[caro810]

hi been weeding at the allotment today and noticed that i have a head of cauliflower approx 2inches wide when do you cover them with the leaves and should i feed them anything over the coming weeks. many thanks

[Totty]

I would snap a leaf over the little curd ASAP. Not too much need to feed now.

Totty

[DD.]

If you can see a curd, it's not going to get a lot bigger.

It's not a matter of what you should do in the coming weeks, I'm afraid we're talking of days before you have to cut it.

[caro810]

hi DD why will the curd not get any bigger

[DD.]

Because that's the life cycle of a cauliflower.

Once you can see the curd, it will get a little larger, then start to open and rapidly expand and "blow". It will then very rapidly run to a yellow flower and ultimately seed pods.

[TheWhiteRabbit]

Do you have any tips for getting decent sized caulis? This is my first year growing caulis and I'd be grateful for any tips!

[DD.]

For my part, I sow them in individual modules, than transplant to 3" pots. The are planted out when about 6" - 8" hih and have a good root ball. This is a must on my plot at it has club root. I also need to choose a club root resistant variety like "Clapton".

They are best grown on ground manured the previous year. I plant with an hand full of lime in each hole and make sure they at firmed well in. I run over my ground first with a heavy lawn roller, then firm the transplant with my heel.

Make sure they are well watered and netted against butterflies. I use debris netting, which also helps shade the crop from direct sunlight.

[rowan57]

Hmmm my Cauli's must have been the odd ones out last year The curds kept growing and growing, I think for around 2 weeks. They got so big I had to buy a new casserole dish to do bigger cauliflower cheese! My internets too slow to link the photos, but the curds were roughly the diameter of a dinner plate at the end!

[TheWhiteRabbit]

Thanks DD - my mum challenged me that, if I could grow a half decent cauliflower, I was allowed to call myself a gardener!    Seeing as it's my first year growing anything, it's probably a tall order but I do like a challenge!!

[DD.]

They prefer cooler weather, so we should be OK again this summer.

My over-winter ones usually do quite well.

[Totty]

If, as you say, it's still only a couple of inches across, I'd expect it to get much bigger. That won't take long at all, as DD says. But cover it now and check every day the bigger you let it get, the more chance of it blowing.

Totty

[caro810]

thanks for all the advice will keep an eye on them and let you know how big they get.

[Plot_29@_Lady_Mary]

If, as you say, it's still only a couple of inches across, I'd expect it to get much bigger. That won't take long at all, as DD says. But cover it now and check every day the bigger you let it get, the more chance of it blowing.

Totty

Yes, the curds do blossom very quickly. When I first spotted them, they were no more than golf ball size, then within 7 - 8 days they were 7" in diameter! Do keep a watchful eye as pest love them. I grew mine over winter in the polytunnel in a raised bed. Nothing much happen until mid March when the leaves just grew and grew! Just an amazing sight! By the way, don't throw away the leaves as they can be eaten! Either chop them up and make a nice cabbage soup or blanch the leaves to soften them a bit, then make minced wraps. Steam for 15 minutes or so. Really great! See attached pics. First on showing golf ball size the 7 days later when I harvested! To cover, I lightly tied the top three leaves over the curd with a twine. The idea is to keep the sun rays off the curd, so there's no discolouration. I did not cover one of my cauli and it did turn a bit off colour - yellowish, but it was still fine.