"michael" wrote

michael wrote:
I have just bought some seeds of Flower sprouts from DT Browns,as I was
impressed by the discussion in the weekend papers.
Has anyone on this forum any experience of growing this hybrid between
brussel sprouts and kale? I am assuming that the growing season is
similar to late sprouts.


I get the feeling that no one has yet tried flower sprouts. Brussel
tops,which are one of my favourite greens, are the top growth of a normal
brussel sprout plant.Blown sprouts are normal sprouts which are
blown,probably because the soil was not compacted on planting.
Flower sprout or kalette is a totally different plant.It has been produced
by research at a British company called Tozers (the company that produced
Gladiator F1 parsnips) and is a cross (not GM)between kale and brussel
sprout.The plant grows like a normal brussel sprout plant but with small
florets where sprouts on normal brussel sprout plants are.
Apparently the florets taste rather like spring cabbage,and are extremely
popular in the US.They are now being sold at top end supermarkets
(Sainsburys and Waitrose)and are expensive (£1.50 for 200g)
So I have some seed,and will plant half a dozen plants this season.
I was just wondering if anyone here had already grown some.

Yes they say sprouts blowing is because the ground is not compacted but in
our case that is hardly the reason as one good shower and our ground in
compacted again. (it's clay/silt)
But because we do get a lot blow I'm also curious about these Kalette,
perhaps we will try some from Sainsbury's to see if they are worth growing
for us.
--
Regards. Bob Hobden.
Posted to this Newsgroup from the W of London, UK