[Nomes]

Hi, I've never grown cauli or brocolli before and wanted to know if you can cut off the bottom leaves without hurting the plants?! I've got loads of brocolli heads growing and quite a few caulis too but the lower leaves are just going yellow and there seems to be an awful lot of them. Just wondered if it would benefit the plants if they didn't have all the big extra leaves and could put more energy into growing the actual edible bit?!
Many thanks. xxx

[DD.]

By all means trim off the yellowing leaves,  but don't cut the green ones off. They are there for a reason, being the plant's food factory.

[Nomes]

Thanks! I think I planted them a bit too close together too so that's not helping with the overcrowding!! xxx

[sunshineband]

May be worth taking out  afew then to get the best out of what you have left. If they are too close they might well not produce as many spears, and caulis are greedy plants and need space 

[Nomes]

Ok then, I'll go through them and attack any skinny ones!! My 3 yr old is very excited about the brocolli "trees" so I'll have to cull them when he's finally asleep! xxx