Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: Grubbypaws on August 27, 2018, 13:53

Title: Cauliflower newbie
Post by: Grubbypaws on August 27, 2018, 13:53

I was given 6 Cauliflower F1 'Graffiti' which I planted out mid June. I have never grown cauliflowers before but put them under cover in a spare bit of raised bed. They have thrived and are enormous but as yet no sign of anything resembling a cauliflower. Should I be expecting to see anything yet or is it just too early?
 :unsure: :unsure: :unsure:

Title: Re: Cauliflower newbie
Post by: Yorkie on August 28, 2018, 16:27

I think there is still time yet for it to produce curds - see the info from Mr Fothergill's website (http://www.mr-fothergills.co.uk/Vegetable-Seeds/Cauliflower-Seed/Cauliflower-Graffiti-F1-Seeds.html#.W4Vpn_ZFzDc), which suggests they can go into October.

Title: Re: Cauliflower newbie
Post by: Grubbypaws on September 04, 2018, 15:55

Excited; just found my first cauliflower head  :D

I am growing them in containers which had 2 handfuls of 6x pelleted chicken manure mixed in before planting. Do I need to feed them further now the heads are developing and if so with what?

How do I know when to harvest them?

Title: Re: Cauliflower newbie
Post by: sunshineband on September 05, 2018, 20:18

Quote from: Grubbypaws on September 04, 2018, 15:55

Excited; just found my first cauliflower head  :D

I am growing them in containers which had 2 handfuls of 6x pelleted chicken manure mixed in before planting. Do I need to feed them further now the heads are developing and if so with what?

How do I know when to harvest them?

These are the exact same ones we grew two years back and they cropped really well. Good firm ground, plenty of water, chicken manure pellets, then a watering or two of tomato fertiliser as soon as the curds started to be visible.

They can be harvested as soon as the curds look full and tight and domed ... mine were about 15cm across. Just be aware they need steaming rather than boiling or they go pale blue  :lol: :lol:  Slicing on mandolin and including in salad was good, as was stir frying

Title: Re: Cauliflower newbie
Post by: Grubbypaws on September 07, 2018, 09:39

Thank you sunshineband I have followed your advise and watered them with tomato fertilizer.

The curds are about 7cm across. How long will it take for them get to 15cm? My husband, the cook in the family, is now getting excited  :D

Title: Re: Cauliflower newbie
Post by: Grubbypaws on September 10, 2018, 11:02

Just found a 15cm curd that I hadn’t spotted!
 :D :D :D

Title: Re: Cauliflower newbie
Post by: Grubbypaws on September 14, 2018, 11:05

My first ever cauliflower  :D :D :D

Title: Re: Cauliflower newbie
Post by: Pescador on September 14, 2018, 18:20

proper job that one!

Title: Re: Cauliflower newbie
Post by: New shoot on September 15, 2018, 09:13

Quote from: Grubbypaws on September 14, 2018, 11:05

My first ever cauliflower  :D :D :D

That is a great cauli Gp.  Be proud and rightly so  :D

Title: Re: Cauliflower newbie
Post by: Yorkie on September 15, 2018, 20:59

Excellent size!

Title: Re: Cauliflower newbie
Post by: Grubbypaws on October 07, 2018, 11:23

We have had 5, all this size  :D :D :D
The sixth has been much slower to grow and is only about 2 inches across. Will it continue to grow now or is it too late in the season?