What's wrong with my sprouts?

[Sanjo]

Hello All, hope somebody can help. Last year I bought in half a dozen sprout plants as I had left it too late to sow any. They are Icarus F1. They went into the same bed as my own sown (and a few shop bought) sprouting broccoli. All firmed in and treated exactly the same. All the broccoli look good although mine are taller than the shop bought ones. Nothing off them yet but assume they will sprout in the spring. However, the brussels are still only about 6 inches high!!! Look healthy enough but not a sign of a sprout. According to the plant label, they should be planted March/June in firm ground (which they were) I should have been able to harvest them Oct to late December according to the blurb. Any ideas as to what went wrong? Advice appreciated. Sandra

[sewer rat]

Hi Sandra
What size were they when you bought them ? What size of pot / cell pack were they in ? All I can think of without seeing the actual plants or the ground was that the root system has been poor - either pot bound at planting or thay may have bben attacked by an as yet unknown pest. Sorry I can't offer more assistance

[Two_Sheds]

Yes, it sounds like growth was checked at some point, for some reason.

A good reason to sow your own seed, if at all possible.

[Snadger]

Could be loads of reasons. Have you checked the roots, I'm particularily wondering about clubroot which will stunt growth?
Shortage of any of the main nutrients will slow growth but particularily nitrogen on leafy plants? Fresh manure will burn roots as well. Pests and diseases which attack foliage will stop photosynthesis from occuring and stunt growth also.

Any chance of a piccie?

[sewer rat]

Could be loads of reasons. Have you checked the roots, I'm particularily wondering about clubroot which will stunt growth?
Shortage of any of the main nutrients will slow growth but particularily nitrogen on leafy plants? Fresh manure will burn roots as well. Pests and diseases which attack foliage will stop photosynthesis from occuring and stunt growth also.

Any chance of a piccie?

I agree a piccie might help but given that the sprouts are in the same bed as the PSB, which sounds as if it is thriving, I still think that the problem may have been at planting time, and that the roots never got the chance to develop properly

[Sanjo]

Thanks all. I will investigate one of the roots. I don't think it can be anything like clubroot though Snadger because the broccoli plants look fine.
Sewer rat they were in a six pack, about the size of small yoghurt pots and although it was towards the end of the buying season for things like this, they showed no sign of yellowing or distress.
Talking it over with my OH this evening we have wondered if it could be the way I put them in. As I have mentioned in the past, I fractured my wrist last April and I was struggling to do things one handed. I did firm the soil before they went in but in my one handed enthusiasm to prove I COULD do it!! perhaps I made the soil too compacted to compensate.
As I said, they look healthy enough with a brussel top on them, just no stalk and no sprouts. I could try and take a piccie but I'm not very good with technical things. I shall try and follow the recent thread for putting one on. Thanks all anyway. Yep, Two sheds, it is definitely better to grow your own and this year I am already organised. Last year, because of my argument with a waterfall, it was a bugger.

[allotmentlady]

Stunted growth it sounds like, been left in their pots too long. Start again this year but try to grow your own from seed.

[Snadger]

Thanks all. I will investigate one of the roots. I don't think it can be anything like clubroot though Snadger because the broccoli plants look fine.
Sewer rat they were in a six pack, about the size of small yoghurt pots and although it was towards the end of the buying season for things like this, they showed no sign of yellowing or distress.
Talking it over with my OH this evening we have wondered if it could be the way I put them in. As I have mentioned in the past, I fractured my wrist last April and I was struggling to do things one handed. I did firm the soil before they went in but in my one handed enthusiasm to prove I COULD do it!! perhaps I made the soil too compacted to compensate.
As I said, they look healthy enough with a brussel top on them, just no stalk and no sprouts. I could try and take a piccie but I'm not very good with technical things. I shall try and follow the recent thread for putting one on. Thanks all anyway. Yep, Two sheds, it is definitely better to grow your own and this year I am already organised. Last year, because of my argument with a waterfall, it was a bugger.

Ooops! Didn't read the bit about the broccoli!

[gojiberry]

You wont have overcompacted the soil for sprouts as that is exactly what they like. I think it could well be clubroot. Some brassicas can be infected and still give a good result i.e. your broccoli. Only thing to do is pull one up and have a good look at the root system. Pay particular attention as to whether the roots started to grow into your own soil.

Ian

[Sanjo]

Thanks all. It's been one of those days so have not been able to get out there and check, but I'll bear in mind all that has been advised and whatever it is, at least I'll know for next time eh? Sandra

[PAULW]

It could be all this lousy wet weather we have had, this year my sprouts, cauli and cabbage are rubbish the PSB are not to bad, but as it is the first time I have grown them I do not know what to expect. I have grown Icarus and have had really good results from them unfortunatly the seed has gone off the market.