Spouts (buttons blowing)

[Humble Bumble]

Can anyone advise me on how to stop my buttons blowing on my sprouts?

I was mightily miffed  :'( last Christmas to only have sprout tops and 7 sprouts with my dinner as my entire crop were extremely loose and did not set into nice firm little buttons.  One of my neighbours sprouts caused me great envy as they were wonderful stems full of nice tight sprouts.  they were of the same variety and just 10 feet away.

Can anyone help me prepare now so my Xmas dinner is perfect as I am a sprout lover. :)

Humble Bumble

[Humble Bumble]

[manicscousers]

we stake ours as the top soil is a bit loose, also stamp down around them, ours seem to like firm soil  :)

[asbean]

Yes, they like the soil they're standing in to be as firm as you can get it. Earth them up, stamp it down, stake them well and they should be OK.

[Fork]

If you live in a windy area you should use supports for your sprouts too otherwise the wind will rock the plants and loosen the soil around the roots.

[penwortham115]

..i grow the f1 wellington..plant in 10 inch hole so the wind wont rock em aroud use growmore and slug pellets...been on my plot 28 years   never had a blower

result good strong roots
hole fills in with hoeing
no need to stake
no blowers

[calendula]

if the soil is too rich then this can be a cause of 'blown' sprouts

[Tee Gee]

There has been a lot said about this on the forum and it would seem each of us have our own preferences.

Personally I think success is firstly on your choice of variety I grow Maximus, and what sort of start you give them. i.e. encourage a good root system first and the plant will do the rest.

I don't think there is much you can do now other than to ensure you don't get 'root rock'

[redimp]

Mine usually blow despite being in rock hard soil and supported by canes so this year, following advice from TG, I dug the soil a couple of months before I needed it to let the roots have abit more freedom and I have also dug a trench and planted them in there.  When they are big enough, I shall fill in the trench then stake them. ::)

[Tee Gee]

Mine usually blow despite being in rock hard soil

Well as I have mentioned many times before I don't go along with the 'rock hard soil' but I guess its each to their own.

I was always taught if you find a way of doing things in gardening continue with that method until such times as you find a better method.

I haven't found a better method than this;

http://www.thegardenersalmanac.co.uk/Slide%20Shows/Brassica%20planting%20ss/02-brassica%20planting.html

[redimp]

How close do you space yours TG.  Mine are 60cm apart.

[Tee Gee]

How close do you space yours TG.  Mine are 60cm apart.

Roughly 15" (35-40 cm) or put another way 4 across a 5ft wide(1.5m) bed

[Humble Bumble]

 :)

Thanks for all the advice.

I shall be down my plot later with stakes in hand.

Humble Bumble