leafy · transplant · advanced
Brussels Sprouts: how much to plant.
A family of 4 eating brussels sprouts a few times a week needs about 9 plants in ~45 sq ft, worth about $45 a year at the store. Here are the exact numbers for your household, and when to plant in every zone.
How much to plant
Plants, space, seeds, and value.
Counts assume about 3 servings per person per week with a germination buffer built in. Store value uses ~$4.00/lb retail, an estimate that varies by region and season.
| Household | Plants | Bed space | Seeds to buy | Store value / yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 person | 3 | ~15 sq ft | ~4 | ~$15 |
| 2 people | 5 | ~25 sq ft | ~7 | ~$25 |
| 4 people | 9 | ~45 sq ft | ~12 | ~$45 |
| 6 people | 14 | ~70 sq ft | ~18 | ~$70 |
Spacing
24" in row · 30" between rows
Sow depth
0.5"
Days to harvest
85 from transplant (110 from seed)
When to plant
Sow windows by USDA zone, 2026.
Zone dates are typical, not exact. The free planner uses your ZIP code's frost dates, not just the zone, and shifts every window to match.
| Zone | Spring sow window | Fall sow window |
|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | — | Jun 1 – Jul 17 |
| Zone 4 | — | Jun 11 – Jul 27 |
| Zone 5 | — | Jun 21 – Aug 6 |
| Zone 6 | — | Jul 1 – Aug 16 |
| Zone 7 | — | Jul 11 – Aug 26 |
| Zone 8 | — | Aug 1 – Sep 16 |
| Zone 9 | — | Aug 21 – Oct 6 |
| Zone 10 | — | Aug 31 – Oct 16 |
Know when it's time to plant
Give us your ZIP and we'll email you a planting checklist for your exact frost dates, this month's list right now, then once a month when sow windows open.
One email a month, only when there's something to plant. Unsubscribe anytime.
Know before you grow
The practical stuff.
Ready to pick when
Sprouts firm, tight, and about an inch across, sizing bottom-up. Snap off from the bottom as they firm; frost sweetens them.
Don't wait: Loose, open sprouts are past, strip and cook them like cabbage.
Yield
About 1.25 lbs per plant over ~3 productive weeks (~1.25 lb).
Watch for
Cabbage worms & loopers · Aphids · Flea beetles · Black rot · Cabbage root maggot, the pest guide covers organic fixes for each, and Pest Radar shows what gardeners near you are reporting right now.
Neighbors
Plays well with carrot, onion, garlic, basil. Keep away from tomato, tomato, tomato.
On the plate (per 100 g, USDA)
43 kcal · 3.8 g fiber · 85 mg vitamin C · 389 mg potassium
Stop guessing. Get your exact numbers.
Tell the free planner what you want to eat and who you're feeding. It returns plant counts, spacing, and frost-safe sow dates for your ZIP code, not just your zone, in about 60 seconds.
Brussels Sprouts keeps for months in cool storage. See how much to grow and store to feed your household, and how long it keeps.
Brussels Sprouts planting questions
How many brussels sprouts plants do I need per person?+
For steady eating (about 3 servings a week), plan on roughly 3 plants per person. A family of 4 needs about 9 plants, which takes around 45 sq ft of bed space.
How much space does brussels sprouts need?+
Space plants 24" apart in the row with 30" between rows. Sow 0.5" deep. Start indoors, transplant out.
When should I plant brussels sprouts?+
It depends on your frost dates. It also has a fall window keyed to your first fall frost. The zone table on this page shows typical windows; enter your ZIP in the free planner for dates tuned to your exact location, not just your zone.
Is growing brussels sprouts worth it?+
At about $4.00/lb retail and ~1.25 lb per plant, a family-of-4 planting is worth about $45 a year at the store. Prices vary by region and season, so treat it as an estimate.