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Why Brussels sprouts are at high risk of being off the holiday menu
George Bennett says hot, dry weather has left the crop stunted, with as much as 70% of leaves eaten by flea beetles.
- George Bennett, owner of Oxfordshire's organic Sandy Lane Farm, warned that the traditional Christmas Brussels sprouts crop faces potential failure this year due to extreme heat and pervasive flea beetles decimating the 2026 harvest.
- During summer heatwaves that saw 40 days of above 30°C temperatures, flea beetles thrived for nearly 12 weeks, leaving brassica plants stunted and stressed from insufficient moisture.
- George reported that 70% of leaves were eaten by beetles, leaving sprouts "touch and go" and likely too small for standard Christmas dinner preparation.
- Farmers are testing tightly woven crop covers and shifting planting times to prevent beetle damage, though covering crops risks attracting caterpillars and aphids that thrive under protection.
- Future summers may become hotter and drier due to the El Nino effect, prompting farmers to diversify crops—squash, pumpkins, potatoes, and carrots thrived this year—to ensure resilience.
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46 Articles
46 Articles
Christmas dinner staple ‘could be off the menu’ after plague of flea beetles
Brussels sprouts could be off the menu this Christmas (Image: Getty) Brussels sprouts could be off the menu this Christmas after being struck by a plague of flea beetles, a farmer says. George Bennett says this year’s crop of the festive favourite is being decimated by the bugs and hot weather. George, of Oxfordshire’s organic […]
Coverage Details
Total News Sources46
Leaning Left5Leaning Right10Center26Last UpdatedBias Distribution64% Center
Bias Distribution
- 64% of the sources are Center
64% Center
12%
C 64%
R 24%
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