Commercial crop requirements

Growing Brussels Sprouts: climate, soil and water requirements

Brussels Sprouts has an optimum temperature range of 12–20°C within an absolute 7–25°C envelope.

Its profile calls for 450 mm of seasonal water and an optimum soil pH of 6–7.

How to read the figures

Profile figures come from the source cited at the foot of this page. Regional figures are representative reference values, not coordinate-level measurements.

Climate envelope

Use the optimum band for screening normal crop development and the absolute range as an outer tolerance boundary. Accumulated heat still depends on the local planting window and daily temperatures.

Brussels Sprouts climate requirements
RequirementProfile value
Optimum temperature12–20°C
Absolute temperature range7–25°C
Heat to maturity1,500 growing degree days above a 4°C base
PhotoperiodLong-day response; 12-hour critical daylength
VernalisationRequired; 10 reference days

Soil and pH

Brussels Sprouts soil requirements
RequirementProfile value
Optimum pH6–7
Tolerated pH range4.5–7.8
Waterlogging toleranceIntolerant

An intolerant rating means drainage is a screening constraint. Check infiltration, perched-water risk, field outlets and the duration of saturation before committing land.

Water

Brussels Sprouts water requirements
RequirementProfile value
Seasonal water requirement450 mm
Optimum rainfall band900–1,600 mm
Absolute rainfall range500–3,000 mm

Irrigation becomes necessary when effective in-season rainfall is below the 450 mm seasonal requirement. Convert that gap into a field schedule only after accounting for soil water storage, application efficiency and local rainfall timing.

Nitrogen demand

The profile assigns Brussels Sprouts nitrogen-demand category 3, which translates to moderate demand. It is a relative category, not a fertiliser rate.

Set the field program from soil and tissue evidence, expected removals, prior-crop effects and local nutrient rules.

Crop-level reference profile

Brussels Sprouts crop-level reference figures
RequirementProfile value
Average yield16.5 t/ha reference average
Growing periodAbout 125 days to maturity, derived from 1,500 growing degree days above 4°C at a 16°C mean season temperature. Modelled from the crop profile.

Where it grows well

These examples pass a stated temperature or rainfall comparison using representative regional values. Regional screening, not parcel-level.

Netherlands

Representative warm-season temperature is 16.3°C, inside the 12–20°C optimum. Annual rainfall is 926 mm, inside the 900–1,600 mm optimum rainfall band.

Compared on representative regional temperature and rainfall.

Pennsylvania

Representative warm-season temperature is 18.9°C, inside the 12–20°C optimum. Annual rainfall is 1,036 mm, inside the 900–1,600 mm optimum rainfall band.

Compared on representative regional temperature and rainfall.

Wisconsin

Representative warm-season temperature is 18°C, inside the 12–20°C optimum. Annual rainfall is 811 mm, inside the 500–3,000 mm absolute rainfall range.

Compared on representative regional temperature and rainfall.

Regional guides

Browse all crop and regional guides

Research basis

These papers support the qualitative interpretation of the crop profile. No paper-derived figure is used on this page; the named crop and region fields remain the only sources of displayed agronomic numbers.

Taking this to a field decision

This profile cannot set planting depth, row spacing, seeding rate, cultivar choice, fertiliser rate, harvest timing, irrigation schedule or drainage design. Those decisions depend on cultivar, local practice and field conditions.

Use a coordinate-level audit, local field evidence and commercial terms before a land or lending decision.

Crop profile source

Wikidata & Literature (Plant and Soil, 2018, Response of Brassica oleracea cultivars to waterlogging).