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Brussels sprout seeds for UK gardens

Updated: October 2026

One packet says sow from February to May. Another promises Christmas from a May-to-August sowing. Brussels sprout seeds in the UK have to be judged against the growing calendar, not the seed count. These plants occupy ground for months and stand about 60–90 cm apart or tall, so hundreds of seeds can exceed what a household can plant. The [sprouts comparison](/hub/seeds-and-plants/sprouts) includes two Brussels packets beside unrelated jar products. Meldon Evesham Special is the best value here: a named variety, usable spring guidance and the stronger rating evidence. Nothing was grown or yield-tested. Listings were read on 15 October 2026.

One packet says sow from February to May. Another promises Christmas from a May-to-August sowing. Brussels sprout seeds in the UK have to be judged against the growing calendar, not the seed count.

Our top picks

Meldon Seeds Meldon Evesham Special Brussels sprout seeds

Best overall

Meldon Seeds Meldon Evesham Special Brussels sprout seeds
8.5/10about £2.95
View offer
Franchi Sementi Franchi Brussels sprout seeds

Alternative

Franchi Sementi Franchi Brussels sprout seeds
5.2/10about £4.29
View offer
On this page
  1. 1.Brussels buttons are a long garden crop
  2. 2.Sow in spring if Christmas is the target
  3. 3.Meldon and Franchi packets compared
  4. 4.Give each plant room, firm soil and a realistic pot
  5. 5.Club root and a disappointing crop

Brussels buttons are a long garden crop

A Brussels sprout is a brassica with buds along a tall stem, not mung or radish shoots from a jar. If you wanted that indoor crop, the guide to growing sprouts in a jar is the other meaning of sprouts. For winter buttons, plan in spring. The RHS advises sowing indoors from February to April, about 2 cm deep, then transplanting plants about 10–15 cm tall. Garden Organic uses outdoor sowing around March to April and planting out from late May into mid-June. Neither treats late summer as the normal start for Christmas. Pick mature buttons from the bottom upwards. Flavour often sweetens after frost.

Sow in spring if Christmas is the target

An indoor February-to-April sow, or an outdoor March-to-April sow, is the route that gives plants time before summer. The RHS describes Evesham Special as a traditional variety at roughly 75 cm, cropping from September to New Year. A spring sow is credible for early to midwinter. It is not a promise for 25 December. Franchi’s May-to-August line is a conflict, not a timetable to blend with the RHS calendar. August is hard to reconcile with a mature Christmas brassica unless the packet names a cultivar. Otherwise choose a clearer spring plan.
Meldon Seeds Meldon Evesham Special Brussels sprout seeds

Testsieger

Meldon Seeds Meldon Evesham Special Brussels sprout seeds
8.5/10about £2.95
View offer

Meldon and Franchi packets compared

Meldon B0B66PCJ42 was about £2.95, with about 450 seeds of Evesham Special. The bullet says February to May, about 1.5 cm deep, and about 60 cm between rows and plants. It has 4.0 from 47 ratings. The listing says 60 cm tall. The RHS variety page says about 75 cm, so allow the larger figure. Franchi B00E7Q7URE was about £4.29, with about 1,800 seeds in 8 g, and 3.4 from three ratings. The only written review captured was from Germany, so it is not UK crop evidence. No cultivar is named. Most gardens cannot use 1,800 plants. Meldon is the best value: a named variety, a credible window and broader evidence, for less money. That is a buying judgement, not a germination proof.

Give each plant room, firm soil and a realistic pot

Set plants about 60 cm apart. Ten plants at that spacing take far more ground than the packet suggests, so seed count ranks below variety and timing. Firm the soil. The RHS test is that you should not pull a leaf free. One compact plant can go in a pot at least 30 cm wide. A window box is too small. If you are still choosing the crop, the sprouts buying guide separates a jar from a winter bed.

Club root and a disappointing crop

Club root swells and distorts roots, and plants wilt even in moist soil. It persists in the ground, so more seed does not fix it. The RHS includes liming where a soil test supports it, and starting plants in clean compost. Do not lime blindly. Cryptus F1 and Crispus F1 are the resistant cultivars the RHS names. Neither packet here claims to be one of them. Evesham Special is open-pollinated, not an F1. A count of 1,800 seeds does not help plants that enter winter immature.

Common questions

When should I sow Brussels sprouts for Christmas?
Use a spring timetable and the variety’s maturity period. The RHS suggests indoor sowing from February to April, while Garden Organic includes outdoor sowing around March to April. A Christmas harvest remains weather-dependent, so do not rely on the date claim alone.
Is Evesham Special an F1 variety?
No. Evesham Special is a traditional open-pollinated variety, not an F1 hybrid. The RHS describes it at about 75 cm with harvest from September to New Year. Do not confuse it with resistant F1 cultivars named in club-root guidance.
How far apart should Brussels sprout plants be?
Allow about 60 cm between plants and rows as a practical baseline. The space supports root development, airflow and access for pest checks. Check the named variety too, because especially tall or vigorous plants may benefit from more room.
Can I grow Brussels sprouts in pots?
Yes, but use one compact plant in a sturdy pot at least 30 cm wide, following RHS guidance. Larger containers are easier to keep evenly watered and stable. Several mature plants will not fit successfully into one small pot.
What is club root?
Club root is a soil-borne brassica disease that distorts roots and weakens growth. Affected ground may need pH management based on a soil test, clean transplants or resistant cultivars. Buying more seed does not solve contaminated soil.
Why does the Franchi packet say May to August?
The captured listing does not name a cultivar or explain why its sowing window is later than mainstream UK guidance. Verify the printed packet before sowing. If it still claims an August sowing for Christmas without a clear variety explanation, choose a better-documented packet.
How many seeds do I need?
Far fewer than either packet supplies. Even ten plants require substantial room at 60 cm spacing, and not every household needs ten mature stalks. Sow a sensible reserve for germination and transplant losses rather than trying to use the whole packet.

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Sources

Public UK sources for this comparison. amazon.co.uk listings were read on 15 October 2026.

  1. RHS, Brussels sprouts: grow your own (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  2. RHS, Evesham Special (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  3. RHS, Club root (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  4. Regulation (EU) No 208/2013, sprout traceability (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  5. NICS Well, sprouted seeds safety advice (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  6. Food Standards Scotland, treatments for sprouted seeds (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  7. Food Standards Agency, STEC business guidance (retrieved 15 October 2026)
  8. The Guardian, Alys Fowler, 4 April 2020 (retrieved 15 October 2026)