Comments on: Planting Cauliflowers http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/planting/planting-cauliflowers/ Wed, 08 Feb 2012 20:16:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: mtp http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/planting/planting-cauliflowers/#comment-42064 mtp Tue, 21 Jul 2009 20:19:04 +0000 http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/?p=317#comment-42064 You could try immersing them in water to see if they rise to the surface. Otherwise the only option is to chop the cauliflower up into small piece and pick the caterpillars out as you go. You could try immersing them in water to see if they rise to the surface. Otherwise the only option is to chop the cauliflower up into small piece and pick the caterpillars out as you go.

]]> By: Anne Cooper http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/planting/planting-cauliflowers/#comment-42042 Anne Cooper Mon, 20 Jul 2009 12:39:20 +0000 http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/?p=317#comment-42042 HELP !!! Can anyone tell me how I can get rid of the caterpillars that are hiding amongst my newly harvested califlowers? I know they don't harm you to eat them but the thought of eating them puts me off wanting to eat them!!! Please can anyone help? Anne HELP !!!
Can anyone tell me how I can get rid of the caterpillars that are hiding amongst my newly harvested califlowers? I know they don’t harm you to eat them but the thought of eating them puts me off wanting to eat them!!!

Please can anyone help?

Anne

]]> By: pdxJules http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/planting/planting-cauliflowers/#comment-40451 pdxJules Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:42:07 +0000 http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/?p=317#comment-40451 Mu only time growing Cauli was from store starts in mounds that probably got too much shade. They got full size but didn't set fruit, so i gave a neighbor permission to harvest leaves whenever he wanted greens for cooking. Next Spring as soon as it turned hot I was shocked to discover HUGE medicine ball size cauli heads on 2 of the plants. OMG - i separated each into about 6 heads and shared most with friends. I also left the hardy elongated stems in place, and threw fresh compost on them when new shoots began to appear. I was able to separagte at least 3 to plant elsewhere in the garden, and each prodiced tasty fist size fruit, and leaves for harvesting. Some have set seed which I belive has crossed with cabbage, and I am sure I will have lots of good greens from this for my new garden. Jules' Conclusion: if you have space to wait and watch, never pull a Cole (including kohlrabi) that fails to set the kind of fruit you expected the first season. They can rebound in a big way in cool weather -and offer great greens to share with others. You can also eat the flowers, but crossed pollen may be undesirable in your garden, (unless you are crazy about Seed Sprouts for Sandwiches & stir-fry, or harvesting varied hardy all-season greens) Most of us will cut back to a sturdy stem when they bolt, and they'll often begin pushing out fresh greens. Mu only time growing Cauli was from store starts in mounds that probably got too much shade. They got full size but didn’t set fruit, so i gave a neighbor permission to harvest leaves whenever he wanted greens for cooking. Next Spring as soon as it turned hot I was shocked to discover HUGE medicine ball size cauli heads on 2 of the plants. OMG – i separated each into about 6 heads and shared most with friends.

I also left the hardy elongated stems in place, and threw fresh compost on them when new shoots began to appear. I was able to separagte at least 3 to plant elsewhere in the garden, and each prodiced tasty fist size fruit, and leaves for harvesting. Some have set seed which I belive has crossed with cabbage, and I am sure I will have lots of good greens from this for my new garden.

Jules’ Conclusion: if you have space to wait and watch, never pull a Cole (including kohlrabi) that fails to set the kind of fruit you expected the first season. They can rebound in a big way in cool weather -and offer great greens to share with others. You can also eat the flowers, but crossed pollen may be undesirable in your garden, (unless you are crazy about Seed Sprouts for Sandwiches & stir-fry, or harvesting varied hardy all-season greens) Most of us will cut back to a sturdy stem when they bolt, and they’ll often begin pushing out fresh greens.

