Leggy caulis

[Acanthus]

I decided to grow some caulis in the poly for the first time last year. I now have a dozen leafy heads on foot tall stalks. Will they form curds? Why did they grow so tall? Hope I can try again this year with more success

Thanks
Acanthus

[allotment grower]

They grew leggy due to searching for light - poor lighting over winter months..

over the winter months light levels in a polytunnel are lowered.
and plants have a tendency to be leggy that are over wintered....

[Two_Sheds]

plants have a tendency to be leggy that are over wintered....

That depends what they are. If they're established plants from the previous season, they won't be leggy because they've done their growing.

New plants, young plants, will be leggy because of searching for light, it's true

[Two_Sheds]

I decided to grow some caulis in the poly for the first time last year.

When did you sow them? Early or late last year?

[Acanthus]

I sowed them according to packet instructions, last spring, in modules. They looked like cabbages when I planted them out in the poly.it did get a bit crowded in there towards the end of the summer with some climbing French beans twining across the roof bars,although they were not directly below them.
I think you're right,though,lack of light probably did it

Will wait and see if I get curds anyway

Thanks,
Acanthus

[Two_Sheds]

it did get a bit crowded in there towards the end of the summer

I think they probably starved ~ too much competition for nutrients & water by the sound of it. The shading from the French beans won't have helped either.

I doubt you'll get anything from them now, they'll most likely just bolt as soon as it warms up

Sorry.

[Matt94]

why dont you cut you losses pull them and sow some more - you can do that now!

[allotment grower]

That depends what they are. If they're established plants from the previous season, they won't be leggy because they've done their growing.

New plants, young plants, will be leggy because of searching for light, it's true

brassicas suit our uk climate cold damp wet..

brassicas are grown outside a polytunnel they dont like too much heat..

cauliflowers - sow febuary to may this will give you a crop july / september,

they should of formed a head in last september
they are no longer viable now..

[PAULW]

I grew a winter cauli PENDUICK cant get the seeds any more, these were sown in April and flowered around Xmas/ new year they were three feet tall and gave a curd of three and a half pound these were grown outside.