Topic: Sprout questions

[caroline7758]

My sprouts have done better than last year, but still not great. They are mostly small and more spread out on the stems than those I can see on  neighbouring plots. Is there anything I can feed them with now to improve them, should any that have "blown" be removed from the stems, and what can I do to get a better crop next year?

[triffid]

The difference between your plants and your neighbours' sound as if they and you have planted different varieties.
Though if you plant sprouts close together it does, I'm told, make them produce smaller sprouts.

And yes, you can remove blown sprouts from the stems. If your sprouts are blowing it sounds as if they're ready to pick: don't try to wait until a whole stalk is ripe (if this is what you were doing...) just pick off what you need, starting from the bottom of the stalk.

[caroline7758]

I've already picked quite  a few, and they were very nice, just small!

[cacran]

 ???What does 'blown' sprouts mean ??? Does it mean when they are not tightly balled, if you know what I mean. I have just got an allotment with sprouts on it. Most of them are all baggy and I tried to cook them. they were awful. should I throw them away and just get the tight ones off?

[triffid]

Yep, that's exactly what it means.

Though I find that blown sprouts are still fine in bubble & squeak (cook them very very lightly though).

[laurieuk]

One of the main reasons for blown ,large loose sprouts is planting them in soft ground.Some of the very best sprouts I have seen were planted in ground that had not been dug but just holes made with an iron bar. Another reason for a poor crop is if you feed with nitrogen , that is good for leave growth but not tight sprouts. Also as Triffid says varieties vary in their growth on different soils, I find the F1 s are much better and crop over a longer period. I start picking Peer Gynt early October and am still picking well into the new year.

[cacran]

Thanks for that, I have made a note of what to get and will try to find some firmer bit of the plot to plant them in. I would still need to plant them in the right place though (crop rotation) wouldn't I? Sorry if I sound a bit naive but |I have just got the plot and am trying to get as much info. as I can over the Winter before I start buying and planting up. I now have the word 'blown' in my vocabulary. If I keep a few to drop in now and again, will I sound like an expert???LOL!!!

[laurieuk]

I must admit I do not rotate according to the book but you really should avoid having brassicas next year where you had them this year, the same apllies to potatoes but I have kept my runner beans and onions in the same place for many years.

[fat larry]

this blown sprout topic is I think what I have been wondering about. My sprouts seem to have lots of leaves and not much button ... is that blown? I saw a recipe on here somewhere to stir fry them (the leaves) or cook as per bubble and squeak. Like the idea of sticking the little plants in holes made by a dibber. Tough guys huh? there's me breaking my back to make the soil all nice and soft for em. But if you don't dig it how do you keep the weeds off? round up? hoe it all to keep under control>?

[laurieuk]

A blown sprout is one that has no firm button, it is just a small bunch of loose leaves. I woud not use weedkiller on my veg. plot to keep down ordinary weeds, all you need is a hoe or even mulch over the soil to prevent the weed seed germinating.

[supersprout]

Agree, if you search for 'mulch' on this site you'll find more info ;D

[triffid]

Agree, if you search for 'mulch' on this site you'll find more info ;D

... most of it from our resident expert.... Supersprout!  ;D


Cacran, you don't need much specialist vocab to sound like an expert down at the lottie.

You just need to learn the knack of leaning on your spade, taking a long severe look at whatever you need to look knowledgeable about, then breathing in through your teeth, really slowly so a drawn-out hiss can be heard. Not too much or too sharply (that's the Plumber's Intake.)

As you do this, you nod your head back just a fraction, and just once.

This is the Allotment Old Boy's Acknowledgement (variant number one). It can be used in practically any circumstance.
 ;D

 

[daisymay]

very funny!!!!  ;D ;D

you have met the old boys on our allotment I see.......

[caroline7758]

Nobody responded to my question about feeding, so I guess that's a no? ???

[redimp]

Too much feed will encourage them to blow so feed won't help, no.  You could take the blown ones off and try staking the plants to stop them rocking to see if this stops developing sprouts from blowing.

[cacran]

thanks for that, Triffid. I am going to practice doing that at the first opportunity. By Spring I may have perfected it, eh......LOL!!!!!