Cauliflowers what am I doing wrong

[plantplot]

Hi everybody
I would appreciate any advice on growing Caulis.
My cauliflowers keep going to seed or I think it is called bolting. they start out well and then the heart just separates. I hope someone can help.

Thanks plantplot

[Demeter]

That sounds familiar...

Ours have done this and i think the reason is that we are getting a very small head, waiting for it to grow but it doesn't - just flowers. We have diagnosed lack of space - if we had given them more space, they wouldn't have had to compete so much for nutrients etc, and then we would get bigger heads. We're just picking them small and pretending they are gourmet veg - it was deliberate honest...

Could that be your problem - too little space / not enough manure?

[gojiberry]

Usually due to lack of water. Cauli are not an easy veg to grow although you will get people saying they never have any problems. Even if you have been watering, the roots may have dried out enough to stress the plant. Try to use a mulch to ensure moisture doesn't evaporate.

Ian

[seasprout]

Your ground is not firm enough, you have been too nice to them, after all the digging and manuring operations before you plant them you need to really firm the ground by walking over and over it, or as Terry Walton advises, play cricket with the kids on the bit of ground your going to plant into.

[PAULW]

As Demeter said once the flower has appeared it will not grow any bigger, plenty of muck in the ground, firm the plants in well, a little feed and plenty of water especially if you are trying to grow summer cauli's

[afrench108]

I have had the same problems, i manured last autum and added grow more before planting, ground firm and ensured they have been watered every warm dry day, they also have plenty of room but i was told by an experienced allotment holder the weather we have had this year will of caused the bolting, wet days, dry days, damp cold nights in june and even july, nothing has been stable with our british summer!!... hope this sheds a little light on it...

[Demeter]

Well I managed to pick and eat one of our mini-caulis before it went over - and it was delish

Had it with cabbage, sugarsnap peas and some broccoli, all cooked up together and then shoved under the grill with gorgonzola and honey. mmmmm

[plantplot]

Thanks everyone for all the advice on the cauliflower probs I have encountered,
I am new to growing and I have done as you say eaten them small.
So if at first you don't succeed try try again.
Thanks again everyone
Plantplot

[JO,JO]

hi mine have bolted two start off with nice heads then start to sprout,in a raised bed.not sure why but am thinking of growing a mini cauli instead and see

[kentvegplot]

I had one good one, but the next have bolted. I think the weather has had something to do with it, but they did grow larger than I expected, so maybe not enough space for them.

[Tracey]

All my caullies have bolted too. Not all has been wasted though as the chooks still love them.

[Cutecumber]

I am not sure I can fully explain why, but I am one of those that, to date...

can grow cauliflowers (fingers' crossed - I've probably just cursed myself!)

I stick to very quick growing summer varieties like Freedom or Candid Charm and the odd coloured one for fun, and I grow them all in containers. The weight of the heads varies, but some are as big as any (summer types) you might buy. I find Freedom particularly good as it wastes no energy on lots of leaves but produces a big head.

I think I do all the things the books suggest: sow in modules, pot up to 3 inch pots, then plant in good organic compost (usually with some calcified seaweed substitute added to keep the pH high) firm in very well and give them lots of water, regularly. One cauliflower to a 18-20 litre pot works best for me but I often cram other things around them like lettuce or make them share with a cabbage!

Maybe one advantage is that this particular method means that they grow in very firm conditions - when I harvest the plants I have to leave the roots to rot a bit then use a spade to cut into the compost. It's seriously hard.

I wouldn't recommend that you try and grow lots of massive cauliflowers in containers as it's not practical, but if you want a few to savour, it's great. It's also pretty unlikely that this will work for the winter cauliflowers as they need different conditions.

My summary would be: the right cauliflower type for the time of year, good quality, firm, growing media at an alkaline pH and plenty of water.

[cityfan08]

I have had the same problem is there a way to still use them after they have bolted.

[carlseawolf]

here's how i grow mine.

1 ; I use garden soil with blood , fish and bone in
a 3" pot and into that i put 4 seeds and take
out the weakest ones to leave one per pot.

2 ; The ground is prepared in winter and apart
from weeding is left alone to compact and
lime added 1 month before transplanting.

3 ; The bed i put the brassicas into contain
rabbit bedding , compost and seaweed and
blood , fish and bone.

4 ; When planting the cauli's from pot to ground
i make a pit about 6" deep and slope the sides
out then dig a hole to put the plant in so it's
in a hole 6" below the soil surface .
This is done so when it grows the pit can be
filled in around the stem to help keep the cauli
stable , and latter when it's alittle bigger i
gather the soil around the whole stem under
the cauli.

5 ; Water well and keep them wet all the time as
drying will cause them to bolt and feed
the plants about a month after they have
been transplanted by spreading a general
fertilizer under the plants.

6 ; Latter when the curds are being produced
i give extra feed by mixing some tomato
food with water and use a watering can to
pour it over the plants to foliar feed the
cauli's , i do this twice a month apart.

7 ; Lastly , and i forgot to do this . bend the
inner leaves over the cauli to cover the
curds or they go pink for sunburn or black

8 ; cut and enjoy.