When to Plant Brussels Sprouts in Cairns, Tropical Guide
Soil temperature is modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Cairns), not a live sensor.
What this month normally looks like in Tropical
In October the Tropical zone normally runs 34°C by day and 23°C overnight, with about 53 mm of rain over 5 or 6 wet days. Averages 1991 to 2026, 37 postcodes, SILO.
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This Brussels Sprouts guide is written for the Tropical zone, which takes in Cairns, Townsville and Darwin. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Alice Springs Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Days to harvest
- about 21 weeks
- Sun
- Full sun
- Spacing
- 60 cm apart
Brussels sprouts are a long, cold weather brassica that carry small cabbage like buds up a tall stem. They do not form tight sprouts in warm areas, where they open and go floppy.
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Planting Calendar for Tropical
Brussels Sprouts is not recommended for Tropical.
Gardenate has no tropical calendar for Brussels sprouts and the page says they will not form good sprouts in warm areas, where they open and go floppy. The Seed Collection lists February to April sowing for the tropics, but we rate it not viable.
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How to Grow Brussels Sprouts in Tropical Australia
- Soil
- Moist, fertile soil with plenty of compost (Seeds of Plenty). Firm soil helps the tall stems stand.
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- Sunlight
- Full sun, with shelter from wind because tall plants topple (Yates).
- Spacing
- 60cm apart
- Watering
- Keep the water even. Dry spells stress brassicas. No exact water figure was found.
- Good companions
- Nasturtium, Dwarf Beans, Onion, Cucumber, Dill
- Keep away from
- Tomato, Climbing beans, Capsicum and chilli, Eggplant
- Grow before it
- Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
- Grow after it
- Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)
Give the bed 3 turns before brassicas go back in. The cabbage family is hungry for nitrogen and shares club root and other soil diseases.
Tropical Growing Tips for Brussels Sprouts
Key Challenges
- Heat
- Loose, floppy sprouts
- Aphids
Pro Tips
- Grow kale or cabbage instead
- If you want to try, use a pot in the coolest, driest months
- Expect poor results
Pests and problems for Brussels Sprouts in Tropical
Harvesting Brussels Sprouts
When ready: Sprouts are firm and about 2 to 3 cm across (Yates), picked while small (Gardenate).
How to harvest: Pick from the bottom of the stem and leave the plant growing (Gardenate, Yates).
What brussels sprouts costs in the shops right now, retailer by retailer, updated daily.
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Brussels Sprouts
When do you plant brussels sprouts in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): not recommended
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Feb to Jun
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Feb, Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan, Nov to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): Jan, Nov to Dec
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Jan to Mar
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Mar
When should I plant Brussels Sprouts in Cairns?
Gardenate has no tropical calendar for Brussels sprouts and the page says they will not form good sprouts in warm areas, where they open and go floppy. The Seed Collection lists February to April sowing for the tropics, but we rate it not viable.
What soil temperature do Brussels Sprouts need?
Brussels Sprouts germinate best when soil temperature is between 7°C and 30°C.
How do I know when Brussels Sprouts are ready to harvest?
Sprouts are firm and about 2 to 3 cm across (Yates), picked while small (Gardenate).
What grows well with Brussels Sprouts?
Good companion plants for Brussels Sprouts include: Nasturtium, Dwarf Beans, Onion, Cucumber, Dill.
Are brussels sprouts salt tolerant?
Only a little. Brussels sprouts are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Tropical zone, Cairns is its reference city.