how to grow sprouts?

[chilli_grower]

Somebody in work has given me several brussell sprout plants. (I do not know the variety).

Am I right in saying that the sprouts will not 'form' until around Autumn time?

And can the sprouts stay on the plant, and simply get picked when needed, or do they go a bit 'funny' if left on the plant for too long???

THank you

[RaptorUK]

It depends on the variety, there are early and late ones . . . . if you leave them too long they will "blow" . . . open out into a rosette instead of being tightly packed and they won't taste as good.

I've not grown Sprouts before so this year is a learning curve for me, I'm growing 6 plants of Maximus F1, in fact I'm growing so many things I've never grown before I have a learning mountain rather than a learning curve

Some links to help:

Growing Brussels Sprouts | How To Grow | Grow Your Own

Brussels sprouts / RHS Gardening

[chilli_grower]

I have been informed that they are 'late ones', hopefully he has not binnned the seed packet, so he can tell me variety tomorrow!

[chris]

When you put them in their final positions, firm them in REALLY well (literally, stamp on the ground around them). The ones I just chucked in an area on my plot to move later (which I forgot about), all were blown. The firmed in ones, all were as tight as a ducks botty.

[chilli_grower]

will do, thanks for the tip...

[Alison]

I pulled mine up from last year only a couple of weeks ago and had the last few sprouts off them then - they were a little small but very tasty.

[bearded bloke]

What Chris said & make sure you net them or they will become a flying rat feast

[chilli_grower]

what eats them then????

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

& make sure you net them or they will become a flying rat feast

Love this term BB, never heard it before coming on here! Gives me a "Chuckle" each time I see it!

Sorry, back to the topic in question!

What Chris n BB said, I actually firm mine in with the head of a lump hammer! Honestly!

Here were our "C*****mas" dinner one's



And don't forget to harvest the "Sprout Top's" cooked as cabbage! Lovely!

[chilli_grower]

they look great!!

So why do I need the netting?

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

what eats them then????

Flying Rats! As BB said!

Pigeons if not netted, slugs, snails n the dreaded "Cabbage White"

Oh! n Me!

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Chilli, you net em to keep out the pigeons and the cabbage white butterfly!

[chilli_grower]

scaffold netting ok?

[bearded bloke]

Yep,that will be fine CG or if you have any pond netting with a 1/2" mesh that is also good.
Only other point is to make certain that the plants are at least 1" away from the netting or the cabbage whites will reverse in to lay eggs on anything their bums touch

[Alison]

Yep,that will be fine CG or if you have any pond netting with a 1/2" mesh that is also good.
Only other point is to make certain that the plants are at least 1" away from the netting or the cabbage whites will reverse in to lay eggs on anything their bums touch

Surely 1/2" is plenty for the cabbage whites to get through? I go for enviromesh but I know others use net curtains and all sorts. Leave it on all summer and then put wider gauge on in the winter so that it doesn't sink with any snow but still keeps the birds off.