I sorely need help with caulies. I have never had a very good crop, this
year I planted some in the same bed as Summer Cabbage, the cabbages are
thriving, most of the caulies have died, those that are living can only
be described as runts. Can one of the many experts here help please?
What may I be doing wrong, or at least not right? I have some healthy
cauly plants ready to plant out, I would like to think those may do
well, with your help maybe they can.

"Broadback" wrote
>I sorely need help with caulies. I have never had a very good crop, this
>year I planted some in the same bed as Summer Cabbage, the cabbages are
>thriving, most of the caulies have died, those that are living can only be
>described as runts. Can one of the many experts here help please? What may
>I be doing wrong, or at least not right? I have some healthy cauly plants
>ready to plant out, I would like to think those may do well, with your help
>maybe they can.

If your Summer Cabbages are doing well and the Caulies next to them aren't,
that's rather strange.
Have you treated them differently? Cauliflowers always need a bit more TLC
than other Brassicas, they cannot stand being checked in growth, i.e. lack
of water, and will respond with a rubbish curd or none at all, but to
actually be dying before that stage !!?
Roughly where are you? What is your soil type? and soil pH?

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
17mls W. of London.UK

Bob Hobden wrote:
> "Broadback" wrote
>> I sorely need help with caulies. I have never had a very good crop, this
>> year I planted some in the same bed as Summer Cabbage, the cabbages are
>> thriving, most of the caulies have died, those that are living can only be
>> described as runts. Can one of the many experts here help please? What may
>> I be doing wrong, or at least not right? I have some healthy cauly plants
>> ready to plant out, I would like to think those may do well, with your help
>> maybe they can.
>
> If your Summer Cabbages are doing well and the Caulies next to them aren't,
> that's rather strange.
> Have you treated them differently? Cauliflowers always need a bit more TLC
> than other Brassicas, they cannot stand being checked in growth, i.e. lack
> of water, and will respond with a rubbish curd or none at all, but to
> actually be dying before that stage !!?
> Roughly where are you? What is your soil type? and soil pH?
>
I live in North Staffordshire, low lying land. The soil is imported,
treated in the Winter with lime. Both cabbages and Caulies were treated
the same, rotted horse muck put on the beds last year, growmore and
chicken pellets when I planted. I put covers over the soil around the
stalks to prevent root fly. Guess I will have to keep trying. I will
admit that I did not water them once they were established, nor were the
well growing Summer cabbage.

"Broadback" wrote after
> Bob Hobden replied:
>>
>> If your Summer Cabbages are doing well and the Caulies next to them
>> aren't, that's rather strange.
>> Have you treated them differently? Cauliflowers always need a bit more
>> TLC than other Brassicas, they cannot stand being checked in growth, i.e.
>> lack of water, and will respond with a rubbish curd or none at all, but
>> to actually be dying before that stage !!?
>> Roughly where are you? What is your soil type? and soil pH?
>>
> I live in North Staffordshire, low lying land. The soil is imported,
> treated in the Winter with lime. Both cabbages and Caulies were treated
> the same, rotted horse muck put on the beds last year, growmore and
> chicken pellets when I planted. I put covers over the soil around the
> stalks to prevent root fly. Guess I will have to keep trying. I will
> admit that I did not water them once they were established, nor were the
> well growing Summer cabbage.

I have found that when young the Cauliflowers do require more water to get
them growing well than the normally very hardy summer cabbages so that may
be your problem. Perhaps try a calabrese instead?
Have you tried the winter Cauliflowers? "Walcheren Winter Armardo April" or
similar will give you an excellent crop in spring without watering after the
young plants are established and no insect damage.

--
Regards
Bob Hobden
17mls W. of London.UK

Bob Hobden wrote:
> "Broadback" wrote after
>> Bob Hobden replied:
>>> If your Summer Cabbages are doing well and the Caulies next to them
>>> aren't, that's rather strange.
>>> Have you treated them differently? Cauliflowers always need a bit more
>>> TLC than other Brassicas, they cannot stand being checked in growth, i.e.
>>> lack of water, and will respond with a rubbish curd or none at all, but
>>> to actually be dying before that stage !!?
>>> Roughly where are you? What is your soil type? and soil pH?
>>>
>> I live in North Staffordshire, low lying land. The soil is imported,
>> treated in the Winter with lime. Both cabbages and Caulies were treated
>> the same, rotted horse muck put on the beds last year, growmore and
>> chicken pellets when I planted. I put covers over the soil around the
>> stalks to prevent root fly. Guess I will have to keep trying. I will
>> admit that I did not water them once they were established, nor were the
>> well growing Summer cabbage.
>
> I have found that when young the Cauliflowers do require more water to get
> them growing well than the normally very hardy summer cabbages so that may
> be your problem. Perhaps try a calabrese instead?
> Have you tried the winter Cauliflowers? "Walcheren Winter Armardo April" or
> similar will give you an excellent crop in spring without watering after the
> young plants are established and no insect damage.
>
Many thanks Bob, I'll try those.