Answers to your gardening questions (by those in the know!)

Thanks, Butrflynet.

are you sure they are brussel sprout plants? they look more like a cabbage to me. Its very difficult to tell at the seedling stage.
This is what they look like after picking the leaves.

That's what the seed package said.

Interesting photo. Did that stalk grow up from the base of leaves or is that what was growing along the main stem of the plant after you removed the big outer leaves?

check the photo below left



once the sprouts get to about the size of the ball of your thumb pick off the leaf corresponding with that sprout.

If you do not have sprouts growing at the base of the leaf by now i suggest you have cabbages not brussel sprouts.

Okay, that makes sense. I've been expecting to see a long floral stalk grow up from the plant like many ornamental plants do.

I'll go peer under the mass of leaves today to see what's happening under there. If no signs of sprouts then I'll yank them up and use the space for some more cool season veggies.

Its been a long time since i grew brussels. but i seem to recall having to remove a few leaves to get them growing upward so maybe thats worth a try.

Okay, I went out and had a look. There are what looks like tiny leaf buds at the intersection of the main stalk and each branch of the plant. The buds are less than a quarter inch in size. So, here's what I did. I removed 2 inches at the end of each main stalk and then thinned out the bottom six inches of branches from each plant. Then I gave them a side dressing of tomato fertilizer (it is all I have on hand at the moment). I'll give them a couple more weeks and see if it produces anything. At the very least, the extra sunlight and snipping off the tops should encourage more growth on the lower parts of the plant.

When cut, they definitely have the pungent smell of brussels, not the sweeter smell of cabbage. They're definitely healthy. One of the plants had a stem at least 3 inches in diameter. Had to use a knife to cut through it rather than pruners.

I have to agree with Dadpad. Thiose arent brussel sprouts, they look more like collards. Ive heard of mixing seed batches and envelopes before.

Sprouts should be snipped during the mid season, but I dont think youll get any from those plants. HOWEVER, make lemonade , collards cook up real good with some broth made of hamhock and stir in about i large chopped onion that youve fried till clear. (throw the onion , grease and all and 2 hamhocks per big pot. Fill the pot with collard leaf chunks (strip from the center rib or not , some folks like the extyra crunch from the stems).
Its all good, nothins bad from a garden (cept maybe eggplants)

Here's a photo of what I saw this morning. Don't those look like baby sprouts on the stem? They do to me.

Bumping this up so either Farmerman or Dadpad will see it.

Some bug has been chomping into & around the edges of the leaves of my little (potted) bay tree. I've looked very closely & can find any sign of insects, grubs or any other variety of pest. Obviously you wouldn't use an insecticide in a situation like this (I don't use them at all, actually), so any suggestions of what to do to eradicate the problem, please? (Remember, I'm going to use the leaves in my cooking adventures.)

Could it be your cat?????
Cats love ends pof leaves. Does her breath smell herbally nice???

My god I didn't even consider my cat!
I think you might be onto something there, farmer!
Come to think of it, she has been smelling better than usual lately.


Now come on, what do I do? This mysterious whatever-it-is is doing quite a bit of damage. I was thinking, perhaps a daily hosing might get rid of it? I don't particularly like the idea of white oil, or anything like that, on anything I'm gonna end up eating.

Put a couple drops of salad oil and a drop or two of hot sauce in a spray bottle and fill with water. Shake well and lightly spray the leaves. The salad oil helps it stick to the leaves, the peppery hot sauce will deter whatever critter is eating it. Be sure the spray bottle has at least a 1 quart capacity so the oil and hot sauce are very dilluted.

OK, Butrflynet. I'll give that a go.

I'm still no wiser about what variety of bug is causing the damage. (Definitely not my cat! )

Thank you.

My last homemade spray of that sort included a little liquid soap. I wasn't too keen on spraying that on leaves I was going to eat later.

When she says "Its not my cat"


Its her cat.

You're suggesting my cat nibbled around the edges of something like 70 bay leaves & also chomped holes in them all, farmer?
I don't think so!

Try changing the position you have your bay tree in for a while. From front to back of house or similar. Bringing it indoors might work as well. Whilst you are at it repot and/or clean the saucer.
Other things that might work: Put the pot into a plastic (supermarket) bag. Use a rubber band to close the bag and put it in the sun for a couple of hours. The general idea is to change the environment to something that your critter doesnt like or remove the plant from the critters environment.

Have a look at the plant with a torch several times after dark you never know what might turn up

My money is on a catterpillar rather than a cat.

Check the stems for a stem coloured catterpillar. Actually run your fingers up and around the stem. You'll be amazed when you see how well they hide.
Could also possibly be grasshopper (probably not this time of year), beetle/cochroach, mice/rat, birds or even a rabbit.

every time you downunders and brits speak of using the torch, I cringe and think of the villagers chasing poor frankie...

you're likely causing fires around the states.

Thanks very much for your suggestions, dp.
Step 1: I'm gonna get out there with a torch tonight & see what's going on!



I think farmer's might be, too.
(He was having a bit of a joke about the cat. Very funny. )