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Brussels Sprouts or what?

When I find volunteers growing in the compost pile, I’ll sometimes nurture them to maturity. This was one, at first, I thought broccoli til it developed more. Eventually, I thought it Brussels Sprouts but it's not developing any sprouts along the stem (…yet). Never having grown them before, I’m inexperienced with Brussels Sprouts. I believe the sprouts develop later but how long later?

Do Brussels Sprouts “bolt” or similar where they'll grow but not produce sprouts?
Is this a type of Kale or other member of the cabbage family? If so, what?


In a nutshell, what is this?


Thanks

Comments (10)

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    That resembles a savoy cabbage, in the lower left is curly kake, and the rest is pole beans?

  • 9 years ago

    Yes, that's a Savoy or other savoyed Winter cabbage. Absolutely delicious and a mid winter staple here. As is the curly kale.

    And yes, Brussels sprouts can bolt without ever producing sprouts.

  • 9 years ago

    As comparison, this is what Brussels Sprouts look like. This was taken just yesterday.


    Garden pictures · More Info

  • 9 years ago

    > That resembles a savoy cabbage, in the lower left is curly kale, and the rest is pole beans?
    Yep. Correct on all counts. It definitely appears to be a savoy cabbage of sort or another.

    Now I just have to look into what to do with it. While there’s plenty enough to make it worth harvesting now, there's no real need; I’m not starving, can afford to experiment and learn from it. Most of what I've read (as floral_uk stated) indicates it’s a “winter cabbage” to be harvested in the spring but I'm wondering if it could actually survive a northern Ohio winter. I’ve never done any winter vegetable gardening before nor harvested any nearly 2-year-old vegetables! We shall see.

    Thanks to all for your responses and Brussels Sprout info/images.

  • 9 years ago

    I've picked savoy cabbages in the snow but you don't want it to freeze solid, harvest before temps drop too low, below 25F may turn it into mush.

  • 9 years ago

    By Winter cabbage I mean a cabbage eaten throughout the Winter in my class mate. Not in the spring. That would be Spring cabbage which is different. I don't grow Savoys myself but I buy them from a local grower. In fact it's almost the the only kind of cabbage I use in Winter. They sometimes arrive with frost on the leaves. If you have hard winters maybe eat yours before Christmas?

  • 9 years ago

    Also different is your (apparently S UK) winter of 30° F (-1.11111111) or so compared to ours (NE US) that sometimes reaches as much (30 or more) below zero. That said, I was a little surprised to find that, according to Winter Kill Temperatures of Winter-Hardy Vegetables 2016 (some Useful reference info here) Savoy cabbage has a winter hardiness temperature 12°F (-11°C). I'll plan to include it in Thanksgiving —or possibly Christmas— dinner.

    While I might now have the attention of Savoy cabbage growers…

    ..photos I’ve seen typically show Savoy Cabbage growing low to the ground like any other cabbage. It's not apparent in the photo I posted but what I have here the head is atop a stem 12” or more above the ground similar to Kale after several harvests. Also, it has branched into multiple stems with a head atop each — hence my questions regarding bolting, the possibility of it being brussels sprouts, etc. I have no doubt that it will be it'll be equally edible either way; I'm just wondering is this normal growth habit?

  • 9 years ago

    No it is not normal growth habit. Probably had some damage to bud along the way. Regular cabbage will do the same when damaged or stunted. of course it could be a cross with another brassica.

  • 9 years ago

    Being surrounded by other plants would make it taller. And some kind of damage sustained by the growing tip could precipitate multiple heads.

    You're right about the winter temperature difference. 30f would actually be a very cold winter day here. The coldest month is usually February and the average low is 35f for that month.

  • 9 years ago
    last modified: 9 years ago

    Yep. As I suspected. Probably because it was started, not from seed, but more or less, from a cutting. (Orphaned. Found left at the door in a compost pile) It started its life damaged, poor thing.