded plants produce:

• loose sprouts

• weak stems

• more pest problems

Firm Planting (Very Important)

• Plant deeply

• Firm soil well around roots

• Heel in again in autumn if soil loosens

Firm soil = tighter, better sprouts.

🪴 5. Growing Sprouts in Containers

Sprouts can be grown in containers, but only with care.

Container Guidelines

• Minimum size: 40–50 litres per plant

• One plant per container

• Heavy, stable pot to prevent wind rock

Container-grown sprouts:

• stay smaller

• need more feeding and watering

• are more prone to instability

Ground growing is usually better.

💧 6. Watering Sprouts

Sprouts need consistent moisture, especially in summer.

Best Practice

• Water deeply during dry spells

• Focus on mid–late summer growth

• Mulch to retain moisture

Dry stress causes:

• loose, open sprouts

• reduced yields

🌿 7. Feeding Sprouts

Sprouts are heavy feeders.

Feeding Schedule

• Compost before planting

• High-nitrogen feed in summer

• Optional top-up feed in early autumn

Well-fed plants produce dense, well-filled buttons.

🐛 8. Common Pests & Diseases

Cabbage White Caterpillars

• Holes in leaves

Control

• Fine mesh netting

• Regular checking

Aphids (Sprout Aphid)

• Grey-green clusters in leaf joints

Control

• Encourage predators

• Remove heavily infested leaves

Clubroot (Soil Disease)

Symptoms

• Wilting plants

• Swollen roots

Prevention

• Crop rotation

• Improve drainage

• Lime acidic soils

✂️ 9. Harvesting Sprouts

How to Harvest

• Pick from the bottom upwards

• Twist off firm buttons

• Harvest regularly to encourage more growth

Optional Tip

• Remove the growing tip in late summer to focus energy on sprouts.

🌾 10. Improving Sprout Yields

• Start early

• Space generously

• Keep soil firm

• Feed regularly

• Net early against pests

Sprouts reward structure and consistency.

⚡ Quick Sprout Growing Tips

• Frost improves flavour

• Firm soil = tighter sprouts

• Taller plants need staking in windy sites

• One plant can yield 1–1.5kg of sprouts

🧠 Key Sprout Principles

• Long season, slow growth

• Firm planting is essential

• Feeding improves button density

• Cold improves flavour