How Far Apart Should I Plant Brussels Sprouts?

Getting spacing right is one of the single most important decisions when planting Brussels sprouts. Plants that are too close together compete for nutrients and water, produce smaller sprouts, and create a humid canopy that encourages fungal diseases and provides shelter for pests. Plants spaced too far apart waste ground, though they do not perform significantly worse. The correct spacing is a balance between productive use of space and giving each plant enough room to develop a full, healthy crown.

Standard spacing guidelines

For most garden situations, space plants 60 cm apart within the row and allow 75 cm between rows. This gives each plant about 4,500 cm² of ground — enough for the extensive root system and full spread of leaves that a large Brussels sprout plant develops by autumn. For early compact varieties intended for harvesting in October, you can reduce spacing slightly — 45–50 cm between plants — without a significant reduction in yield. For tall late varieties harvested from November onward, 75 cm in all directions gives better results.

Effects of over-crowding

The most common consequence of planting too closely is small, loosely formed sprouts rather than the tight, well-sized buttons the crop is known for. Overcrowded plants also shed their lower leaves earlier, producing a sparser, weaker plant by autumn. Fungal diseases — particularly downy mildew and ring spot — build up more rapidly in a dense canopy where airflow is restricted. Aphid colonies find shelter among crowded foliage and are harder to monitor and control.

Wider spacing for better results

If you have the space, erring toward 75 cm in each direction produces noticeably better results in most garden trials — larger plants, tighter sprouts, and less disease. The trade-off is using more ground per plant. For small gardens where space is limited, stick to the 60 × 75 cm standard and choose a compact early variety rather than trying to squeeze a large late variety into a tight space.

Spacing from transplants versus direct sowing

Most gardeners start Brussels sprouts as transplants in a seedbed or module trays and then plant out at the correct final spacing. This is more reliable than direct sowing at final spacing because transplants can be selected for size and vigour — discard weak or uneven seedlings. If direct sowing into the final position (uncommon for this crop), sow 2–3 seeds per station and thin to one after germination, removing the weakest seedlings promptly.