[Flump]

does anyone know why my cauliflowers haven't formed curds and what causes it?thanks

[Loubs]

What variety do you have?

I planted a couple of varieties back in January, and by late June when nothing seemed to be happening other than green leaves, was about to pull them all out & replace with something else when suddenly, within the space of a week, they all started producing curds that grew really fast & were ready within a couple of weeks after that.

Are you sure they're not going to curd?

[peterjf]

caulis are greedy for food , could be wind rock , plenty of water and feed ,

[Flump]

I'm not sure what type they are as someone gave them to me.
what is 'wind rock'? :blink:

[DD.]

When they rock with the wind, loosening the root.

Caulis in common with all brassicas like firm soil.

[paintedlady]

I grew 2 varieties last year - one lot grew curds in July, the others didn't make an appearance until late September/October    So could also be the variety .....

[PennyS]

I had some which I'd given up on, and when I was at the plot yesterday I found they had some lovely (small) curds. 

So might be worth hanging on a bit.   

I think mine have struggled because I've not kept them watered, so some of them are a bit late.  Actually it's quite helpful as it means we haven't had a whole lot ripening together 

Hopefully yours are just about to curd!

[Flump]

fingers crossed!

[Christine]

Been there, done that, failed big time and went to see someone who grows good cauliflowers and this is what he told me.

Buy the best seeds you can afford and start them off in trays. When big enough to handle, transfer to small pots and let them get a good root on them. Meanwhile prepare the soil.

To prepare the soil, add some lime to the soil and be generous with the fertilser too; now he's a Growmore man but lets me use a combination of chicken pellets and calcified seaweed pellets.

When you are ready to plant them out, tamp the soil down firmly (the older blokes shuffle up and down with no space between their boots and walk heavily) and water the soil thoroughly if it's not wet. Plant out giving enough space between each cauliflower. The stamping down stops wind rock which cauliflowers hate (so do all brassicas).

Keep them well watered and feed them regularly.

He's right - that system works. Especially the last bit. He reckons that if you miss out any step you won't get cauliflowers. Well it worked for me.