[Arid_gardener] Brussels sprouts

[Sandra Nettles]

I am not a master gardener and I have only grown Brussels sprouts once 
and that was near Seattle, Washington.  The experience was an 
interesting one for me, so I almost hate to spoil it for you.  I planted 
the seeds from a package and in the lush ex-swamp-land the plants grew 
over a foot tall, maybe two.  They had a large central stalk with 
relatively sparsely placed, large leaves.  I really didn't know what to 
expect but I suspected, like you, that the sprouts would appear in the 
center of the clustered leaves at the top.  Seemed like a lot of plant 
for just one sprout.  Then one day I noticed little buds all down the 
the stalk immediately above each side leaf and I realized after several 
days that these were tiny Brussels sprouts.  I let them grow to table 
size and then plucked them off as needed.  Delightful.

Jamie Nettles, Curious Gardner

Here's a crude ascii drawing.

\\\\|////
  \\\|///
    | |
\  | |
  \*| |
   \| |  /
    | |*/
    | |/
    | |
___| |___

There were more leaves than this but you get the idea.  The asterisks 
are the sprouts.

by way of Lucy Bradley <LBradley at cals.arizona.edu> wrote:
> My first garden in Phoenix planted in October was semi-successful.  One 
> out of three tomato plants survived low temps; strawberry plants are 
> producing; onions doing well; and broccoli was great.  My question is 
> when do I know brussell sprouts are ready to pick.  The plants are 
> hugely leafed but the centers where I think the sprouts should be are 
> also loosely leafed.  I'm from Illinois where I had a huge back yard 
> filled with perennial flowers.  I'm struggling with the heat during 
> summer months that cook patio plants, but I'm learning now what to buy 
> plantwise and what can't cope.  Thanks for info on the sprouts.  Betty 
> Solomon
> BMS1122 at aol.com
> 
> 
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