Alaskan produce is legendary. Outsiders often aren’t aware that Alaska, and other northern areas, often bear some of the largest produce grown on earth.
Growers in these areas understand why. Fueling plants with 24 hours of sunlight, and near constant photosynthesis for several months, is a recipe for massive growth. The Alaska State Fair is one of the better known places to get a look at these “vegetables of unusual size,” featuring several size and weight competitions across different produce types.
We sometimes feature this fun and unique phenomenon, too. You might be surprised, but these are not small cabbages, but rather massive Brussels sprouts! The average person is probably used to seeing cute little Brussies, either from the grocer or their grown plants. But, subarctic grown sprouts can grow to an exceptional size. To, and likely beyond, the point where it’s tough to hold just three sprouts in one’s hand!
Often, this phenomena is not the actual goal of the northern grower and home preservationist. For example, we purposefully grow “small market cabbages” just so we don’t have to deal with massive, 100 pound cabbages. Likewise, we also don’t grow 500 pound pumpkins because we couldn’t even lift one, much less get such a thing through our front door.
Even though we actively try to avoid this phenomena in most cases, it can still happen. Were you to grow this Franklin variety Brussels sprout at lower latitude, it’s unlikely that you could achieve the same size and stature of these chonkers! Just one of these at this size is adequate as a side dish!
We do have to chuckle a bit whenever we inadvertently get these massive examples of produce. While it’s normal for us, it’s nowhere near “normal” in most circles of the world. But, that’s one of the reasons we occasionally share these incidents as some may have never seen something like this before.
If it is your intention to get into the “giants of produce” world, it almost always involves specific genetics. But, it also usually takes starting these plants exceptionally early in the season, since our short growing season isn’t quite enough. Often, the focus is on one particular plant, too, so you’re not dividing your attention. With time, dedication and purpose, though, you might just grow a blue ribbon winner!
