[Doc_D]

Hi all, 2 questions - is it necessary to protect the heads like cauli, and secondly, will it produce side shoots? 

Keen to get a better result than my calabrese which suffered a slug attack at just the wrong time, destroying the young heads :-(

Andy

[ghost61]

I tend to pick them when they are quite small, as they can run to seed very quickly, and slugs love to eat the points! Never seen any side shoots.

[Doc_D]

Thanks - took that approach last year, when the plants were tall and all over the place. they are well staked this year so wondered if i might get some jumbo size heads!

[ghost61]

I find that they start to divide and go pinkish if left too long. One of mine is smothered in whitefly, so the hens will dine on that one tomorrow!

[Tea Break]

I've never seen cauliflowers producing side shoots, it's the flower head that goes to seed. If you want to keep the cauliflower white, then the old way is to break or bend if poss, some of the leaves over the head, so that it it is protected from the sun light.
hope this helps.
 Mike.

[realfood]

Romanesco can produce side shoots once the main head has been picked.

[Doc_D]

@ Tea Break - is it a cauliflower or broccoli :-P it is described as either on seed packets etc!

[ghost61]

Variant of cauliflower.