Sprouts to be up to 25% bigger this Christmas thanks to new varieties

Sprouts this year, at least those sold at Tesco branches, are likely to be up to 25% bigger this Christmas. 

But not only will they be larger, they'e also likely to be more tasty, too, due to a combination of good growing conditions and new varieties that are more suited to the our climate and soil types.

This year Tesco has been working with suppliers such as T H Clements in Lincolnshire and Drysdale, in Berwickshire, Scotland, to find varieties that are hardier and better able to thrive in the UKs climate.

This follows on from a challenging growing season last year when heavy rainfall in late November and throughout December led to a poorer than normal yield and crop. 

Says Tesco sprout buyer Simon Tenwick: “We’ve been working hard this year to bring in new varieties that are assisting us deliver a better tasting sprout with a crunchier texture and a perfect size.

“The quality of the festive crop that's been coming through in the last few weeks is among the best we’ve had in recent years and we are certain sprout fans will be absolutely delighted.”

T H Clements said that poor harvesting conditions last year led to the average sprout size being 24mm in diameter but this year, thanks to the new varieties, they are 30mm in size.

Last year heavy rainfall continued throughout much of the autumn as a result of Storm Babet and instead of the colder weather needed to ‘finish off’ the sprouts in late November and early December, it continued to be mild and wet.

T H Clements Commercial Director John Moulding said: “This year we’ve pretty much had a reversal in growing conditions to 2023 with 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.

“We’ve worked hard over the last year to improve not only this year’s crop but future crop yields too, starting by the selection of new land to plant the sprouts. The alluvial silts, only found on Lincolnshire's east coast.

“The silts are situated in different growing areas that all have their own microclimates and coastal frost protection. Sprouts enjoy the breeze of the coast that gives frost protection.”

In the run-up to Christmas T H Clements will run up to 16 harvesters, working literally around the clock, to provide Britain with 192 million sprouts!