"John Vanini" wrote in message
...
I was told that if Brussel sprouts are planted or sown in loose soil the
sprouts will not be tight but will be very open leaved and useless as
sprouts.
I've always ignored this and never bothered with tamping down the soil
but, this year, I had to pull up and throw away my row of sprouts because
they were so open leaved as to be useless.
Luckily, I planted a row of a later variety of Brussel sprout plants
sometime after I had the problem, still in loose soil, and these look
fine.
What I've was told seems to be true, however, but has anyone else more
experience of the problem and could it be caused by something else?
I'd be pleased to hear anyone else's experience as I can't see how the
firmness of the soil relates to the firmness of the sprouts.

Neither can I, but here in North Wilts that's what they say down the
allotments. Especially the old guy who has an allotment next to ours, he
says you have to stamp the soil down to get small brussels heads. Who knows,
maybe there is something in it. If I were you, I'd take peoples' advice and
put the boot in as and when you're planting them.

We've never had much luck with brussels, so we go for Cavolo nero instead.

someone