Romanesco Cauli - how big before harvesting?

[Seahorse]

I have a afew of these doing quite nicely The biggest are about the size of a large fist. Will they be edible? Or should I leave tham a bit longer?

Claire

[Two_Sheds]

Eat em up!
Mine went all funny, with leaves growing out between the florets, it didn't look at all appetising.

[rustylady]

They can get quite large, but a lot depends on the spacing. They are perfectly edible at a small size, so I would go for it if I were you.

[Seahorse]

Thanks! I shall tuck in then

Claire

[wellie]

Even if I'm too late and you've already harvested Seahorse, I have never yet managed to grow them bigger than fist-size, if that's any consolation (!) and they've always tasted just gorgeous, and yours' will too.
Coincidentally, here in France, I wanted The Scareys to experience Romanesco, so bought one to include in one of the dinners I cooked for them, and it was the mankiest, mouldiest, limpest specimen of a vegetable that I've experienced in a long time.....
Roll on 'Growing Your Very Own' and as much Self-Sufficiency as you can physically manage, is my up and coming motto after THAT disappointing experience....

[Seahorse]

I have just eaten my very first one I added it to supermarket cauli and spuds with homemade cheese sauce to make a gratin. It definitely had more flavour and crunch than shop bought (although my children were suitably horrified by the two huge caterpillars we found in it - thankfully before cooking and eating ).

Claire

[stigoftheplot]

I grew a few just to see what they were like. My boy cant get enough & my eldest 'extra fussy' will have the odd floret. Thats a success in my book- getting her to eat any new veg is! I have had ones any size between fist size & small cauli size. The only difference being there's less to go round with the small ones. I've also had a couple of blind ones (a friend had most of hers blind) and a few deformed ones like twosheds. I think it must be something to do with the breeding program!As to the caterpillars, I now spray everything regularly with strong garlic water- apparently the butterflies taste with their feet so dont like my garlic flavour plants & go to the neighbours plot instead. This year I've had hardly any of the little green blighters!

[Seahorse]

I hadn't heard of garlic water to reply insects! Does it flavour your crops (I guess not!).

Claire

[stigoftheplot]

No it leaves no taste at all (and my lot would detect the slightest!) I would say you have to re-apply regularly though. Its not 100% but nothing is in this world & so long as it does the worst of it I'm happy.

[Seahorse]

Sounds good to me! TY!

[Lizzy]

I have grown Romanesco for the first time this year, they are still small at the moment, I have well wrapped them in fleece, hoping to try some soon.