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When to plant
brussels sprouts in the UK
Grow through summer, harvest from autumn through winter. Flavour improves after frost. Start early — they're slow.
Work out your own dates
Starts from the recommended sow date for your area. Sowed on a different day, or planted out late? Adjust below and the harvest moves with it.
Using the UK-average last frost · 15 April · add your postcode to tune it
Growing journey
24 weeks from planting out to harvest · Start indoors 8 weeks before planting out
Get brussels sprouts seeds
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What brussels sprouts need
Sun. Very firm, fertile soil. Stake tall plants against wind or they'll topple.
Spacing
60cm between plants
These are larger plants — give them plenty of space for air circulation.
Varieties worth growing
Groninger
uncommonA Dutch heritage variety that produces small, tight buttons with intense, nutty flavour. The kind of sprout that converts people who think they don't like sprouts — which is to say, the best kind.
Shredded sprouts with bacon and chestnuts
Slice them thin, fry fast in a hot pan with lardons until the edges crisp. Toss in roughly chopped roasted chestnuts and a grind of black pepper. The dish that converts sprout haters.
Bosworth
commonModern F1 that produces uniform, tight buttons from October right through Christmas and beyond. The reliable choice when you need sprouts for twenty on the 25th and can't afford a failure.
Roasted sprouts with honey and sriracha
Halve, toss with olive oil, roast at 220C until deeply caramelised. Drizzle with honey mixed with sriracha. The char is essential — soft sprouts are sad sprouts.
Red Bull
rarePurple-red sprouts that look extraordinary on the stalk and on the plate. Slightly nuttier than green varieties and they keep their colour when roasted. The Christmas table show-stopper.
Roasted red sprouts with pomegranate
Halve, roast until crispy-edged, then scatter with pomegranate seeds, crumbled feta, and a drizzle of balsamic glaze. Red and green and festive without trying.
Flower Sprouts
rareA cross between brussels sprouts and kale that produces open, frilly, purple-green rosettes instead of tight buttons. Milder flavour than sprouts, prettier than kale, and genuinely converts sprout-haters. A modern innovation that actually works.
Stir-fried flower sprouts
Halve if large, toss into a hot wok with sesame oil, soy sauce, and a pinch of chilli flakes. The frilly edges crisp up while the centres stay tender. A side dish that looks like it belongs on a fancy tasting menu.
Good companions
Keep apart from
- Tomatoes
- Runner beans
When to sow brussels sprouts
Based on UK average frost date. Enter your postcode for exact dates, or find your city.
Where to buy brussels sprouts seeds
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What you'll need for brussels sprouts
The stuff beginners wish they'd bought sooner.
Without this, cabbage white caterpillars will strip your plants to skeletons. Cover from planting day — not after you spot damage.
Hold netting above the leaves. Draped directly on plants, butterflies lay eggs through the mesh where it touches.
For support, staking, and building frames. The most versatile length for the plot.
More in our equipment guide →Links go to Amazon. We earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Get your exact dates
Enter your postcode for personalised planting dates for brussels sprouts.