1) The advice is always to start picking at the bottom of plants. However, the bottom few inches usually have just 'fluff' rather than proper sprouts. Is it best to pick these or leave them?
2) I really sprout tops and the advice is usually to use these after you have picked all the sprouts. However, I often find that by then the tops of gone mouldy, or been eaten by slugs or whatever. This year I have some really good, solid sprout tops and am tempted to pick them before I have finished picking the sprouts. Would this affect the remaining sprouts?
Picking Sprouts
Moderators: KG Steve, Chantal, Tigger, peter
Hello Colin
Once the plant has got to a good size and I can see the tiny sprouts forming we use the tops. I'd always thought that the once the top was off then all the plant's energy went into forming the sprouts but I could be wrong on this one. As you say though, they're wasted if you leave them too long because they don't last well on the plant.
As for the blown sprouts at the bottom of the stalk, I always take them off but not for any particular reason! It probably doesn't make much difference whether they're taken off or left on.
John
Once the plant has got to a good size and I can see the tiny sprouts forming we use the tops. I'd always thought that the once the top was off then all the plant's energy went into forming the sprouts but I could be wrong on this one. As you say though, they're wasted if you leave them too long because they don't last well on the plant.
As for the blown sprouts at the bottom of the stalk, I always take them off but not for any particular reason! It probably doesn't make much difference whether they're taken off or left on.
John
The Gods do not subtract from the allotted span of men’s lives, the hours spent fishing Assyrian tablet
What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning Werner Heisenberg
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What we observe is not nature itself, but nature exposed to our method of questioning Werner Heisenberg
I am a man and the world is my urinal
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Colin Miles
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Thanks John.
My worry was that taking the tops off would cause the sprouts to blow. However, one of the sprouts turned blind at the top and the sprouts on that one seem ok. Anyway I have started using the tops and will see how it goes.
My worry was that taking the tops off would cause the sprouts to blow. However, one of the sprouts turned blind at the top and the sprouts on that one seem ok. Anyway I have started using the tops and will see how it goes.
Hi Colin,
Back in the so called "Good Days" Brussels Tops were left on the plant by commercial growers and were picked as "Greens" in the spring. Sadly now those growing for Super Markets seem only to manage to pick half the crop and they then put the Sheep in to eat them off. I admit freely to thieving the odd meal of tops before the sheep get to them. I always pick my own after the crop has gone. If the sprouts are not picked quick enough and they start to fluff out I always leave them to open fully and cook those they are wonderful. As opposed to the sprouts these that have opened seem beautifully sweet to me.
I have never picked them before the crop has finished and would be interested to your results.
JB.
Back in the so called "Good Days" Brussels Tops were left on the plant by commercial growers and were picked as "Greens" in the spring. Sadly now those growing for Super Markets seem only to manage to pick half the crop and they then put the Sheep in to eat them off. I admit freely to thieving the odd meal of tops before the sheep get to them. I always pick my own after the crop has gone. If the sprouts are not picked quick enough and they start to fluff out I always leave them to open fully and cook those they are wonderful. As opposed to the sprouts these that have opened seem beautifully sweet to me.
I have never picked them before the crop has finished and would be interested to your results.
JB.
There are a lot of sprout growers in Hereford so in view of the pigeon devestation to which we are prone we have stopped growing them ourselves and concentrate our enegies on other crops.
We find that later in the season it pays to buy sprouts on the stem which means that you can pick them fresh as you require, It is cheaper that way as it is less work for the farmer/grower. It does mean that the plants are F1s but I would have grown those anyway as the non-F1s are prone to blow. We used to grow at least 3 varieties to give succession.
We find that later in the season it pays to buy sprouts on the stem which means that you can pick them fresh as you require, It is cheaper that way as it is less work for the farmer/grower. It does mean that the plants are F1s but I would have grown those anyway as the non-F1s are prone to blow. We used to grow at least 3 varieties to give succession.
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Colin Miles
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Hi Johnboy,
Not sure my experiment will prove anything as it is a bit late and most of the sprouts on the early ones are already picked and I haven't got that many decent tops on the late ones. It really needs a controlled experiment to see what happens. Or maybe somewhere like Wisley might have the answer?
Not sure my experiment will prove anything as it is a bit late and most of the sprouts on the early ones are already picked and I haven't got that many decent tops on the late ones. It really needs a controlled experiment to see what happens. Or maybe somewhere like Wisley might have the answer?
Had my neighbours sheep visit me last week and they really do like Sprout tops, I'm still left with the stalks with lots of small sprouts at the top of the stalks, will they keep on swelling with no top leaves left.
Arthur
Arthur
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Colin Miles
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Just a little update on Sprout tops. I am continuing to pick the sprout tops as well as the sprouts. As I mentioned before, without a properly controlled experiment it is difficult to be definitive, but observations so far would suggest that the sprouts at the top grow bigger and they don't seem to be blowing. With a couple of plants now all the leaves have gone and only the sprouts remain.
Logic would suggest that removing the tops would cause the plant to put it's remaining energy into what was left - leaves and/or sprouts. But would this cause 'premature ageing'? And would different varieties behave in different ways, in particular F1 hybrids and open-pollinated varieties?
My 2 varieties are Brilliant which I can highly recommend as an early which holds well and Montgomery. Mind you with the weather being as it has been and a mix-up in the varieties when planting out, I am not always too sure which is which.
Logic would suggest that removing the tops would cause the plant to put it's remaining energy into what was left - leaves and/or sprouts. But would this cause 'premature ageing'? And would different varieties behave in different ways, in particular F1 hybrids and open-pollinated varieties?
My 2 varieties are Brilliant which I can highly recommend as an early which holds well and Montgomery. Mind you with the weather being as it has been and a mix-up in the varieties when planting out, I am not always too sure which is which.
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Colin Miles
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Whilst browsing I came across an American site where they say that commercially they cut the tops off sprouts about 3 weeks before harvest to encourage the sprouts to develop and ensure uniformity.
With the leaves gone and the tops taken out what is there left to give the plant its 'energy'? I suppose the sprouts have to take on the job themselves, they are similar to leaves in nature but the air does not get into them all that well. As you say, it really needs a trial. It's what works that counts, theorising on its own can lead to wrong conclusions.
I don't know if this helps, they are vague about the tops.
http://www.tinkersgardens.com/vegetable ... prouts.asp
Allan
I don't know if this helps, they are vague about the tops.
http://www.tinkersgardens.com/vegetable ... prouts.asp
Allan