no sprouts

jools6

i have tried to grow sprouts for the last couple of years and have had no return

they always seem to bolt.what are we doing wrong ?

Dovefromabove

Hi Julia  

No idea what you're doing wrong - tell us what you're doing and we'll have a think 

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jools6

 Hi......   we have planted  young plants bought from garden centre . watered them give them the odd feed now and again and let them do their thing .

jools6

 Hi.........we have a clay soil could that be the problem ?

Dovefromabove

I've grown brassicas very successfully on clay soils - but it does need plenty of well-rotted farmyard manure dug into it to improve the soil structure as well as nutritional content.

In fact, a clay soil can be good for brassicas as it's easier to tread the plants in firmly so that they don't rock in the wind - if this happens it can cause the sprouts to 'blow' or open up as they grow rather than form tight firm buds.  Is this what is happening to your sprouts?

jools6

Hi Dovefromabove

that's exactly what's happening we are not firming the ground around them enough

thanks for your help hopefully we will have some sprouts this year 

Zoomer44

To stop them rocking in the wind you should plant them in a trench like you would spuds then as the stems grow, earth up, the roots will be deeper and help anchor the plant down in winds. 

jools6

thanks zoomer44

Dovefromabove

And if you like the belt and braces approach (and I sometimes think it's a helpful approach) then firm in a tomato cane for each sprout plant and tie them to the cane - it'll hold them even firmer 

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