Cauliflower Trees

[journey11]

Hey Broke, I ran across this info last night while reading "Root Cellaring" by Mike and Nancy Bubel and I thought this might help you:

"Cauliflower: Start seedlings in May and keep them growing steadily. Give them plenty of shade and water at transplanting time. Well-limed soil is best. Cauliflower is--well, not neurotic, but sensitive. Any check in growth is likely to retard the plant to the point where it will produce only a button head or none at all. Self-Blanche is excellent for fall eating and, as the name implies, needs no blanching. Purple cauliflower doesn't need blanching either. Other varieties must be blanched. Tie the leaves over the head while the head is still small--about three inches across."

The part in bold I thought sounded most likely what happened to your cauliflower. Watering them into the hole at planting time, shade them as mentioned, and keep them steadily watered throughout the season (and mulch good once they're underway) and see if that doesn't help next year. Good luck!

 

[Broke Down Ranch]

Well, since we had so much rain and the temps really cooled down, the silly things are FINALLY making heads! As crazy as it is, I kinda like the cauliflower trees - they're kind of exotic and tropical looking

 

[lesa]

Isn't nature amazing!! You really are going to get cauliflower! This is perfect, if it gets too hot, they bolt fast. Enjoy!

 

[journey11]

nice!

 

[Greensage45]

Hi Broke,

Now that your heads are starting to form, you need to take the larger leaves and pull them up and over the top and use a clothespin and secure them together. This will prevent light from entering the bloom area.

If the head that is forming gets too much light it will begin to turn to bloom. The head will, instead, by shutting off the light, start to grow really big. Then it is a matter of judging when to cut the head for harvest. I have never been able to grow quite as big of a head as you can get in the grocery store, but pretty close.

Ron :watering