Brussels Sprouts to Be 25% Bigger This Year
Jumbo Sprouts Set to Grace Holiday Tables This Year
Get ready for bigger and better Brussels sprouts this Christmas! Thanks to ideal growing conditions and new, hardier varieties, this year’s crop is shaping up to be the best in recent years, according to supermarket giant Tesco.
The average sprout this year boasts an impressive 30mm diameter, a notable jump from last year’s 24mm. This means more deliciousness packed into every bite!
“This year we’ve pretty much had a reversal in growing conditions to 2023,” said John Moulding, commercial director of Lincolnshire-based vegetable supplier TH Clements. “We’ve had the right amounts of warmth and sunshine during the summer months after they were planted, good amounts of rain during the autumn and now colder weather in December.”
Last year, heavy rainfall in late november and December hampered sprout yields, leaving many holiday tables with smaller-than-usual portions.This year, though, farmers like Moulding took proactive steps to ensure a bountiful harvest.
To maximize their chances of success, Moulding’s team relocated their growing plots to “alluvial silts” on the east coast of Lincolnshire. These silty fields, situated on reclaimed marshland, offer unique advantages.
“The silts are situated in different growing areas that all have their own microclimates and coastal frost protection,” explained Moulding. “Sprouts enjoy the breeze of the coast that gives frost protection.”
With these larger,more flavorful sprouts hitting supermarket shelves,Christmas dinner is sure to be even more delicious this year.
Sprouts Set to Sprout: Tesco Predicts Bumper Christmas Crop
British shoppers can expect a bumper crop of Brussels sprouts this Christmas, with Tesco predicting a harvest three times the size of the UK population.
the supermarket giant says it’s working closely with growers to ensure a plentiful supply of the festive favourite, despite challenging weather conditions.
“The quality of the festive crop that has been coming through in the last few weeks is among the best we’ve had in recent years,” said Simon Tenwick, buying manager at Tesco. “We are certain sprout fans will be delighted.”
Tesco expects to sell around 1.5 million kilograms of sprouts in the two weeks leading up to Christmas, when around 25% of the annual sprout consumption happens.
this translates to three sprouts for every man, woman, and child in the country, according to the supermarket.
To ensure a bountiful harvest, tesco has been working with growers to choose hardier sprout varieties that can withstand the UK’s unpredictable weather.