|
Newbie question
Can someone advise please?
This year I grew veg for the first time. On the whole it's been very successful, but I'm puzzled by my cauliflower and my broccoli. To be honest, I can't recall when I planted them, but they were grown from healthy seedlings purchased from the local garden centre. Must have been 6 months ago. Anyway, the cauli and broccoli have all grown into sturdy plants but there's no sign of anything that I'd recognise as a cauliflower or a head of broccoli. Have I missed the boat? We're now coming up to mid-winter, and despite the cold and the frost, the plants are still proudly green and determined, and have been for weeks (if not months). But that's it. Nothing more has happened. Do I still have a chance of seeing a cauli or some broccoli popping up? Thanks! Clarissa |
Newbie question
The message
from "Clarissa" contains these words: Anyway, the cauli and broccoli have all grown into sturdy plants but there's no sign of anything that I'd recognise as a cauliflower or a head of broccoli. Have I missed the boat? We're now coming up to mid-winter, and despite the cold and the frost, the plants are still proudly green and determined, and have been for weeks (if not months). But that's it. Nothing more has happened. Do I still have a chance of seeing a cauli or some broccoli popping up? I don't expect you will see a cauli. Any setback to a cauli is likely to result in a tiny flower. Transplanting a seedling amounts to a setback. Cauliflower seeds should (ideally) be planted in the position they are to be grown, though you can plant them in pots and (carefully) knock them out of the pots and plant them, complete with undisturbed potting compost. Caulis like a very rich soil, and will tolerate, enjoy even, their feet in fresh muck. I can't comment on the broccoli - I've grown it, but I treated it as for cauliflowers, and the rabbits had them before they were half grown. -- Rusty Hinge http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/tqt.htm Dark thoughts about the Wumpus concerto played with piano, iron bar and two sledge hammers. (Wumpus, 15/11/03) |
Newbie question
Sigh.
How very disappointing. The plants are strong and leafy and green; just no damn edible bit. They were ravaged by cabbage whites in the summer. Perhaps that's what did for them? C "Jaques d'Alltrades" wrote in message ... The message from "Clarissa" contains these words: Anyway, the cauli and broccoli have all grown into sturdy plants but there's no sign of anything that I'd recognise as a cauliflower or a head of broccoli. Have I missed the boat? We're now coming up to mid-winter, and despite the cold and the frost, the plants are still proudly green and determined, and have been for weeks (if not months). But that's it. Nothing more has happened. Do I still have a chance of seeing a cauli or some broccoli popping up? I don't expect you will see a cauli. Any setback to a cauli is likely to result in a tiny flower. Transplanting a seedling amounts to a setback. Cauliflower seeds should (ideally) be planted in the position they are to be grown, though you can plant them in pots and (carefully) knock them out of the pots and plant them, complete with undisturbed potting compost. Caulis like a very rich soil, and will tolerate, enjoy even, their feet in fresh muck. I can't comment on the broccoli - I've grown it, but I treated it as for cauliflowers, and the rabbits had them before they were half grown. -- Rusty Hinge http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/tqt.htm Dark thoughts about the Wumpus concerto played with piano, iron bar and two sledge hammers. (Wumpus, 15/11/03) |
Newbie question
In article , Clarissa
writes Sigh. How very disappointing. The plants are strong and leafy and green; just no damn edible bit. The green bits are edible! Leave them for the time being, and if come spring they're not doing anything, use the green bits as cabbage. -- Kay Easton Edward's earthworm page: http://www.scarboro.demon.co.uk/edward/index.htm |
Newbie question
In article , Kay Easton writes: | In article , Clarissa | writes | Sigh. | | How very disappointing. The plants are strong and leafy and green; just no | damn edible bit. | | The green bits are edible! Leave them for the time being, and if come | spring they're not doing anything, use the green bits as cabbage. Also remember that traditional broccoli doesn't produce shoots until spring, anyway. It is particularly valued because it produces at a time there is precious little else in the garden - depending on area and year, from January to May. But don't despair about cauliflower, either. It won't head, but there is no reason not to use any flower shoots as broccoli. And, as Kay says, young leaves as kale/cabbage - they are more nutritious than the heads, too :-) Regards, Nick Maclaren. |
Newbie question
But don't despair about cauliflower, either. It won't head, but there is no reason not to use any flower shoots as broccoli. And, as Kay says, young leaves as kale/cabbage - they are more nutritious than the heads, too :-) Regards, Nick Maclaren. Thanks for the advice, everyone. I'll hang on in there, and see what happens. |
Newbie question
"Clarissa" wrote in message ... Can someone advise please? This year I grew veg for the first time. On the whole it's been very successful, but I'm puzzled by my cauliflower and my broccoli. To be honest, I can't recall when I planted them, but they were grown from healthy seedlings purchased from the local garden centre. Must have been 6 months ago. I doubt you will see anything much from the cauliflower but the broccoli might sprout in spring, buying seedlings is not the best way to grow either as for one thing they are stressed by being transplanted but also because of the possibility of importing clubroot. Much better to grow from seed. -- Chris Thomas West Cork Ireland |
Newbie question
"Clarissa" wrote in message ... Can someone advise please? This year I grew veg for the first time. On the whole it's been very successful, but I'm puzzled by my cauliflower and my broccoli. To be honest, I can't recall when I planted them, but they were grown from healthy seedlings purchased from the local garden centre. Must have been 6 months ago. I doubt you will see anything much from the cauliflower but the broccoli might sprout in spring, buying seedlings is not the best way to grow either as for one thing they are stressed by being transplanted but also because of the possibility of importing clubroot. Much better to grow from seed. -- Chris Thomas West Cork Ireland |
