Brussels

[Containergardener]

The nice postie has just brought me more seeds one being sprouts, first time at these. I'm wondering how many plants I need. There's just us two of us but would no doubt supply parents ,other family if overdid things
Am I ok to start in modules or shall I go seed per pot and pot on later. I will be container growing (large) as per PSB, dwarf kale and kohl rabi.
Thanks .

[roitelet]

I would suggest 4 plants for two people or you will be eating sprouts forever.

[Containergardener]

Thank you.

[Snoop Puss]

Not to be contrarian and all, but there are two of us and I'm growing 16 plants.

Admittedly Mr Snoop loves home-grown sprouts. They're miles better than shop ones. I'm not suggesting you grow 16, but if you have the space and have people you can pass surplus on to, you might consider growing more than four.

[SusieG]

Think it'll be a bit trial and error, containergardener.
I grew them at my old place, I had four plants ( just in case they all didn't make it!!) - bearing in mind that there was only me who likes sprouts, and it was way too many!!
I couldn't give them away, even people at work didn't want many. You either love 'em or hate 'em (a bit like marmite...!!!)

Think personally, two maximum in my plot!

[21up]

Not to be contrarian and all, but there are two of us and I'm growing 16 plants.

Admittedly Mr Snoop loves home-grown sprouts. They're miles better than shop ones. I'm not suggesting you grow 16, but if you have the space and have people you can pass surplus on to, you might consider growing more than four.

I am with you on this mate i have 22 plants and just gave 10 away only me and wife and pidgeons and
we can manage them nothing like a sprout colli or cabbage sorry and peas got 4 rows

[Containergardener]

Hmm well I've done 6 , see what happens

[Alison]

I grow 6 most years, doesn't give the two of us loads (I can eat whole plate of them on their own) so may plant my extras this year. Worth noting it's getting late to sow sprouts so get them in quickly, mine are almost ready to plant out now as I always find they benefit from sowing earlier than my other brassicas.

[Chippy Minton]

My Brussels packets all say sow by end March, given we're 6 weeks beyond that I'd kinda given up on them for this year. Is the balance of opinion that there's still time?

[Containergardener]

Chippy mine say end April I think. Just did mine yesterday. Mine are called 'brilliant' . Have rest of mine if you like.

[Chippy Minton]

Thanks for the offer CG but I think Mrs Minton would have a right proper sense of humour failure if I added to the 4 packets of Brussels seeds I already have

Right, sowing evening tomorrow then whilst Mrs Minton and number 1 daughter Minton are at the local am-dram production

[Containergardener]

Hehehe sow them all chippy ..say nothing , we won't tell.

[AkionTotocha]

What about if you only want sprouts for Christmas? Is it still too late to sow?

The family decided they're "once a year only" food, like turkeys.

[Cadalot]

My sprouts withered and died as the cold frame was out of action and I had them in the greenhouse and I have just re sown a load normally 8 plants for me and 2 or 3 different varieties. Sprouts are like puppies for all year not just Christmas.

[Snoop Puss]

What about if you only want sprouts for Christmas? Is it still too late to sow?

The family decided they're "once a year only" food, like turkeys.

Just do it, just fall in love (meaning go ahead anyway, and if your family has never tasted home-grown sprouts before, they're liable to change their minds and want more). Make sure you sow a variety that's good for picking at Christmas. That said, I've grown Bronte as pretty much an all-season sprout and they're supposedly early.