[gypsy]

Hi folks,
does anyone know what has caused my brussel sprouts to have open frilly leaves instead of tight little button sprouts? I have been told it is lack of water, windy conditions or lack of some essential nutrient. I suppose it could be all or any of these but just wondered what some of you experienced veg growers think. Gyp

[DD.]

Any one also mentioned firm soil?

Is it just the lower ones or all of them?

[peapod]

Could be stress from transplanting as seedlings or plug plants if not sown direct, or as DD said, they need a very firm soil.

I net mine with heavy debris netting and plant them next to a fence to help with the wind, and really stamp the ground down.  I also earth up and feed them once or twice a month with a brassica feed (forget the name of it now)

[gypsy]

I have the plants in firm soil and they are staked for support, 2 plants at my allotment have frilly lower sprouts, the upper ones are not yet mature, and 2 in my garden at home are ok. both from the same seeds, I have fed the ones at the allotment about once every 2 weeks with a liquid general purpose veg feed. My hubby is in charge of the ones in the garden and they were planted in the same way but have been thriving on neglect.  Thanks for your replies. Gyp

[DD.]

Sorry gypsy, think your hubby may have gone the right way. You don't need to keep on feeding plants like this. You can make them grow too fast.

[peapod]

Most of mine have done OK DD, but I havent been using a multi-purp feed, so maybe thats the difference

Just a thought, were they planted too close together at the lotty? I threw one plant in as it was 'spare' and both it and its neighbour have blown.  I blame the close proximity

[gypsy]

I do not think it is crowding that is the problem as my hubby planted his very close together in the garden. His plants are much bigger than mine are on the allotment. Gyp

[peapod]

Maybe he really did show a bit of TLC while you werent looking 

[gypsy]

  Do you reckon so Peapod!  Could be, but I do not think he would know what to do, he needed telling which way up to put the plants in the ground. ROFL. Gyp.

[noshed]

Mine were too close together and too loose in the soil. They are now reviewing the error of their ways from halfway down the compost heap.

[Babstreefern]

You guys are lucky .  My sprouts didn't even get to the budding stage .  First time ever

In fact, everyone's sprouts on the lottie has gone way down hill.  Doesn't look as if I'll be having sprouts for Christmas dinner .  Although I did put in a late ones about 6-8 weeks ago, but I don't think they will make it . Oh well, better luck next year

[DD.]

I went over the ground where mine are with a heavy lawn roller before planting and they looking good. Been grown under debris netting which gives a bit of shade and has kept both the butterflies & pigeons off.

Next year they'll be going in where the peas were, the ground is very solid there & it saves having to winter dig it.