Do You Prune Your Sprouts?

[Bigmallly]

I've never had what I could call a successful yield of Sprouts but this morning I came across this & I'm gonna give it a go. Do you prune yours?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PilEKvvJHCg

[Jay-ell]

I top some of my sprouts each year as it forces them to swell and give bigger sprouts although at a reduced number of sprouts - I usually do this in October. Of course the top is also edible and looks (and tastes) like one massive sprout so a plate of these make it look as if you have a massive sprout tree on your plot.

[Nannysally99]

This is our first go with sprouts, got to get them big enough to prune .... Thanks BM

[Bigmallly]

I normally just remove any yellow leaves from the bottom but this guy is suggesting removing all the bottom leaves apart from the top 5 rows. It's got to be worth a shot.

[Guest]

Last year was the best I have ever got them but they started to flower before the sprouts got to any real size

[Jungle Jane]

I prune mine but not like the man does. Pruning that early wouldn't leave many leaves for the pests. I start removing them when the sprouts are about marble sized,starting from the bottom & removing most,more than the man does,but not all on the same day. It allows space for the sprout to expand & leave the top few branches with the brussel tops. Give them a high nitrogen feed in the autumn too or BFB or something,they're in the ground so long. There's something about removing the tops about two weeks before harvest,so I do that but it could be wrong,I try to remember things

[Bigmallly]

I prune mine but not like the man does. Pruning that early wouldn't leave many leaves for the pests.

You feed the pests?..................

[Jungle Jane]

You feed the pests?..................

I don't have any choice in the matter

[Bigmallly]

Hows about a big net hat......................

[Bren In Pots]

I normally just remove any yellow leaves from the bottom but this guy is suggesting removing all the bottom leaves apart from the top 5 rows. It's got to be worth a shot.

That's all I usually do BM but this time I'm going to give his way of pruning a go.
Thanks for the link

[Bigmallly]

We'll have to try to remember to compare notes Bren.

[Greenleaves]

I always remove the lower leaves once the sprouts start to form, my old pops said it help let the wind through and stopped blown sprouts....if its true, I have no idea but he aint let me down yet

[Snadger]

I always remove the lower leaves once the sprouts start to form, my old pops said it help let the wind through and stopped blown sprouts....if its true, I have no idea but he aint let me down yet

I do the same, as the chooks wait with baited breath!

[Cadalot]

I kinda figured that the plant knows when it wants to start shedding leaves and I assist from the bottom up as they start dropping off naturally, I clear what falls and take a few extra to stop the slugs gathering at the bottom of the plant for a feed.

[1Bee]

I cleared from the bottom as soon as the bottom leaves started to show spots of mildew... I figured it would help the movement of air and prevent botrytis.

One of the old gentlemen on the plot came and looked at my sprouts at my request when I wasn't sure about something, and said he'd seen a programme on commercial growers who always topped their sprouts, so I topped half of mine and definitely got bigger sprouts for it. And the tops, were, as stated, delicious!