Brusstles sprouts still small

[Marb67]

Well, still getting sprouts but of course this has to be spoilt by aphids which are all over it. Even peeling layers away of the sprouts and they are even there. How they get in is beyond me. All the home remedies including neem oil are cobblers. They don't work!

[ameno]

Neem oil is not toxic; works by suffocating the aphids. So obviously it needs direct contact in order to work, which means it won't affect anything hidden away inside leaves and buds like that.

[Marb67]

I have to say waiting it out I have had a fair amount of harvest from 4 plants (1 in the other part of the garden) The aphids have calmed down and if you peel away the outer leaves they are very nice indeed! And these were planted out last Autumn. I get the feeling they will still keep producing till Spring before they go to flower. Just given a boost of chicken manure pellets. Extraordinary but very pleased!

[peanut]

So glad you are getting to enjoy your sprouts Marb67

[Nicos]

Those look great!
Well done

And remember, if any do start opening , they are still edible….just chop them up

[Marb67]

Those look great!
Well done

And remember, if any do start opening , they are still edible….just chop them up

It seems to be the gift that keeps on giving.

[Snoop Puss]

Congratulations, Marb. They look fantastic. Plus, you seem to have 'multi-branched' plants. I just get one stalk. I'm very jealous as you'll get more sprouts that way. Plenty for the big day!

[Jungle Jane]

Well done Marb sprouts for Christmas,brilliant news 😎🥳

[Marb67]

They were frozen from September but tasted strange on Christmas day. Are they not good at freezing? The fresh ones taste good.

[Mark Rand]

Like parsnips, they taste better after being frozen on the plant. The plant turns starches into sugars to act as antifreeze and improves the taste in the process.

[Marb67]

I did know brassicas liked frost but wasn't aware of the benefits. The sprouts didn't taste off, just odd.

[ameno]

Like parsnips, they taste better after being frozen on the plant. The plant turns starches into sugars to act as antifreeze and improves the taste in the process.

There's a big difference between one or two degrees of frost and deep freeze.
The former does indeed prompt sugar increases in the plant and improves flavour, for the reasons you have stated, but at those temperatures the sprouts do not actually freeze.
Putting sprouts (or any veg) in the freezer at -15 or -20, however, is a completely different matter. The sprouts will freeze solid in a matter of hours, and will it will not prompt the conversion of starches to sugars. And of course the freezing destroys the plant cells, so that when they defrost they will lose a lot of their structure. In brassicas, this also tends to prompt sulphur compound production, which can give them a strange flavour.

Basically, although frost is beneficial, actually freezing solid is not.