[violet]

This is the first time I have grown cauliflower....the plants look fine, the "flowers" appear but are growing very "open" they are not the size of an apple yet but already are looking very straggly...do they always look like this at first or are they just going to produce useless spindly flowers?

[crowndale]

Sounds like they might be bolting, mine looked much the same last week, this week are blown.

[violet]

So, what could I have done to prevent this...anything? or does it just happen?

[peterjf]

bend in the leaves above the curd , keep it covered at all times

[violet]

Oh thanks... I have some that are only just showing I'll do it this very day!

[mike2niner4]

Mine have gone a little purple (the actual baby cauliflower) What can i do?

[Aunt Sally]

Weather extremes or fluctuations can cause them to bolt.  A very hot spell or a cold snap will do it.

[gobs]

Mine have gone a little purple (the actual baby cauliflower) What can i do?

If on top, that can be light damage cover it up, has it got plenty of foliage?

[mike2niner4]

not really - should i cover it with some see through plastic

[gobs]

Borrow some large leaves from something for cover, give a balanced feed and hope for best.

This can happen for a lot of reasons, it's early curding, not enough foliage to protect and see the crop through, might need be harvesting very small.