[Chuffy]

Evening all.

It's my first year of growing caulis and all seemed well. They are on a well prepared patch of land (limed over winter) and are about the size of my fist. However.....one of them has turned a sort of greyish green colour and is starting to open up. The plant looks to be in good health otherwise. Wassup with it and can I stop the rest from doing the same?

[PAULW]

Chuffy
 the only reason a cauli blows is you didn't cut it early enough, this is a common trait amongst newbies once a cauli looks like the ones from the supermarket ( they start off very dense then there are lines through the curd like the pattern of a brain) they are ready to cut, it doesn't matter if they are golf ball sized or the size of a beachball once that flower has appeared they are not going to get any bigger

[Tattyanne456]

I'm no expert, and I am trying to grow caulis myself again this year as last year they all blew, so I was picking them when they were the size of a tennis ball! What the hell can you do with them when they are that size!! ! I was under the impression that they also like lots of water and to be planted very firmly in well manured ground as they are a hungry crop. Mine are still ok at the moment, mind you I haven't looked too closely yet! I hope this helps. GL Tatty

[Chuffy]

Chuffy
 the only reason a cauli blows is you didn't cut it early enough, this is a common trait amongst newbies once a cauli looks like the ones from the supermarket ( they start off very dense then there are lines through the curd like the pattern of a brain) they are ready to cut, it doesn't matter if they are golf ball sized or the size of a beachball once that flower has appeared they are not going to get any bigger

Thanks Paul.
I'd hazard a guess that they didn't get very big because, although I limed over winter, I didn't manure.
Lesson learned.....

[peapod]

Very firm ground is required too
(lesson from last year!)

[Kristen]

"... although I limed over winter, I didn't manure."

I'm sure you know this ... but don't lime and manure at the same time (it will cause an adverse chemical reaction)