Brussels

[Lisasbolt]

Hi all, hope your all having lovely lazy sundays

I have never grown brussels sprouts before i don't really like them, but most veggies taste so different when home grown and fresh so thought i would give them a try.

Because of my location i cannot grow at the same times as most of you as it is too hot in the summer months, so won't be having any for christmas. BUT.

What do you guys do, do you cut the leaves off or leave the plants alone and let them do their own thing.

I have heard mixed.

If you cut the leaves when do you do this?

Oh i transplanted them about 12-14 weeks ago and i have babies

Any help or advice like always very much appreciated

[Chippy Minton]

I'm no expert, as I'm usually too late with my sprout plants, but when I have succeeded I don't cut leaves off, just take them off from the bottom as they yellow. They tend to just come away at the stem, so that yellow one right at the bottom, give it a tug and it'll come away (probably not contributing to the plant anyway). I understand this helps with the health of the plant (prevents disease).

BTW - really impressed you got this far without bolting, FiL lived up in the foothills near Rute but didn't do well with anything brassica!

[Alison]

Leave them on, while they're green they'll give energy to the plant and they'll fall of of their own accord when they're done.

[BertieFox]

As above, leave all but the yellow ones, which you remove to avoid the sprouts rotting, something I guess is unlikely in your location!

Choice of variety is also important. We have just picked a bumper load of really good sprouts for lunch. Last year we had almost none, just tiny pea sized buttons. The difference? Last year I grew a late variety supposed to produce good sprouts after Xmas. They didn't. They remained small as even sprouts don't grow much in winter!

This year we are growing an earlier variety which is supposed to crop in November and December. The sprouts are large and healthy and should stand until well after Xmas but giving us lots of good eating now.

I have learnt a lesson from this.

[Lisasbolt]

Thank you everyone.

Brassica family are fine with me if i keep them for the later months, its the carrots and parsnips, mainly parsnips, too dry and even though i have irrigation and will water whenever needed, they just don't come through. I bet they wouldn't taste of anything anyway as we don't get frosts

[21up]

As above, leave all but the yellow ones, which you remove to avoid the sprouts rotting, something I guess is unlikely in your location!

Choice of variety is also important. We have just picked a bumper load of really good sprouts for lunch. Last year we had almost none, just tiny pea sized buttons. The difference? Last year I grew a late variety supposed to produce good sprouts after Xmas. They didn't. They remained small as even sprouts don't grow much in winter!

This year we are growing an earlier variety which is supposed to crop in November and December. The sprouts are large and healthy and should stand until well after Xmas but giving us lots of good eating now.

I have learnt a lesson from this.

Hi BertieFox'
what were the early varieties you planted as i had the same problem
thanks Peter

[BertieFox]

The one that produced only tiny sprouts very late was Revenge F1 hybrid, and the good ones this year are Marte F1. I bought both from Graines Baumaux.

I've bought some open pollinated ones this year, traditional variety Bedford Fillbasket just to see if that proves better for a longer season.

[Bigmallly]

Try watering with ice cubes Lisa, it may cool the soil down a bit more.