Califlower planted with heads-remove them?

15 years ago

I have done broccoli and cabbage in the past. Knowing that cauliflower was in the same family I thought I would do fine. I have my BT on hand and figured we were good to go.

So my daughter wanted to try cauliflower this year because she likes it and it was at the plant sale. Of course I let them sit on the porch for a week or two before putting them in the ground. They didn't take any damage and they are fine in the garden. I have bird nets over them and have been meaning to spray BT but have also been checking for chew marks, which I have seen none yet. What I thought was interesting was they had tiny little head when I planted them. I wasn't really sure if they would go on to grow vegetatively or if the heads would grow also. A quick read looks like they were stressed into "button heads." Are these premature heads that will not grow any further? The plants get good sun and don't dry out but don't appear to be growing at all. Do I cut off the tiny heads so the plant will grow and put off side shoots? The site I looked at had a picture of a topped cauliflower with what looked like side shoots (like broccoli) but that is usually for a bumper crop. I also noticed one of the tiny heads looked like it was separating which is a sign that the head is passed prime harvest. So do I cut them off and see what the plants go on to do? Are they already doomed? I know, I should have read before buying but this isn't really addressed in "basic" growing info.

Wish I would have just bought broccoli or cabbage instead of trying something new. With BT in hand I could have had real good cole slaw this year. Maybe after this learning situation I can have all three and finally get my fill of veggies from the back yard instead of a snack.

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Comments (10)

macky77
15 years ago
The cauliflower has buttoned and should be pulled. I've never had cauliflower produce side shoots. Sorry, I know that's probably not the answer you were looking for!
farmerdill
15 years ago
Concur. cauliflower is a one shot plant. Once it buttoned that is all you are going to get.
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sfhellwig
Original Author
15 years ago
Man, I am having one heck of a season. The more I learn the worse I do. Bad part is I think the plants were already going that way when I bought them. Could have been the sitting on the porch, but the place I bought them is a lumber yard that has plants sales one month a year and have not been the happiest with their "stuff." I learned this year if I'm going to buy it, don't let it sit but I doubt that a week in partial shade ruined them, considering they could have sat out on a table for four weeks being neglected.

The little one will not be happy. I'm afraid no one in town will still have vegetables of this sort for sale. I guess the replacement hunt begins.

Oh, and that must have been Brussel Sprouts I saw a picture of.
gardenlen
15 years ago
we pull ours and tuck them roots up under the mulch, break them up into smaller bits helps, they beak down and feed the medium. if you have mulcher out them through that then add them under the mulch.

len

Here is a link that might be useful: lens garden page
macky77
15 years ago
Oh I know... it's even harder when the kids are looking forward to it. :( Some sort of wilt (I think) got to our tomatoes before they ever made it out to the cold frames this year. I destroyed all 32 of them and bleached everything they came in contact with. Our five-year-old was crushed. In our case, it was early enough to start new ones and our youngest (almost two) didn't notice. I have spare cauliflower starts this year; wish I could send them to you!
farmerdill
15 years ago
It happens all too often. I have been tempted to take pictures of whole flats of buttoned cauliflower and broccoli at local nurseries including Home Depot. They were still selling them. Unless nursery workers are very conscientious and few are, try to buy plants when they come in. They don't hold well for week or more on the shelf.
sfhellwig
Original Author
15 years ago
Yeah, I had real bad luck with my tomatoes and peppers last year and I attributed it to buying from all over the place. I told myself I would stick to more reputable sources but when it comes to broccoli and cauliflower, it's sort of take what you get. I guess this double emphasizes my adage for the year: "get out and work in the cold so your not put off by the wet and become the late."
wayne_5 zone 6a Central Indiana
15 years ago
Broccoli and cauliflower need to be set out in the garden while fairly small. I like to set out on day 22 to 25 from sowing the seed....they do very well that way. My broccoli and cabbage plants are huge and heading up huge.
Dan _Staley (5b Sunset 2B AHS 7)
15 years ago
and I attributed it to buying from all over the place.

Sowing your own seed ends this, and the setup is not that expensive.

Dan
sfhellwig
Original Author
15 years ago
My, this is quite the active forum. I was just stopping back in to say that one of the plants had not headed. So we will see what happens. Maybe an edible head yet this year. I think it is time to start spraying BT, it appears there are light spots on the leaves that lead to holes in the leaves in a few days. That is what I remember from broccoli and cabbage. The rest were replaced by a bundle of cilantro and tonight a habanero I needed a place for. Interesting exchange indeed.