[Brassica Blaz]

hi everyone,its my first real season at growing brussels and there doing really well(about 2ft tall with lots of leaves). as a lad i can remember seeing brussel tops in the local green grocers and they were a very popular choice to buy. i would like to know when i would be able to take my own tops from the plants without causing any slow down of growth to the plant,there are no sprouts formed yet but i think they will be pretty early .can any one give me some advice? thanks.

[Swing Swang]

I take mine off in the spring/'hungry gap' or when I've virtually finished with the sprouts, usually when they start to grow again, but before they start to bolt.

SS

[Roll Roll]

I do the same. When I've finnished with the sprouts I move onto the tops.

[Brassica Blaz]

thanks veggie mates,do they tend to get little black flies in them ? i seem to remember...do they just wash out?

[Swing Swang]

I find that early season tops are remarkably free from wee beasties,

SS

[Muddylou]

Excuse my ignorance, I'm growing Brussels for the first time.
No sprouts so far but huge leaves, what are the leaves used for..

[dizzylizzie]

.....and mine are huge with pea sized sprouts.... have they come too early?

[DD.]

Excuse my ignorance, I'm growing Brussels for the first time.
No sprouts so far but huge leaves, what are the leaves used for..

The plant uses them to make it's food in order to make the sprouts.

[Muddylou]

Excuse my ignorance, I'm growing Brussels for the first time.
No sprouts so far but huge leaves, what are the leaves used for..

The plant uses them to make it's food in order to make the sprouts.

Thanks DD, on rereading my post  I wasn't very clear , I meant to say what are the leaves used for when you buy them in the shop as I've never seen them. 

[DD.]

I find you tend to see them more on open market stalls than in supermarkets. I use them and cook them like cabbage.

Here's a top one of my plants produced a couple of years back. Sprouts were rubbish, but the top made up for it. No doubt the plant decided to direct it's energy there!

[Muddylou]

^ Wow, I had no idea they produced a top like that. I've got six Brussel Sprout plants under netting around three feet high. So I've got something else to look forward to.
Thanks for posting the pic. 

[DD.]

^ Wow, I had no idea they produced a top like that.

Sadly most don't.

However, you'll still get something useful & tasty from them if you keep the pigeons off!