[suesowsseed]

Hi,

I managed to grow brussels this year and was hoping to pick them for Christmas day, but they are a bit too small at the moment.

Which variety is best for an early harvest? When do you start them off?

[DD.]

I grow Nelson & Trafalgar, (must be some connection).

Start them off early April.

[dugless]

For the last two years I have planted brussel  sprouts but they have just blown not had the problem before.

[Poolcue]

I tried Falstaff and got none,don't care as only Mrs P eats them

[bazial]

I have grown Crispus and Cornus for 2 years now ,each year they have been fantastic both for taste  and for not blowing . Both these are Clubroot resistant variaties and they show no Clubroot at all .The allotments are full of clubroot and now nearly everybody grows them ,the rest of the plot owners just moan about Clubroot ,

[JohnB47]

This is my third year growing Doric - normally a good crop and plenty for Christmas but this year they are tiny. I might just get a meal out of them on the day.

I think this year has been a bad year for brussels - certainly has for me.

[gobs]

That does make a few of us. Mine are tiny too this year, I was late with them, though.

[DD.]

I could say exactly the same as gobs. Also small, also late, but plenty for tomorrow!

[sunshineband]

I have grown Red Bull this year and made the mistake of not staking the plants soon enough so there are a few blown ones (OK for stir fry I hope  )

Also they didn't really get enough water during the summer, so are still quite small

But (says Little Miss Echo)

Small, late, but plenty for tomorrow 

[BabbyAnn]

No sprouts this year (more of a planning issue, or should that be planting issue - sowed the seeds but they didn't get planted out  ) but in the past I've only ever grown Evesham Special and usually had sprouts for the Christmas dinner.  Having said that, I'm not a big fan of sprouts and usually only grow about 3-5 plants, so the packet of seeds has been lasting me a long, long time ....

[Runwell-Steve]

I didn't grow any on the allotment this year as I knew I wouldn't have the time to look after them as not able to get to the plot.

We went and bought our veg yesterday from a proper farm shop where they grow everything themselves, they had cut the brussel stalks that morning and they were complaining it had not been a good year for them. Saying that we bought 2 stalks for £1.00 and it has given us plenty of brussels for us tomorrow.

[Hobnails]

I grow Darkmar21 - mostly small tis year but some good sized sprouts for Christmas and plenty coming on.

[davethespread]

i grew doric and had some good sized sprouts but because of  (i think) lack of water they had a strong flavour.
lack of water because i could not get to the plot so much this year.

[JohnB47]

Well, I managed to just get enough for Christmas day and Boxing day dinners. Very tasty too - not bitter at all.

I think I'll stick with Doric. They're a fairly small growing variety, not too tall as to get blown about by the wind and the sprouts are usually medium sized, tight and not bitter.

[seedman]

1 yr grown sprouts on allotment they were small to as above posts, must have had something to do with the weather still they were nice