Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: rink123 on November 07, 2008, 21:07

Title: Sprouts Help pls
Post by: rink123 on November 07, 2008, 21:07: Hi can someone tell me why my sprouts grow open all the time pls thay are not firm and solid thx.
Title: Sprouts Help pls
Post by: muntjac on November 07, 2008, 23:31: this is usually because they are loose in the ground stamp on the ground around the stem relly packing them in :wink:
Title: Sprouts Help pls
Post by: DD. on November 08, 2008, 06:07: Hi rink123,

Welcome to the forums. I've moved your post into the more appropriate "GYO" forum.

Now you've got the answer from the "Maestro", why not pop along to the "Welcome" forum & tell us a bit about yourself.
Title: Sprouts Help pls
Post by: DIGGER on November 08, 2008, 08:42: I had the same problem last year and recieved the same advise ie firming the ground and had far better results this year.

Im not sure how relevent this is but i did a sort of mini survey this year and used some different seed types, ALL the none F1 types were blown.

By far the best were from the maximus seeds
Title: Sprouts Help pls
Post by: rink123 on November 09, 2008, 18:17: Thx, for all your reply, :D i will try that and see if it works,
sry for posting in the wrong place :(
Title: Sprouts Help pls
Post by: Sharonx on November 10, 2008, 08:35: Was about to post to ask exactly this question and saw you're having the same problem as me. My plants are firmly in, not rocking at all and some have absolutely nothing on them and others are all blown. Mine were Evesham so I will try a different variety next year.

Not one single sprout any good :( Any other tips appreciated.
Title: Sprouts Help pls
Post by: DIGGER on November 10, 2008, 08:58: As i said above i had this problem last year and sought advise from the expert brussel growers on my allotment.

First step was to ensure the ground was firm,i walked and danced on it for about a month before planting

Having grown from seed i made an insert with a 1" dia pole and filled with water [not disturbing the ground] and put the plant in. I was told not to water.[it was tempting as they played dead,but recovered]

All the F1 plants have been succesfull with Maximus producing better.

When the brussels were formed i removed all the side leaves,now i know that is an issue as its been discussed on here before

I am now eating tasty brussels

I can only tell how it was for me,i am not an expert as a lot are on here,but i took the advise given.

Should add that the ground was well manured
Title: Sprouts Help pls
Post by: DD. on November 10, 2008, 09:07: My method.

One seed per cell in a seed tray insert. (20 to half seed tray, 40 to a full tray).

This sort of thing:

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c182/G4IAR/8003405_tp.jpg)

Germinate in cold greenhouse, (Please no heated propagators unless you want weak plants), grow on until first pair of true leaves.

Pot into 3" pots, let them establish, then harden off.

Plant out when 6"-8" high into rock solid ground.

Advantages are the economy of seed & the plant goes in with an established root ball.
Title: Sprouts Help pls
Post by: Sharonx on November 10, 2008, 09:25: Thank you very much. This is definetley where I have gone wrong then as I didn't have solid ground. I just bunged them in! Does this solid ground apply to any other veg or just Brussels?
Title: Sprouts Help pls
Post by: DIGGER on November 10, 2008, 09:31: When [month] do you start the process DD
Title: Sprouts Help pls
Post by: DD. on November 10, 2008, 09:32: I put all my brassicas into solid ground, but as regards other veg, it varies.

Carrots for instance would not thank you.
Title: Sprouts Help pls
Post by: milkman on November 10, 2008, 17:06: All the advice above:-

- definately go for an F1 variety

- start them off in Rootrainers or Digger Dave's cells thinning to the strongest plant per cell

- when planting the transplants out, plant them much deeper than you think you have to into the solid ground, and firm them in as firmly as you can, also give them lots of space - mine get at least two feet between plants
Title: Sprouts Help pls
Post by: DD. on November 10, 2008, 17:18: Where have you been, milkman?
Title: Sprouts Help pls
Post by: milkman on November 10, 2008, 17:23: I've just stepped out of the shower (Bobby-Ewing-style :wink: ), have you missed me?
Title: Sprouts Help pls
Post by: DD. on November 10, 2008, 17:26: Quote from: "milkman"
I've just stepped out of the shower (Bobby-Ewing-style :wink: ), have you missed me?

Must have done to have noticed your re-appearance!
Title: Sprouts Help pls
Post by: John on November 10, 2008, 17:33: Nice to see you around again, milky - you're staying for a bit I hope? :D
Title: Sprouts Help pls
Post by: milkman on November 10, 2008, 17:34: Tis good to see that John's site is carrying on in the friendly way it always has, also that Aidy is keeping a close eye on Munty's animal antics north of the border.
Title: Sprouts Help pls
Post by: milkman on November 10, 2008, 17:42: hallo john, would love to stay, will have to see how it goes. normal life is a little busier than I would prefer at the moment, not even getting any serious time down the plot. could prattle on about trying to sell shop-world in the midst of an economic downturn, but won't. phew. suffice to say we have a sale proceeding, but are not confident about the outcome.