Newbie question
The message
from "Clarissa" contains these words: Sigh. How very disappointing. The plants are strong and leafy and green; just no damn edible bit. They were ravaged by cabbage whites in the summer. Perhaps that's what did for them? C I tried Cauli`s this year with no joy at all. I`m not even going to bother next year. Supposed to be one of the hardest things to grow successfully. |
Newbie question
The message
from "Clarissa" contains these words: Sigh. How very disappointing. The plants are strong and leafy and green; just no damn edible bit. They were ravaged by cabbage whites in the summer. Perhaps that's what did for them? C I tried Cauli`s this year with no joy at all. I`m not even going to bother next year. Supposed to be one of the hardest things to grow successfully. |
Newbie question
"Clarissa" wrote in message Can someone advise please? This year I grew veg for the first time. On the whole it's been very successful, but I'm puzzled by my cauliflower and my broccoli. To be honest, I can't recall when I planted them, but they were grown from healthy seedlings purchased from the local garden centre. Must have been 6 months ago. Anyway, the cauli and broccoli have all grown into sturdy plants but there's no sign of anything that I'd recognise as a cauliflower or a head of broccoli. Have I missed the boat? We're now coming up to mid-winter, and despite the cold and the frost, the plants are still proudly green and determined, and have been for weeks (if not months). But that's it. Nothing more has happened. Do I still have a chance of seeing a cauli or some broccoli popping up? It depends on what variety they are. My summer/autumn cauliflowers have only just finished producing heads (ate the last yesterday), as due to the very long hot/dry summer they were at least two months late starting cropping. My spring caulies, planted at about the same time, are beginning to twist their top leaves, which is a good sign, but haven't produced any heads yet and shouldn't until about March/April. Yours could be the same. So if they look healthy, keep them tidy but otherwise leave well alone, you may yet get a good crop.The late autumn/spring Caulies are the best, no pests around so you get perfect clean curds like a supermarket but without the sprays. As for the broccoli, we have had it do all sorts of things over the years but it invariably produces something worthwhile, so as with the caulies, leave them and see, you can always pull them up later. -- Regards Bob Use a useful Screen Saver... http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/ and find intelligent life amongst the stars 346 data units completed. |
Newbie question
"Christopher wrote in message Sigh. How very disappointing. The plants are strong and leafy and green; just no damn edible bit. They were ravaged by cabbage whites in the summer. Perhaps that's what did for them? C I tried Cauli`s this year with no joy at all. I`m not even going to bother next year. Supposed to be one of the hardest things to grow successfully. Yes, I've heard that said but not found it myself. Swedes are very much harder to grow here, some say impossible. Try growing the early spring cropping ones like Walcheren Winter Armardo April or similar and see what you get. -- Regards Bob Use a useful Screen Saver... http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/ and find intelligent life amongst the stars 346 data units completed. |
Newbie question
"Cerumen" wrote in message This year I grew veg for the first time. On the whole it's been very successful, but I'm puzzled by my cauliflower and my broccoli. To be honest, I can't recall when I planted them, but they were grown from healthy seedlings purchased from the local garden centre. Must have been 6 months ago. I doubt you will see anything much from the cauliflower but the broccoli might sprout in spring, buying seedlings is not the best way to grow either as for one thing they are stressed by being transplanted but also because of the possibility of importing clubroot. Much better to grow from seed. -- I grow all our brassicas from seed but all in rootrainers for transplanting as if I planted in situ or seed bed we wouldn't get anything after the Flea Beetle had done it's worst. Can't imagine you are likely to import clubroot from nursery grown brassicas as it's soil born and they normally use clean compost, more likely to get it from a friend giving you some plants from a seed bed. -- Regards Bob Use a useful Screen Saver... http://setiathome.ssl.berkeley.edu/ and find intelligent life amongst the stars 346 data units completed. |
Newbie question
The message
from Christopher Norton contains these words: I tried Cauli`s this year with no joy at all. I`m not even going to bother next year. Supposed to be one of the hardest things to grow successfully. Dead easy, I found them. I cleared a patch of grass, dug in several bags of (fresh) stable manure, raked the top and planted the seeds. Kept them well watered, and a lovely crop of caulis resulted. -- Rusty Hinge http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/hi-fi/tqt.htm Dark thoughts about the Wumpus concerto played with piano, iron bar and two sledge hammers. (Wumpus, 15/11/03) |
Newbie question
"Bob Hobden" wrote in message ... It depends on what variety they are. My summer/autumn cauliflowers have only just finished producing heads (ate the last yesterday), as due to the very long hot/dry summer they were at least two months late starting cropping. My spring caulies, planted at about the same time, are beginning to twist their top leaves, which is a good sign, but haven't produced any heads yet and shouldn't until about March/April. Yours could be the same. So if they look healthy, keep them tidy but otherwise leave well alone, you may yet get a good crop.The late autumn/spring Caulies are the best, no pests around so you get perfect clean curds like a supermarket but without the sprays. As for the broccoli, we have had it do all sorts of things over the years but it invariably produces something worthwhile, so as with the caulies, leave them and see, you can always pull them up later. -- Regards Bob Thanks Bob, that's reassuring. I'll sit on them for a few months.... |
All times are GMT +1. The time now is 06:59 PM. |
|
Powered by vBulletin® Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
GardenBanter