[mr Isaccs]

  If I have one growing wish for this year it's to grow perfect cauli and brocolli,
last years attempt was pathetic, most of my fellow plot holders have given them up as a bad job over the years.
     I know the general rule of thumb about them but I was just wondering if anyone has any tried and tested tips for the cauliflower. I am growing on a slightly clay soil, having manured most of the plot in autumn.
                                               cheers

[DD.]

First question.

Do you have club root, or indeed the soil have club root?

[mr Isaccs]

Not that I know of DD,
 I only took on the plot mid summer last year and the previous holder had some cauli still in the ground, thay looked large and white but had been left neglected and the black creatures had got in and decimated them

[DD.]

OK.

Youe could hedge you bets and go for "Clapton" which is more expensive, but club root resistant. I grew my first ever summer caulis last year with that variety. I definately have club root!

They prefer soil manured the previous year, so you should be Ok and solid ground, I ran over mine with a lawn roller first.

I raise mine in single cells, starting in the cold greehouse, then pot on into 3" pots & harden off before planting. I chuck a handful of lime into each hole, mainy 'cos of the club root.

[Lardman]

Ive had great success with Avalanche its a little smaller than some, about the size of a tea plate but they grew well  and had excellent texture. I put 5 in a 4x4 bed covered with debris netting.

[mr Isaccs]

Thanks for that DD.
 Had a look at the clapton on T&M site, they look really solid, white curds, just what I want mine to look like.
Think I will give those a go, I've already bought Deakin F1 but nothing wrong with trying more than one variety each season, it takes less years to find out what works for you and what doesn't

[Swing Swang]

You'll probably spend a lifetime trying to grow the perfect cauliflower!
One of the 'measures' of a victorian gardener was his ability to put a cauliflower on his master's table on any day of the year.
I've lost count of the numbers of cauliflower that I've called 'spring greens' because of my poor technique!
I wish you far, far more success and consistency than me.

SS

[Rangerkris]

Mine was small last year but white and very very tasty 

[DD.]

and the cauliflowers?

[Rangerkris]

Were also small white and tasty 

[JayG]

Can't decide whether DD really needs his holiday or whether he should cancel because we really need him here!

    

[rowlandwells]

Hi all i never seem to get cauliflowers how ever hard it try i usually set of with all the best intentions and then something or other happens the varieties i intend to try to grow this year are Aalsmeer [Kings] alpha 7 Jubro [Kings] snowball [Kings] and an Italian variety [T&M] start them of in trays prick the plants out into paper pots then when they are established plant them out pots and all thankfully this plot is club root free but a bit on the heavy side but well mucked ime going to set the plants into black mulch in rows  will i see a cauli actually produce? my Dad always set winter cauliflower they call them headers round here they where as large as dinner plates but always seem to come in altogether more yellow than white served with white sauce lovely grub

 PS can someone tell me how to add these bl.....,dy icons to my message!!

[DD.]

PS can someone tell me how to add these bl.....,dy icons to my message!!

Look just above where you're composing your message & click on one at the appropriate place.

Brassicas are not keen on fresh muck. Mine are going where the peas where without being dug this year.

[prakash_mib]

I had one big head of broc. see my son holding it (avatar) my first vegetable success

[WebSiteEvo]

My best cauliflowers where the ones I put in a flower bed with wild flower mix and small shrubs and forgot about them. The key was the protection the other flowers gave. The ones on their own in the veg bed following instruction did nothing.