"Monster Brussels sprouts hit Holbrooks store"

[dutchman]

People in Coventry will be able to enjoy sprouts bigger than the size of a golf ball this Christmas as the mild weather continues to produce the biggest brassicas for a decade.



The monster sprouts hit the Morrisons store in Holbrooks last week and have grown 20 per cent larger than a normal year.

A normal sprout approximately weighs around 15g, but the super-size sprouts weigh up to 35g and will measure 40mm wide.

The sprouts have grown to an enormous size due to milder weather and good growing conditions throughout the British summer and autumn.

Average UK temperatures have been as high as 15°C during November, which has caused the sprouts to reach maturity quicker then grow even bigger.

“Our sprout plants have loved the warmer weather,” said Morrisons sprout grower John Clappison.

“The higher temperatures have made them shoot up and produce the biggest most succulent sprouts that we’ve seen ten years.”

Did you know?

• There are more than 100 varieties of sprouts.
  
• 82,000 tons of Brussels sprouts are grown in the UK every year.
  
• The area covered by Brussels sprout fields in the UK is the equivalent of 3,240 football pitches.
  
• Sprouts are a rich source of Vitamin C and folic acid. One 80g serving provides 80 per cent of the recommended daily allowance (RDA) of vitamin C
  
• The heaviest ever sprout was grown in 1992 and weighed 8.3kg (18lb/3oz).

[rebbonk]

I always thought sprouts were no good until they'd had a decent frost on them?

[dutchman]

The heaviest ever sprout was grown in 1992 and weighed 8.3kg (18lb/3oz).

Surely that's what's known as a "cabbage"?