Covering Cauliflowers

[Borisbump]

Help.

I have around eight fantastically large cauliflowers growing (my first time so may come to nothing yet!) and when I showed them to my mother-in-law she said:

'you need to use the big outside leaves to cover the cauliflower to keep it white and stop it going green'

This is the first I have heard of this and cannot find any mention of it in any thread on the search option here. I even researched growing cauli's and there was no mention in the article I have been using as a kind of bible on cauli growing.

Anyone know what she's talking about? The cauli's are in a raised bed covered with netting.

Not sure I need to do anything else but watch them grow?! Do I?

[Incy]

I did read an article recently that recommended folding the leaves over the hearts as it helps them stay white. I have never tried them myself but this site seemed to have good info.
Growing Cauliflower Guide
Good luck with them

[TEB]

Yep I do it with summer cauli

[Borisbump]

Yep I do it with summer cauli

How exactly do you tie them please? I'm looking at mine and thinking if I even attempt to bend mine any way other than the way they are growing I will snap them!

Thanks for the link Incy - says to bear in mind if you tie the leaves you may rot the cauli - ahhhhh.

[TEB]

I dont tie them I just turn the leaf over, they will snap but as long as it covers the curd

[Alice]

I fold a leaf over the curds to keep the rain of them.
Once the curds have formed just take an outside leaf and bend it over the curd. It will probaly snap but it doesn't matter.

[Nes]

It shouldn't matter if a couple of leaves are snapped as you bend them over, as long as there are some left to photosynthesise for the plant! Just make sure you don't break them off completely, or they'll fall off. They act as a shade for the cauli to prevent them turning green in the sunshine. Not the voice of experience though, I'm afraid, as I've only ever grown mini caulis which are picked fairly quickly after forming as they don't stand well, so don't need shading.

[gojiberry]

Providing the curd is covered you may not need to tie, bend or snap. The important thing is to keep the curd white by excluding the light. If it happens naturally then fin, but if the curd starts to show you will have to do one of the options.

Ian

[Nes]

I think some newer varieties have been bred so that some leaves actually grow over the cauli as it grows, so negating the need to bend any leaves at all. Can someone with a bit of experience verify this? Or have I been dreaming again?!