This is the third year I have grown brussel sprouts and I still haven't gotten a crop. I live in Maple Ridge, south facing slope but I'm surrounded by trees so I only get about 6-7 hours of sun on the garden. This year my plants were huge and healthy but the sprouts were about the size of a small marble. They were watered regularly. Any suggestions as to how I can get sprouts next year?
Hi! Technically, you need to add an S to the name: Brussels sprouts. Yesterday, on King 5, Seattle, I saw the gardening segment with Ciscoe Morris and Megan Black. Their Brussels sprouts plant was tall and healthy and had "sprouts" larger than marbles so they could harvest some (best harvested after a frost because the "antifreeze" in the plant consists of sugars). As they removed sprouts (starting at the bottom of the plant), they also removed leaves. Ciscoe had Megan cut the top four or five inches off the plant to direct energy to enlarging the sprouts. Ciscoe said the removed top should not be discarded but cooked (in a soup???) We ourselves have not grown Brussels sprouts in many years (I think aphids were a big problem, or maybe cabbage worms), but I was inspired by C & M to try again next season. Cheers!
Don't give up on the Sprouts yet. I grow Brussels Sprouts for harvest during the Winter, mostly December to March. The first part to harvest is the main growing top, which is just like a large sprout. Removing the top encourages more growth in the lower sprouts, and the sprouts continue to grow all Winter. As mentioned above, the sprouts taste better after the first frost; so I haven't started to harvest the tops yet. If the sprouts don't get large enough to be used during the Winter, they can still be used next Spring, after they bolt or start to elongate to produce flowers. These "sprouted sprouts" can be used like Broccolini, which they resemble.
