I only have mini sprouts...

[janeyo]

I thought they were doing nothing and there was a possibility of clubroot as per a previous thread of mine, but now there are mini sprouts on them! About the size of my thumb nail.
So excited.
But can I eat them mini? I really wanted them for xmas dy, no one likes them at any other time... I suppose they have got another 6 weeks to get a bit bigger.

[bluemoon]

They'll probably be perfect for Christmas. The strange weather we've had this year seems to have brought our sprouts (and everyone else on the lotties) on early, our panic is that they'll be past it before the big day.

[Maximillian]

I've had to pull up blanch and freeze all my sprouts cos they're like golf balls! They still taste surprisingly good, not woolly.

[Snadger]

My family will be sick of the sight of them by Christmas day!

[SlugLobber]

No sprouts at all on my Falstaffs. How do I check for clubroot?

[Alice]

Good news on the sprouts Janeyo.
They will grow bigger but you can eat them as small as you like.
If you cut the little cabbagey bit off the top they will grow faster.
And you can cook and eat that little "cabbage".

[janeyo]

Thanks Alice, I didn't know that
I am looking forward to them mini ones or not!

[Sanjo]

"And you can cook and eat that little "cabbage". "
Ah brussel tops. My husband's favourite green veg apart from fresh picked peas. You dont often see them in supermarkets but they are available from market stalls at this time of year. Not strong like cabbage and very tender if using the mainly inside leaves.
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[janeyo]

Think I will chop them tomorrow and make bubble and squeak (or similar). It MIGHT well be the only way to get my brood to eat them! Mwahhahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha

[Alice]

JaneyO, so many people say they don't like brussel sprouts but I cook them like this and they are back for a second helping (and fresh grown from the garden are much sweeter than the slightly bitter ones from the supermarket)

Lightly boil the sprouts in chicken stock (a stock cube will do ). Don't overcook them.
Fry some diced bacon (or lardons or whatever bacon flavoured thing your supermarket sells) until slightly crisp. Add some finely chopped onion if you like.
Tip the sprouts into the bacon mixture and roll about to coat in the bacon flavoured oil.
Tip into an ovenproof dish.
Sprinkle with breadcrumbs and grated cheese mixed together.
Pop into the oven or under the grill until warmed and bread crumbs are toasted.
They'll be back for more.

[maytreefrannie]

My sprouts are all opening out and looking like they're falling off - I guess too much windy weather would be the problem there? I don't know if there's anything I can do to put this right - any ideas?

Thanks for the suggestion of cooking and eating the top leaves - I'd forgotten that you can do that.

[Skotch]

Another query about sprouts:

If you cut off the tops (for eating), does this stop the buttons from getting any bigger?