Cauliflower conundrum.

[Bill HH]

I have never grown a cauliflower, in fact I stopped bothering. But last October someone gave me a few plants so I planted them. They were virtually eaten by caterpillars and slugs just leaving stumps but I left them as I didn't need the space. This year they took off like rockets, I netted them and generally became optimistic. A month ago I spied the first head, about cricket ball size. I did a little dance and shouted thank you to the heavens.
But within a week it exploded into separate shoots I have now had another one do exactly the same! Why would they tease me so?

Deflated of Devon.

[Bigmallly]

Apparently warm soil causes Brassicas to bolt Bill, or so I've read. I'm gonna feed mine ice cubes next year.........

[scarey55]

I think they need really firm soil too. I jumped up and down on the brassica bed this year to firm the soil before I planted anything, the first time I have done it, and I really pressed the soil around the plants.
Not sure how my caulis are going to turn out though - I'll let you know

[Fleurisa]

For the price of a cauliflower in the shops I don't think they are worth the effort

[RaptorUK]

I think they need really firm soil too.

I "firmed" mine in with a lump hammer

I got the inspiration here: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ml#post1235550

[Bigmallly]

I jumped up and down on the brassica bed this year to firm the soil before I planted anything

I bet you looked a right ppppppppp.........fool Klare....

[scarey55]

I bet you looked a right ppppppppp.........fool Klare....

I did indeed Big Man, especially with Trevor (my JR dog) nipping at my heels at the same time

[Chippy Minton]

I also have had similar experience but last year they just took, as you've experienced. My advice is eat them at the cricket ball size, turn your back on them and they go over, not worth the risk to try to get anything like a commercial size.

[catgirl]

I got one perfect cauliflower at the start of this month. All the others have done exactly what yours are doing. Personally I put it down to the warm weather and the fact that I had way too many of them planted in one bed, which must have made the competition for water and nutrition far worse than it would otherwise have been. It was my first year of growing them too so I'm hoping for a better crop in the autumn and next year!

[bearded bloke]

Growing a really good cauliflower is done by witchcraft in a manner similar to growing a large celeriac or non-bolting bulb fennel

[RaptorUK]

I "firmed" mine in with a lump hammer

I got the inspiration here: http://www.growfruitandveg.co.uk/gra...ml#post1235550

I can't believe how fast my Caulis are growing, they seem to be putting on huge leaves, I wonder if its the Field Beans I dug in as a green manure . . .

[RaptorUK]

Growing a really good cauliflower is done by witchcraft in a manner similar to growing a large celeriac or non-bolting bulb fennel

LOL . . . I'm trying bulb fennel too

[Bill HH]

I'm also growing fennel and celeriac!! Sounds like I have chosen the three bad boys.