Dorothy Elizabeth Werenfrid

Thanks for that. I only ever grow winter cropping cauliflowers as I am pestered by Cabbage White Butterfly, plus at that time of year I have lots of beans and peas etc. I usually grow one of the Walderschan (sp) winter hardy types or All year Round.

Adam Klaus wrote:I have gone both ways, but now plant on leaf days. Why? One of my biggest problems with both broccoli and cauli is premature heading (bolting). In contrast, I have never had a plant grow a large robust set of leaves and then fail to produce a head. So I figure that promoting a good leaf growth, descending energy, is a good idea for a healthy plant that runs its full life cycle before ultimately heading up. Additionally, we dont really want the broccoli or cauli to flower. We just want it to head up as big as it can without actually opening flowers. So it is more of a vegetative (leaf/root) quality we are looking for, not a reproductive one (flower/fruit). At this point in my experience, I would rather plant on a root day than a flower day for that reason, with leaf days being my ultimate preference.

Thanks for that - I always used to plant on flower days, but last season decided to try leaf days. Of course it is difficult to make a decision as to which was best owing to the terrible year, though I did feel the cauliflowers were smaller than normal - but there again they might have "held" longer. Think I shall go for leaf days again this year.

Many thanks for the swift reply

Hi all - I love my garden, fruits, flowers, and veg. Though a bit arthritic now which limits much of what I can achieve.

Used to keep larger farm animals, but now down to poultry and a couple of household pets.

I wasn't a brilliant beekeeper but got up to 8 hives from one lured swarm till they were sprayed off one spring a few years ago - won't try again till folk get more sensible. One old hive in thickish woodland undergrowth survived though much weakened and now is left as feral

Try to follow Maria Thun's planting calendar and use lots of compost and rotted muck, basically no dig on deep bed system started about 25 years ago. Still struggling against slugs, pigeons, voles etc, though sorted major rabbit problem some years ago.

Looking forward to learning and sharing. Glad I found you

Which days have you found best for producing Cauliflower and Broccoli types? Leaf or Flower?