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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Plot22 on December 31, 2018, 07:09:54

Title: Brussels
Post by: Plot22 on December 31, 2018, 07:09:54
This has been the worst year that I have ever had with my favourite veg Brussel Sprouts. I only grow clubroot resistant Crispus and Cryptus and out of 30 odd plants only about half a dozen have produced big sprouts. The plants have grown tall and the sprouts are there but most of them are like buttons. They have been under netting until about a month ago when I stripped most of the leaves off because of whitefly. I am not alone with this problem as looking around our site everyone seems to have had a bad year. I am putting it down to the very dry summer but I did water them every week at that time and fed them with Sulphate of Amonia.
Title: Re: Brussels
Post by: ACE on December 31, 2018, 08:21:34
Worse year for me also, but in a different way, changing plots in mid stream this year I left some crops growing on my old plots. The brussels are the best I have ever seen them and the new plot holder does not seem to be picking them. My neighbour gave me some of his glut and they were firm and a good size.
Title: Re: Brussels
Post by: pumkinlover on December 31, 2018, 09:02:12
Mine are much smaller than usual, I didn't water them during the hot summer, so put it down to that.
But they are really nice tasting. So I am happy bunny.
Title: Re: Brussels
Post by: saddad on December 31, 2018, 09:42:35
Small here too...
Title: Re: Brussels
Post by: laurieuk on December 31, 2018, 09:56:37
In past years I have grown Peer Gynt but they stopper that one so I went for Bridgette until we could no longer get that one , I have no idea why . I am uncertain what the variety was this year but they are too big we like small tight sprouts. If anyone has any suggestions we would be pleased to hear. We used to use Peer Gynt on our display stand in September and I have used spouts from the same pants when doin a veg. talk in March. It was an excellent F1 variety.
Title: Re: Brussels
Post by: BarriedaleNick on December 31, 2018, 10:46:33
Trafalgar have done well for me this year - big and tasty.
Title: Re: Brussels
Post by: galina on December 31, 2018, 11:16:11
My two plants did not do well either, my fault for not transplanting them at the right time.  Tiny sprouts only.  Maybe they will do something in spring.  If the sprouts blow when they grow bigger again in spring, I shall fudge it by calling them "kalettes". 

But lesson learned, they need their time in the ground.  Perhaps the dry weather did not help, but gardener's incompetence was almost certainly the bigger cause here     :BangHead:

Congrats to all who had good "non Asda" sprouts.  Next year!  :wave:
Title: Re: Brussels
Post by: cambourne7 on January 03, 2019, 22:36:26
This is second year growing and they are better than the previous year but early and sustatined attack on them from whitefly means there pretty manky looking and small in fact there still on the ground as i am hoping in a few weeks they might be ok but i expect once i peal them they will be pea sized haha

cam
Title: Re: Brussels
Post by: Tee Gee on January 03, 2019, 23:40:46
Many years ago I grew Peer Gynt too Laurie then I found Maximus and never went back!

OK this year they were rather small but I think this has been pretty much what has happened to lots of things so this year so  I won't be going off them just because of this years results.

This is how they usually turn out for me

(http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Content/B/Brussels%20Sprouts/2010%20(12).jpg)

Title: Re: Brussels
Post by: saddad on January 04, 2019, 13:04:05
Some good looking stalks there Tee Gee
Title: Re: Brussels
Post by: woodypecks on January 05, 2019, 09:03:43
Pea size sprouts here too...but I have heard that if you cut the top off it makes the sprouts swell ..so I did that yesterday...and we shall wait and see .  We ate the Brussel tops ..and very nice they were too ! 
 It will soon be time to sow another lot !      Debbie    :coffee2:
Title: Re: Brussels
Post by: saddad on January 05, 2019, 19:20:00
Almost all mine lost their tops without my intervention and they were in tunnels so not pigeons, I assume the long period of whitefly and woolly aphids did them in...
Title: Re: Brussels
Post by: early weeder on January 06, 2019, 13:59:21
I grew Brussels for the first time this year. Picked Idemar from the Organic Seed Catalogue because they don't get too tall and we are very windy here. (no pun intended!). They have done well and we are still eating them.
Title: Re: Brussels
Post by: galina on January 06, 2019, 14:25:49
Thank you for the recommendation Early Weeder and also Tee Gee   :wave:
Title: Re: Brussels
Post by: pumkinlover on January 07, 2019, 08:31:18
Found  a bag of last years sprouts in the freezer, so made soup with them.
Added a few potatoes, onion garlic then blitzed it and it is really rather good.
Surprisingly less effect on the climate than anticipated.
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