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I know brassicas are supposed to be one of the easiest crop to grow, but my sprouts..... The first 2-3 years they were small buttons . I changed variety and this year one variety is still small, the other seems to have blown. (Maximus and Fill Basket). So...

Any particular reason for this? :-\
Can I reduce the effect of them blowing? :-\
Will the small ones still grow? :-\

I'm having the same problems and may give them a miss next year.

Sprouts blowing en masse is normally down to the soil not being compacted enough or insufficient lime added.

or too much manure

Bob Flowerdew suggests eating the tops early as this helps the buttons swell - i might do this as mine are very small as well

but don't give up on sprouts - last year they were one of the top crops, it is just how the weather has been this year and I believe it is a national problem so expect the shop prices to rocket

I was told by one of the old boys that sprouts would be useless this year because of all the rain early on.  I nodded to humour him thinking that if we get a dry August etc everything would turn out all right as the ground would firm up - mine were planted in undug ground.  Guess what - all my non dwarfing sprouts (Evesham) have blown.  Only have about three dwarf plants worthy of the name too :(

Out of about 10 plants half of mine have blown and the other half are fine, except have been invaded by biblical proportions of whitefly and mealy apids >:(

You've all got sprouts? Already?

oh dear...

:'(

When did you sow yours Amazin?

My sprouts are about as big as peas! No pests on them though - they probably say,
::) " Leave them Waynebug - they`re not worth it!" ::)

they'll grow! just you wait - you'll be having a fab christmas with those - mine will be too big by then!  ::)

I planted the babies out in June, having grown them from seed.

Is there still hope? Or is it time to go WAAARRGGHH!

I sowed mine directly in April as I was so chuffed at getting the lottie I just wanted to see something grow!!

I think yours should have sprouts on by mid december, so just in time for crimbo!

How tall are the plants now and do they have tiny buttons of sprouts at the base of the leaf stems?

I had though that i had lost my BS this year as the bugs were chomping away, gave them a good hit of deris and they seam to have recovered. BS are about the size of large peas and i am hoping that they will start to bulk up before christmas. Never managed to actualy have BS for christmas yet they always wait till end jan early feb!!

Mine are only about 18" tall at the mo - can't understand it, they're not ill or anything.

Definitely feel a WAAARRGGHH! coming on...    :'(

You're not on your own Amazin :'(

Mine look a bit like elongated cabbages at the moment, with not a button in sight :(

I appear to be in the same position as SnooziSuzi.  Half have blown, a number are infested and a couple are "ok".  Obviously didn't prepare the ground properly for them - some are not standing straight up and I think they are probably too close together.  .  Next year.............. ;)  Well, it was my first year!!!
Twinkletoes

Heh, that's my excuse too and I'm sticking with it!  LOL

Silly question....

what is a 'blown' brsssell sprout?

Quote from: finchy on October 19, 2007, 23:09:08
Silly question....

what is a 'blown' brsssell sprout?

Instead of the BS being a tight ball - the leaves have opened up to make it look a bit like small loose leaves.

What i would give to pop out on Xmas day to select my sprouts for Christmas lunch but so far, i have failed miserably.

Growing sprouts is one of those gardening tasks that has managed to escape my abilities  :-\