Will Flea Beetles Crash Your Christmas Sprout Party This Year?

Brussels sprouts are a classic part of Christmas dinner for many families, but this year, they might be a little different. In Oxfordshire, England, organic farmer George Bennet is facing a tough season because of a big problem with flea beetles. These tiny insects, which are even smaller than ladybirds, have been attacking his Brussels sprout plants for much longer than usual. Normally, flea beetles are only around for three or four weeks after spring, but this year, they have been causing trouble for about twelve weeks. The hot and dry summer created perfect conditions for the beetles to multiply and spread.

Flea beetles love to eat plants in the brassica family, which includes Brussels sprouts, cabbages, and rapeseed. They lay their eggs in the soil under the plants, and when the eggs hatch, the beetles chew holes in the leaves. Some of George's plants have lost up to seventy percent of their leaves, making it hard for them to get enough energy from sunlight. As a result, the Brussels sprouts are growing much smaller than usual. George says that there will still be sprouts for Christmas, but they will probably be tiny and not as easy to peel as the big ones people are used to. He suggests that people could try Kalettes, a mix between kale and sprouts, if they want something different.

The problem is not just affecting organic farmers. Mike Hirons, who runs a vegetable wholesaler called Produce Warriors, says it is still too early to know if there will be a shortage of Brussels sprouts. However, he has already seen prices go up for other Christmas vegetables like potatoes and broccoli because of poor harvests. George believes that growing a variety of crops is the best way to deal with unpredictable weather and pests. He also thinks that farmers need more support from the government to help them adapt to changing weather, especially when it comes to paying for irrigation systems. The government recently announced new funding to help farmers build reservoirs to store water for dry periods. Even though the Brussels sprouts might be smaller this year, there is still hope that they will be on the Christmas menu.