Allotment Gardening Advice Help Chat

Growing => Grow Your Own => Topic started by: sam on lewis on July 17, 2009, 17:53

Title: confounded cauliflowers are killing me
Post by: sam on lewis on July 17, 2009, 17:53

 :( I started out with cauli's in one of my veg beds turning red leaved and pink hearted, now in my other beds the heart is forming very nicely up until it's grapefruit sized, then they are rotting from the bottom of the heart.

I picked three today and when I cut the leaves off they were brown and smelly at the very bottom of the heart, the top of the heart looked fine.

Does anyone have any good ideas for getting rid of the dreaded catapiller they are on my broccoli, cabbage, sprouts, cauli. I have heard that spraying with soapy water works.

 :ohmy: Cheers Sam :(

Title: Re: confounded cauliflowers are killing me
Post by: Lardman on July 17, 2009, 18:10

Most in here are big fans of debris netting, me included.

Not had any problems with them since I started growing in cages cover in netting. Think its a case of prevention is much easier than cure  :D

Title: Re: confounded cauliflowers are killing me
Post by: out4nowt on July 17, 2009, 21:07

I've been blasting the caterpillars and eggs off with the hosepipe.

Title: Re: confounded cauliflowers are killing me
Post by: sam on lewis on July 17, 2009, 22:19

thanks for the replies, some of our stuff is under nets, and we will probably put more up next year, but it's a big patch and would cost the earth to cover it all, for this year we will stick with the hose pipe and soap.

cheers sam

 :D

Title: Re: confounded cauliflowers are killing me
Post by: Salmo on July 17, 2009, 22:55

I just happened to spot this about pink curds
www.weekendgardener.net/gardening-questions/july-070807.htm

Re the cracking and rotting it could be calcium defficiency? This would be logical considering your peat soil.