Unhappy Sprouts

mumtosix

Hi I am looking for some advice, I grew some sprouts (from seeds) and I thought they were coming along quite nicely. Now I am starting to worry (I'm sure my last year's ones were much further along by now) they are about 6"-8" tall, with good tops but nothing else - will I be buying my sprouts for Christmas dinner rather than sending OH out to pick them? Is there anything I can do?:(

Gebo26

It sounds as though they were planted late. Sprouts need a long growing season and I find it best to sow the seeds by the middle of May and plant them out in early June. Plant them at least a foot apart. The speed of growth varies year by year and by the moisture and nutrients in the soil. The variety will also have a big influence on the maturity time.

I haven't any sprouts this year either. They never got planted as I didn't have time to build a cage to protect them from the wood pigeons. The cage has to be much taller than the ones I use for my other brassicas.

If you must have sprouts at Christmas it looks as though you will need to buy them. I like to shred them and stir-fry them with a little seasoning and perhaps a touch of nutmeg. Far tastier than the over-boiled soggy things which my relatives serve up!

Good luck!

Sally_A

Mine were pants this year so got pulled up, possibly due to the mad weather we had - I'd suggest buying a packet of frozen for your Christmas lunch to be honest.

Ironically, this was also the year of the fewest Cabbage Whites that I've seen for a long time.

If you think they are going nowhere, and still want GYO on the plate, you could eat the sprout tops, treat the same as cabbage.

mumtosix

Thanks for your replies, they were planted out in mid June, so have no idea! Tops look lovely though, so we'll eat them. I like my sprouts partially boiled then sauteed with garlic, yummy... my youngest son likes them raw. I think I will be buying some then....:(