Succeed With Cauliflowers

Cauliflowers have a reputation for being a challenge, but persevere and they can be a highly rewarding – and tasty – veg to grow, says KG editor, Steve Ott

- Steve Ott

The weather can affect any fruit or veg crop – we all know that what grows well in one season may be poor the next. This year hot weather in some parts of the UK meant that it was the turn of cauliflower crops to fail in some important veg growing areas, such as Lincolnshire. However, as is also the norm, not everywhere was affected and some gardeners reported great crops. So what do you have to do to improve your chances of a good crop of delicious heads year after year despite what the weather may throw at you? By choosing the right variety you can be harvesting caulis for much of the year – certainly from the end of February and on into December. If you live in the south and struggle with the higher temperatures our changing summers seem to be throwing at us on a more regular basis, it follows that it may be better to stick to winter and autumn maturing varieties, rather than the summer types. This may reduce the effects of heat and dryness, which are bolting (premature flowering) and scorched, discoloured curds.

PREPARING YOUR SOIL

Like all brassicas, this crop likes fertile, humus-rich and firm soil in a reasonably sunny spot, although summer crops may benefit from the shading effect of nearby crops such as beans or sweetcorn.