Pathetic Sprouts

[Marb67]

Well here I go again with yet another failed, small growing veg. My sprouts were bought in trays in spring and planted out mid summer, granted this may have slowed them down a bit. Will they make sprouts for Christmas ? This is the largest plant. The rest are tiny :-( I have yet to grow sprouts that give any sprouts, not just leaves.

[Chippy Minton]

I'm no expert with sprouts as mine usually fail! However, looking at that photo you have some "Proto-sprouts" at the junctions of the lower leaves. There's something like 7 weeks to go to the C word so you should have something, they may be small but they'll taste lovely

[Hazel at the Hill]

They look better sprout plants than the ones I usually grow!

I can see baby sprouts on there, so you will get a crop Not sure when, though - a better sprout-grower than you or I will be along to advise further, I'm sure!

[Marb67]

Well that makes me feel somewhat better. Of course I will always eat the leaves and waste nothing.

[Bigmallly]

Looking good Marb, looking at that plant those sprouts will be ready for xmas. I know you can eat the tops, not sure about the leaves, I have just composted some of mine after picking some sprouts. The plant will need some leaves.

[Marb67]

It looks a bit shabby but that is because it was ravaged by cabbage white and slugs. I always find they regain what they have lost in spring and don't die which is why I don't cover them.

[Alison]

They're not too bad, as you say the leaf damage won't have helped. You're right too that planting out when you first got them would have helped a lot as they would have run out of nutrients in the trays and brassicas really benefit from regular potting on. Plant out earlier next year with protection and you should have a good crop.

[Greenleaves]

Look about the same as mine Marb, as above and remember 6 weeks is a long time off

[Bren In Pots]

Mine usually look like that at this time of year.

[BertieFox]

This happened to me last year and I remember posting something similar! The main problem was VARIETY and I made the mistake of getting a very late one which really didn't mature early enough to make any reasonable sprouts.

This year I am growing a variety (F1 hybrid) called Marte, and it has already formed lots of large compact sprouts which I am pretty sure will last well into early winter. I think the solution is to make sure you get a 'before Xmas' variety, plant into firm soil, and also give adequate spacing. If you can make enough space, give them three feet around plants and feed them well when they are into growth.

[Deano's "Diggin It"]

Marb! If I was you!

And I hate giving advise, coz I don't garden by the book!

Mulch em with some nice home made compost or well rotted manure, not touching the stem of course! Let the rain n worms drag it in to give the plants a bit more "Oomph"

Mine are at this stage! a little fuzzy picture wise! But I know what I incorporated into the ground before I set em off! They really are greedy Begger's!

As GL said "6 weeks is a long time"

I've seen a cabbage start hearting one Saturday, n come the following Saturday be a full size specimen!

Good luck with it! For goodness sake! You need a little reward for your efforts this year! Although you have made out it as been a dismal one!

And if I don't a bowl full for the special day! I'll deem myself a failure too! ........

[Marb67]

And they are still the size of peas. Another fail :-(

[kathyd]

Not a fail Marb, I'm sure they'll carry on growing and you'll get your crop eventually - just think, you can be really smug in the late spring when you're munching sprouts and the rest of us are just starting to sow seeds!

I've given up trying with sprouts to be honest - they take up so much room for so long, and I never get a good crop (small, blown, eaten, rotted... ).

[BertieFox]

Not a fail Marb, I'm sure they'll carry on growing and you'll get your crop eventually - just think, you can be really smug in the late spring .

I love optimists, but as someone in the same position at this time last year, they didn't and these won't! All they did was go up to seed at the same time as all the other 'real' sprouts. Never mind, treat them as if they were kale and pick all the flowering and budding shoots, which I always find delicious. And you should have some fairly good sprout tops to enjoy in late winter or early spring.

Next year, get a variety which sprout up for November or December as these will stand well right through to February in most cases anyway.

Merry Christmas and Happy Solstice,

[Marb67]

Well sprouts started forming the size of peas but then went white, papery and fell off. So much for that then :-(