brassicas!

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

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

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