Cool-season produce

Brussels sprouts

Brassica oleracea Gemmifera Group

A long-season crop with less predictable tight sprouts in warm winters. Harvest firm lower sprouts first; prioritize early fall establishment.

EdibleCool-season crop

Growing spaceVegetable bed

Climate fitUrban core · USDA 9b–10a · Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b · Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b

Crop familyBrassicaceae (mustard)

Life cycleAnnual crop

Phoenix planting windowStart seed in August–September; transplant September–November for a long winter crop.

How to plantRaise transplants early; set out when heat abates.

Plant spacing18–24 in

FrostTolerates light frost once established; cover during a hard freeze.

Time to harvestAbout 100–120 days from transplants; 130–150 from seed

SuccessionUsually one early fall planting; later starts may run into heat.

Special categoriesEDIBLE

Typical harvestWinter to early spring sprouts if the cool spell lasts.

Right plant, right place

Will Brussels sprouts grow at your Arizona property?

A long-season crop with less predictable tight sprouts in warm winters. Harvest firm lower sprouts first; prioritize early fall establishment.

Best regional fit: Urban core · USDA 9b–10a, Valley suburbs · USDA 9a–9b, Desert outskirts · USDA 8b–9b.

Light

Full winter sun; give leafy crops afternoon protection during warm fall and spring weather.

Water

Keep the vegetable root zone evenly moist with regular irrigation; adjust to rain, soil, and temperature rather than using a fixed summer schedule.

Planting & stewardship

1
Prepare a fertile, well-drained bed and keep seed or transplants evenly moist through establishment.
2
Thin to the final spacing; crowding reduces harvest quality.
3
Watch for aphids and caterpillars and protect sensitive growth from a hard freeze.
4
Harvest before sustained spring heat causes bolting or poor quality.

Read the growing reference ↗ Planting dates can shift with cultivar, weather, and your yard’s microclimate.