Grow Your Own Magazine

I planted "All year round " Cauli seeds a month or so ago to overwinter for spring in a cold frame . They grew really well so I potted them on into 8" pots. They are now getting really big. Should I plant them out on my plot with some protection. I didnt expect them to grow so fast.
Any advice gratefully recieved.

You've just reminded me I've got to sow mine this weekend! I would think an August sowing would be too advanced to withstand the winter? but must admit it's the first time I've grown them 'All Year Round' Lol

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

Was I too early then? I actually bought a couple of plants fron the garden centre, I coildnt resist & they are even larger. They look so lovely & healthy. What if I cover them with a large cloche of fleece? Havent grown them before.

Me too! I need to sow the AYR cauli seeds this weekend. Anyway I read from Real Seeds website that they don't sell Autumn sowing cauli because it's really not worth it...what taking far too long you might as well go for the ones sown in Spring. As disappointed as I was to hear this, I decided to go ahead anyway as a trial and find for myself what I like best.

Further winter project seeds just arrived today; Spring Greens (Vanguard) and Lettuce (Winter Density) and various lovely Oriental leaf stuffs but only Chinese Kale (Kailaan) and Choy Sum are possible for sowing now.

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Food for Free

Think I'll protect them then and see what happens like you as a trial seedling

Haven't got the seed packet with me but seem to remember it advocating September sowing for overwintering? Having said that, if they are in a greenhouse or polytunnel or covered with a cloche, an early sowing may give an early crop? If they don't form curds, you could always eat the leaves as a spring cabbage substitute!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

will let you know how they do. Thanks everyone

I'd definately be interested to hear how that one goes. This year is my first ever success with cauliflower. I'm happy with that - but if I could get winter ones - weeeell - I could give it a go.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

Sown a tray of AYR this morning as a result of reading this thread.

I've no idea where I'm going to plant 24 of them if they all germinate. Guess I'll think about that in Spring.

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Catch up with my daily doings at http://kaypeesplot.blogspot.com/ and http://kaypeeslottie.blogspot.com/

Hi
I've got three growing, plants given to me by our allotment sec so I should think he knows what he's doing... he's got them growing with only net for cover - he doesn't do fleece.
Sue

my All Year Round caulis have sprouted in the seed tray ... transplanting into plugs within the next few days ... got enough to experiment ... i'll have some of them in the ground under plastic cloche, some without cover, and some in the greenhouse in pots

Keep us updated FG, then I can see how mine are doing against yours.

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Catch up with my daily doings at http://kaypeesplot.blogspot.com/ and http://kaypeeslottie.blogspot.com/

will do mrskp!

Yeah, I fancy sticking a few brassicas in pots in the greenhouse over winter, hopefully for an early crop and secondly so the greenhouse doesn't look so bare!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

I have about 20 baby caulis in my veg plot, reading this thread maybe I should have kept them indoors until spring? Won't they stand the winter out there? I could pop my cold frame over them? (And I do mean babies, they're only an inch or two high with their first seed leaves, I sowed them directly into the bed!).

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Life may not be the party we hoped for but since we're here we might as well dance

What variety are they, Sue?

You can cloche them, yes, but not all types will be hardy enough, even then.

I was put off sowing late cauliflower (the winter type) in August by something I read - it said that they need to be a substantial plant to stand well over the winter. I went for spring cabbage instead.

I suspect that, forgetting the theory, success depends upon how strongly they grow now and how cold the winter. And I am afraid my crystal ball is rather cloudy today...

Sorry, should have said, they are Patriot caulis. Oh well, probably a case of live and learn by the deaths. They are in a fairly sheltered part of the garden, and Bucks tends to be fairly mild, but I'm really not hopeful now, substantial plants they are not!

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Life may not be the party we hoped for but since we're here we might as well dance

But there's still growing time. It's not winter yet, honest.

They are being mollycoddled and persuaded to grow a bit bigger and stronger before winter does arrive, I'll let you know what happens .....

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Life may not be the party we hoped for but since we're here we might as well dance