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Normally I have huge cauliflowers by next month, but I've just been out and noticed that they are nearly all flowering at tennis ball size. Most upset.
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Granny on the Game in Sheffield -
Ther's always next year Mrs <<Hugs>> -
I had one at tennis ball size, the rest were only 1inch *sob* sob*
Looks as if I'll be trying again next year
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Oh dear, sorry to hear that Thelma. You see, I should have known there would be someone worse off. We'll both be trying again. Thanks for the hug AP.Granny on the Game in SheffieldComment
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mine were huge! some of them had even bolted and split into two, the size of a head each
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If you don't give them the right conditions they do tend to sulk and refuse to come out to play. What caulies need is a lot of water once the heads start to form and it's been a funny year this year.
I'm lucky in having a fairly heavy soil which is slightly alkaline...perfect for brassicas and I've had excellent crops this year with caulies averaging about 2 lbs per head and cabbages around 4 lbs. A tip I did learn was to sprinkle pelleted chicken manure into the planting hole and it gets them off to a flying start. Certainly worked for me this year. Sorry, no pic of a cauliflower so I'm giving you a cabbage instead!
see what I've been up to at:
the recycled gardenerComment
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I've had one good cauli this year. The rest either bolted or came to nothing. However, the old boy in the next allotment said that I was lucky as he and his other neighbour hadn't been successful growing them for years. I wonder if I need more lime in the soil.Comment
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Thanks for that idea - so far I have had 2 caulis that were slightly larger than tennis balls! The others bolted once they had reached the golf ball stage - I'm with FF on this one - really disappointing as after beans and beetroot they are my fave veg.A tip I did learn was to sprinkle pelleted chicken manure into the planting hole and it gets them off to a flying start.Comment
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I don't grow summer brassicas much so my cabbages and caulis are way behind for winter use but I'm not holding out that much hope for the caulis, last year they ended up being wiped out in the snow and not producing even tennis ball sized heads in spring
Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.
Which one are you and is it how you want to be?Comment
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Me too - earlier ones were fabulous but second planting are tennis ball sized before starting to brow - you need one each for dinner!Comment
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I tried caulis for two years now and so far have had a grand total of zero.
Will I give it another go next or try someting else???
Onlt time will tell.Sometimes you just have to scratch that itch and get dirt under your finger nails.Comment
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I give up with brassicas in general,there are far too many things that want to eat them before I get a look in
although on the plus side the pigeon pie harvest has gone well this year 
now if I could find a market for slugs & caterpillars 
He who smiles in the face of adversity,has already decided who to blame
Artificial intelligence is no match for natural stupidity
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I'm only sad because it is so unusual for them to be small when I've grown them the same way for years. Hope the over-winter ones make a better show. I'm certainly not giving up, I like them too much for that!Granny on the Game in SheffieldComment
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Got any neighbours with chickens?Originally posted by bearded bloke View Postnow if I could find a market for slugs & caterpillarsComment
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I had a spell about 5 years ago where I never managed to raise a single cauli past seedling stage for 2 seasons.
I never had the problem before or since and I still don't know what caused it. Just brasicas I guess.
ColinPotty by name Potty by nature.
By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.
We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.
Aesop 620BC-560BC
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