[Ian1906]

I have had some over winter cauliflowers in since the Autumn. Everything about them looks good, I have had them protected against birds and there is no damage at all.

The problem is that there is absolutely no sign of a head formng on any of the plants. They now take up quite a lot of room and I was thinking about giving them up as a lost cause and using the soil for more productive crops.

The soil is as hard as I can get it.

Any opinions welcome please.

[realfood]

You need to know the variety to see when they are supposed to "head".

[cooperman]

Cauli's are probably the hardest veg to grow successfully. I know i've tried! hehe 
you need:
a) ground with high fertility (well manured the year before)
b) ground turned over in the autumn and allowed to consolidate over the winter
c) chose a good performing variety
d) start off in modules BUT do not allow them to outgrow as a check in growth will mean curtains
e) Keep WELL watered once transplanted and away VERY IMPORTANT
f) keep clear of weeds
g) keep netted
h) FEED continuously

If you are not prepared to put a lot of work in dont bother buy them off the market! 

[Paul Plots]

Cauli's are probably the hardest veg to grow successfully. I know i've tried! hehe 
you need:
a) ground with high fertility (well manured the year before)
b) ground turned over in the autumn and allowed to consolidate over the winter
c) chose a good performing variety
d) start off in modules BUT do not allow them to outgrow as a check in growth will mean curtains
e) Keep WELL watered once transplanted and away VERY IMPORTANT
f) keep clear of weeds
g) keep netted
h) FEED continuously

If you are not prepared to put a lot of work in dont bother buy them off the market! 

The best ones I ever grew were given to me as cabbage plants... I had a very pleasant surprise when they produced wonderful cauliflowers with very little effort on my part other than good fortune. 

[BabbyAnn]

The best ones I ever grew were given to me as cabbage plants... I had a very pleasant surprise when they produced wonderful cauliflowers with very little effort on my part other than good fortune. 

LOL - and perhaps because you were none the wiser for knowing they were caulis until they produced heads, you didn't whittle about them and confirming your suspicions that they are difficult to grow.

The problem is that there is absolutely no sign of a head formng on any of the plants. They now take up quite a lot of room and I was thinking about giving them up as a lost cause and using the soil for more productive crops.

Please don't give up now!  I had a similar experience the first time I grew caulis.  I was so sure they were duff plants but luckily I was too busy getting on with other stuff and left them to it.  As the plants are healthy, it would be a shame to uproot them as I think you'll be pleasantly surprised if you could hold out a bit longer.

[fatcat1955]

My OH planted some cabbages, turned out to be the best cauli's i have ever grown.

[Salmo]

My caulis only headed last week so be patient a little longer. At least you will have a crop when there is little else.

[Ian1906]

Thanks - it seems the only thing I haven't been doing of late is to feed them and that is down to the fact that they have been growing so well.

I'll give them a feed and show a little more patience.

[bazial]

Hi
   Don't give up looked at mine today and they are starting to head ,hopefully we will have a Cauli for the weekend.

             Bazial

[TerryB]

Gave mine some chicken pellets then added about 2in compost and an 1in of soil, because they had grown so tall but hadn't formed a head. Kept them well watered and they formed the best heads I've ever had. Finished the last at the weekend.