[Fishyhaddock]

About 20 of my 30 brussel plants have "opened up". This is the first year that I have grown them and rather than tight buttons they look like they have had a blow dry from a frenetic hairdresser. What have I done wrong or is it just one of those things? They are planted in a windy spot and have very little protection. Anyone got any ideas?

[Fleecewife]

I'm not an expert, although I do love sprouts.  I think there can be various causes.  It could be the variety itself - I have tried several times to grow purple sprouts but they always 'blow', and other varieties have that tendency when I grow them here. 
The main reason quoted is that they need very firm soil, although others say it doesn't matter.  I would suggest that it would be worth your while firming the soil by trampling when you plant out your sprouts, then because you are on a windy site, stake them all individually.  This will stop them waving around and loosening the soil and their roots as they do so.
You can still eat blown sprouts, in fact some of the catalogues are selling something this year which has been specially bred but to me looks just like a blown sprout 
Maybe someone else will have a definitive cause.

[OhLaLa]

Yes it sounds like they have blown. Mine did the same this year. Next year try not to plant in a position where the wind will get them (almost impossible here). Firm the roots down hard when you plant.

 

[Fishyhaddock]

Okay - I think I know the problem. The ground they are in was recently ploughed so the soil will not be as firm as it could be. Thanks very much - looks like I need to harvest my blown sprouts today then!

[lazybee]

Yum they will be like eating spring greens.