When to plant brussels sprouts in USDA Zone 9a

Plan your brussels sprouts planting around local frost risk and soil temperature, then work backward from the harvest week your buyers need. The calendar below is a starting point, not a field-level weather forecast.

Gainesville FL, Houston, New Orleans, southern GA coast. Average last spring frost February 25, first fall frost December 1 — a 279-day frost-free season.

Zone fit: challenging
Brussels sprouts need sustained cool weather for tight sprouts — Zone 9 heat often causes loose, open buds.

Key dates

Start seeds indoors
January 7 – January 21
Transplant outdoors
February 4 – February 25
Expected first harvest
May 22 – June 19
Fall planting window
July 21 – August 11
Fall harvest window
November 5 – December 3

Windows are calculated from your zone's average frost dates. Adjust ±1 week for microclimates, elevation, and your own frost records.

Spacing and soil

Plant spacing
24″
Row spacing
36″
Seed depth
0.25″
Soil temperature
55–75°F
Frost tolerance
hardy
Days to harvest
100 days

Grower notes for Zone 9a

Fall-only crop in the Southeast. Top the plant 4 weeks before target harvest for uniform sprouts up the stem.

Plant near: onions, dill

Keep away from: strawberries

Other brassicas for Zone 9a

Same crop, other zones

Track your own plantings

BAU Farm Intelligence turns these windows into per-field tasks — indoor seed-start reminders, transplant dates, harvest projections — using your farm's actual frost history.