Rainline Garden

When to plant Brussels sprouts in Oregon and Washington

In Portland: Start Brussels sprouts from seed indoors Jan 18 – Feb 1, then plant the young plants in the garden Mar 15 – Apr 26. In Bend: May 12 – Jun 23. Find your city below.

Difficulty
Moderate
Sun
Full sun
Spacing
24 inches apart
Planting depth
Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot
Frost
Handles light frost
First harvest
About 100 days after planting

A long-season crop picked in fall and winter, when frost sweetens the sprouts. West of the Cascades, plants keep producing well into winter.

Brussels sprouts planting dates by city

CityStart seeds indoorsPlant in the garden
Astoria, ORFeb 4–18Apr 1 – May 13
Baker City, ORMar 2–16Apr 27 – Jun 8
Bend and Redmond, ORMar 17–31May 12 – Jun 23
Burns, ORMar 19 – Apr 2May 14 – Jun 25
Coos Bay and North Bend, ORFeb 4–18Apr 1 – May 13
Eugene, ORJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 15 – Apr 26
Gresham, ORJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 15 – Apr 26
Klamath Falls, ORMar 17–31May 12 – Jun 23
Medford, ORJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 15 – Apr 26
Pendleton, ORFeb 4–18Apr 1 – May 13
Portland, ORJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 15 – Apr 26
Roseburg, ORJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 15 – Apr 26
Salem, ORJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 15 – Apr 26
The Dalles, ORFeb 4–18Apr 1 – May 13
Wilsonville and Canby, ORJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 15 – Apr 26
Aberdeen and Hoquiam, WAFeb 4–18Apr 1 – May 13
Bellingham, WAJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 15 – Apr 26
Ellensburg, WAFeb 18 – Mar 4Apr 15 – May 27
Everett, WAJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 15 – Apr 26
Forks, WAFeb 4–18Apr 1 – May 13
Moses Lake, WAFeb 4–18Apr 1 – May 13
Olympia, WAFeb 4–18Apr 1 – May 13
Omak and Okanogan, WAFeb 18 – Mar 4Apr 15 – May 27
Seattle and Tacoma, WAJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 15 – Apr 26
Spokane, WAFeb 18 – Mar 4Apr 15 – May 27
Tri-Cities (Pasco, Kennewick, Richland), WAFeb 4–18Apr 1 – May 13
Vancouver, WAJan 18 – Feb 1Mar 15 – Apr 26
Walla Walla, WAFeb 4–18Apr 1 – May 13
Wenatchee, WAFeb 4–18Apr 1 – May 13
Yakima, WAFeb 13–27Apr 10 – May 22

How to grow Brussels sprouts

  1. Start seeds indoors on your city's dates in trays or small pots under a grow light or in your sunniest window. Or skip this step and buy young plants (starts) at a garden center.
  2. Harden off the young plants: about a week before planting, set them outside for a few hours a day, a little longer each day.
  3. Plant them in the garden on your city's dates, 24 inches apart. Plant starts at the depth they grew in the pot.
  4. Water deeply once or twice a week rather than a little every day, and mulch once the soil is warm.
  5. Harvest: Pick sprouts from the bottom of the stalk up once they're firm and about an inch across. Frost improves the flavor.

Varieties that do well in the Northwest

Watch out for

Aphids cluster on the sprouts in late summer. Knock them off with a strong spray of water every few days.

More cabbage family

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