Open Brussel Sprouts on stem

[joe the gardner]

My budding sprouts on the lower part of the stem are open - is blown the right term?

The leaves have taken a bit of a hammering regarding caterpillars, but otherwise plants look strong and vigorous and a nice colour. The tiny budding sprouts on the upper parts of the stems look OK so far

Some questions:

1 Is there anyway I can stop the upper buds from opening out as growth progresses?

2 Can the open sprouts be enjoyed anyway? If so how should they be cooked?

3 In general, should any leaves be removed during the growth process?

Thank you

[bramble]

Sorry Joe but I have never grown sprouts.
I am sure you will get plenty of useful advice from others.
Good luck with your sprouts nd let us know how they maturd for you.

[meteor]

Joe, when you say blown do the sprouts resemble little loose leaved lettuces on the stem instead of the tight leaved rock hard balls one would expect? Many years ago as a young lad I worked weekends in a large walled garden belonging to a well to do family. There the head gardener taught me to get perfect round hard sprouts the soil has to be rock hard when planting out otherwise they will develop sprouts as you have described. He said it had something to do with their origins as a seaside plant growing on rock faces. I have followed that regime ever since and has never failed me. Might be the cause of your dilemma, can't help with the cooking question, I only ever remove stems as I harvest the sprouts.

[joe the gardner]

Thanks for your help. Yes like little lettuces. I have done the firming them in thing, but not too hard for fear of damaging plants. Have also earthed them up as suggested elsewhere.
Just hoping to save the ones that haven't quite developed yet if anyone knows any work I should do or precautions I can take at this stage

[joe the gardner]

Joe, when you say blown do the sprouts resemble little loose leaved lettuces on the stem instead of the tight leaved rock hard balls one would expect? Many years ago as a young lad I worked weekends in a large walled garden belonging to a well to do family. There the head gardener taught me to get perfect round hard sprouts the soil has to be rock hard when planting out otherwise they will develop sprouts as you have described. He said it had something to do with their origins as a seaside plant growing on rock faces. I have followed that regime ever since and has never failed me. Might be the cause of your dilemma, can't help with the cooking question, I only ever remove stems as I harvest the sprouts.

Thanks for your help. Yes like little lettuces. I have done the firming them in thing, but not too hard for fear of damaging plants. Have also earthed them up as suggested elsewhere.
Just hoping to save the ones that haven't quite developed yet if anyone knows any work I should do or precautions I can take at this stage

[Jungle Jane]

3 In general, should any leaves be removed during the growth process?

Yes starting from the bottom yellowing leaves,if your sprouts are about marble size you can remove all the leaves next to the sprouts,this allows room for them to grow. Don't remove the Brussels tops yet.

[veggiechicken]

Tell everyone that you're growing Brussels Sprout Seeds - FlowerSprout Petit Posy - All Vegetable Seeds - Vegetable Seeds - Gardening - Suttons Seeds and Plants which look just like blown sprouts to me.
Pick them and eat them in the same way as sprouts - they're just more decorative

[alldigging]

Pick 'em and cook 'em and eat 'em.

[Bigmallly]

How did you firm them in Joe, wind rock is a common cause of blown sprouts.

[joe the gardner]

How did you firm them in Joe, wind rock is a common cause of blown sprouts.

Carefully stamped around the base of the young plants

[veggiechicken]

Have you staked them, Joe? That may help.

[joe the gardner]

I haven't staked them.

The plants themselves look solid and vigorous.

Each plant has blown sprouts at the bottom, but the upper buds are still small and tight.

I am just wondering if further firming in and staking will arrest the further blowing of as yet undeveloped buds, or if once a plant has blown sprouts, will the rest go that way as well?

[Jungle Jane]

The sprouts at the bottom of the plant are ready to harvest before the sprouts near the top,the upper buds are small because they're newer & can keep growing,could you harvest a few sprouts now at the bottom of the plant & leave the rest to grow?

[Bigmallly]

Carefully stamped around the base of the young plants

Sounds ok to me Joe, it may help to earth them up, after all you have nothing to lose.

[Greenleaves]

I pick my blown sprouts and steam them, stronger taste than cabbage but still nice. One of the older guys on the site plants his where he walked the previous year....if that makes sense? Using a metal bar he makes his hole and drops his young plants in.....99% he has great sprouts.