]]> By: Natalie http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/planting/planting-cauliflowers/#comment-38441 Natalie Fri, 09 May 2008 07:15:57 +0000 http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/?p=317#comment-38441 me&my family are growing veg for the 1st time this yr,& dispite all the problems with growing cauliflower we are giving it a go so fingers crossed for us & we will let you know how it goes! x me&my family are growing veg for the 1st time this yr,& dispite all the problems with growing cauliflower we are giving it a go so fingers crossed for us & we will let you know how it goes! x

]]> By: Janet http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/planting/planting-cauliflowers/#comment-38406 Janet Wed, 30 Apr 2008 15:00:05 +0000 http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/?p=317#comment-38406 Cauliflowers... they're just too difficult for me. In the past three years, they either 1) died of club root (despite all the precautions) 2) grew and grew and grew ... without ever producing a head. 3) produced a head that was subsequently eaten by caterpillars No more cauliflowers for me. You're so brave to try them! Cauliflowers… they’re just too difficult for me. In the past three years, they either
1) died of club root (despite all the precautions)
2) grew and grew and grew … without ever producing a head.
3) produced a head that was subsequently eaten by caterpillars
No more cauliflowers for me. You’re so brave to try them!

]]> By: Patientgardener http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/planting/planting-cauliflowers/#comment-38386 Patientgardener Sat, 26 Apr 2008 20:38:13 +0000 http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/?p=317#comment-38386 Hi - I have left you something on my blog The Patient Gardener - enjoy Hi – I have left you something on my blog The Patient Gardener – enjoy

]]> By: easygardener http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/planting/planting-cauliflowers/#comment-38385 easygardener Sat, 26 Apr 2008 18:34:28 +0000 http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/?p=317#comment-38385 I gave upon cauliflowers years ago. As you say they can be difficult to grow and I never did well. Which is a shame as I like cauliflower. I think a light soil and a club root problem were the final nails in the coffin. I gave upon cauliflowers years ago. As you say they can be difficult to grow and I never did well. Which is a shame as I like cauliflower. I think a light soil and a club root problem were the final nails in the coffin.

]]> By: mtp http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/planting/planting-cauliflowers/#comment-38384 mtp Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:46:58 +0000 http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/?p=317#comment-38384 Hi Colin, I guess it would make sense that if the farmer uses chemicals then it would somehow make its way into the manure. However, I'm no expert on this. There are some good alternatives to manure. Pelleted chicken manure is easier to use (although may have the same issues as horse and pig manure). As you mention you could try green manures. I usually sow some green manure at the end of the growing season when I have some empty beds. The winter weather helps to break down the greens once I dig them in. I use Mustard for my green manure as I find it easiest to dig in afterwards but there are others you can try like Clover, Alfalfa and Winter Tares. Although, I have heard some stories that some green manures are a bit difficult to get rid of once you've sown them - particularly Winter Tares. Regards the rabbit droppings: I have never used them myself but I think they are perfect for fertilizing a garden. This website http://www.threelittleladiesrabbitry.com/fertilizer.php seems to think that they are the only manure that you can put straight on your garden without composting or rotting first. Hi Colin,

I guess it would make sense that if the farmer uses chemicals then it would somehow make its way into the manure. However, I’m no expert on this.

There are some good alternatives to manure. Pelleted chicken manure is easier to use (although may have the same issues as horse and pig manure).

As you mention you could try green manures. I usually sow some green manure at the end of the growing season when I have some empty beds. The winter weather helps to break down the greens once I dig them in. I use Mustard for my green manure as I find it easiest to dig in afterwards but there are others you can try like Clover, Alfalfa and Winter Tares. Although, I have heard some stories that some green manures are a bit difficult to get rid of once you’ve sown them – particularly Winter Tares.

Regards the rabbit droppings: I have never used them myself but I think they are perfect for fertilizing a garden. This website http://www.threelittleladiesrabbitry.com/fertilizer.php seems to think that they are the only manure that you can put straight on your garden without composting or rotting first.

]]> By: mtp http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/planting/planting-cauliflowers/#comment-38383 mtp Sat, 26 Apr 2008 09:39:19 +0000 http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/?p=317#comment-38383 Hi Ethan, What's BT spray? Hi Ethan,
What’s BT spray?

]]> By: Mrs Be http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/planting/planting-cauliflowers/#comment-38379 Mrs Be Fri, 25 Apr 2008 20:40:24 +0000 http://www.mytinyplot.co.uk/?p=317#comment-38379 Ooh, I am so glad that cauliflowers are the only veg that I don't like after reading that! Ooh, I am so glad that cauliflowers are the only veg that I don’t like after reading that!

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