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Produce => Edible Plants => Topic started by: Phil on June 13, 2005, 21:04:31

Title: brussels sprouts question
Post by: Phil on June 13, 2005, 21:04:31
My brussels sprout plants are beginning to flower.  Is this a good thing or a bad thing?  I thought they were biennials that shouldn't flower until the 2nd year  ???
Title: Re: brussels sprouts question
Post by: undercarriage plan on June 13, 2005, 21:19:55
Me too, Phil!!! Let me know the outcome.  Lottie  ;D
Title: Re: brussels sprouts question
Post by: Amazin on June 13, 2005, 22:01:54
I'd no idea they were perennial. I'm growing sprouts for the first time too - Evesham Special. The packet says sow outdoors March to April, harvest September to December.
I wonder if there are different types, or at least different seasonal varieties?
???
Title: Re: brussels sprouts question
Post by: Merry Tiller on June 13, 2005, 22:04:03
sounds ominous to me, but I'm not a sprout expert
Title: Re: brussels sprouts question
Post by: Mrs Ava on June 13, 2005, 22:07:41
No, they shouldn't be flowering.  They won't sprout now!  The sprouts develop in the leaf joints later in the season as the plants grow tall and strong.  oooer.  I guess all you can do is oik them out and fling them on your compost heap and try again.  :-\
Title: Re: brussels sprouts question
Post by: Phil on June 14, 2005, 09:14:29
 :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(

Thanks, EJ.  Any idea why has this happened? 
Title: Re: brussels sprouts question
Post by: Mrs Ava on June 14, 2005, 12:43:11
Things prematurely run to seed when they are stressed and feel the need to reproduce.  Could be root or stem damage at time of planting, or pest damage, or lack of water.  I think I killed my first planting of sprouts as I was a little heavy handed thinking they needed to be well firmed in....in the process, I damaged the stems!  Did another sowing, and was more gentle, and now they are thriving!
Title: Re: brussels sprouts question
Post by: Phil on June 14, 2005, 15:16:45
So they're stressed, are they, the poor little blighters  :o

How do they think I feel   ???

Thanks for your help, EJ  :)

fortunately it looks as if a couple of plants are OK, and they were planted out a while ago now, so maybe it's lack of water.
Title: Re: brussels sprouts question
Post by: tim on June 14, 2005, 15:47:21
I had a Romanesco broccoli heading up at 6" -  until it was binned!!