Brussels Sprouts in Zone 8a & 8b
Brassica oleracea
When to plant brussels sprouts in zone 8b
Zones 8a and 8b share the same average frost dates in our data, so this page covers both.
Method: Start indoors: Start indoors from seed, then transplant outside. Brussels Sprouts needs a head start most zones can't give it by direct-sowing alone.
| Start indoors | Feb 11–Feb 18 |
|---|---|
| Direct sow / transplant outside | Mar 11–Mar 18 |
| Estimated harvest | Jun 14–Jun 21 (~95 days after transplanting) |
Spacing: 1 per square foot (square-foot-gardening spacing). Mature height: 2-3 ft.
Brussels sprouts take longer to mature than almost anything else in the vegetable garden, close to a full season from seed to harvest, and they're one of the few crops that improve with a touch of frost, which converts starches to sugars and softens the bitterness the vegetable is known for.
How brussels sprouts fits zone 8's season
Zone 8b's frost-free window runs about 230 days, from March 25 to November 10. Brussels Sprouts needs about 95 days from transplant to first harvest.
Good companions
- Onion: Onion scent is reputed to confuse cabbage moths that target brassicas. The research behind this is real but garlic-specific (field trials intercropping garlic with cabbage reduced diamondback moth damage) — onion hasn't been tested the same way, so treat the onion version as a reasonable extrapolation, not a directly measured result.
Where to buy brussels sprout seeds
See why we recommend these suppliers →
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links on this page also go to other retailers we may earn a commission from as an affiliate, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend products with a genuine consensus of positive, independent reviews. See the sources cited on each item.
See it growing
Search YouTube for "growing brussels sprouts" videos → (a live search, not a hand-picked video; results vary and aren't vetted by us)
← Back to the full zone 8b calendar · Full companion planting guide · Full plant profile · Plan your beds in the Garden Designer →
Pin this for later
Growing Brussels Sprouts in USDA zone 8b: when to start seeds indoors, when to direct-sow, and when to expect a harvest.
Save to Pinterest