Cauli question

[mrgrower]

Ok my caulis have started heading up and a few weeks back one of the garden club said when they start to head up I must put black plastic over the head but this makes no sence to me can anyone shed some light on this before I start covering every cauli.

Thanks

[rustylady]

No, do not use black plastic.

The idea is to keep the light off the curds to keep them white, old gardeners used to bend the leaves over inwards to do this, but I don't think there's really any need.

Plastic will make the plants sweat and rot.

[mrgrower]

Oh right so Cauli isn't naturally white???

[veggiechicken]

Its a sort of yellowy/cream colour. Wrapping the leaves over the curds keep the light away and stops them yellowing. You could experiment by covering one half of the head with leaves and leaving the other half exposed.........go on, I want you to

[rustylady]

It's naturally a sort of creamy white - can go a bit yellow in strong sunlight.

Unless of course you are growing one of the coloured varieties http://www.google.co.uk/imgres?imgur...9QEwAg&dur=979

[mrgrower]

You learn something new every day cool pictures I want to grow some as for experimenting I may just try it

[treepixie]

Im going to have a go at the purple ones next year

[Alison]

I grow some purple ones although they do fade on cooking which is a shame.

[Jamesy_uk]

Yes I found coloured veg that retain the colouring are fairly rare, I tried French beans, Mange tout and Calabrese and they all lost colour ;/

[dawnh]

I always tie the leaves around the head. Just make sure that there's not any slugs or caterpillars in there before you do :-) And check every few days!