Why don't my brussel sprouts ever tighten up into little heads. They just spring leaf-like from the stalk.
If your here in the UK it's down to the fairly unseasonal mild weather .
For a couple of months nearly most supermarkets & green grocers stores have been stuffed full with massive loose leafed brussel sprouts that should have only just been coming to a maximum golfball size in time fro christmas day lunch .
Sprouts like cooler but not frosty conditions once the plants have got about six or more leaves , they also don't need too much rain .
Planting them out in fresh manured soil will make for too much nitrogen in the soil so they will also tend to " bolt ".