[eryl]

How do i stop cauliflower from 'splitting' and broccoli from going to flower before they are useable?

[Fleecewife]

If you tell us your current growing methods perhaps we can identify where you are going wrong?

[eryl]

no hard and fast 'method' . Plant some in pots then transplant in the garden. Plant some straight into the garden, plant some in pots and transplant into polytunnel (later in the year), plant some straight into beds in the poly tunnel(again, later in the year). The only successful ones were the caulis that were put in pots and transplanted in the polytunnel.

[Fleecewife]

I have found that timing is absolutely essential - leave them in their pots a few extra days and that has a knock-on effect on subsequent growth.  Leave them in a couple of weeks too long and they may well not succeed at all.  Similarly, if you start the seeds in a tray, then pot them up very promptly at the 2 seedleaf plus two true leaf stage, with no check, and sow the seed sparingly so not crowded. I usually start mine in modules so there is no transplant check.


The pot size and the compost used will also have an effect - I use 4" pots and add a little extra FYM to the pot.
You need your plants to be growing very strongly, with no check from forgetting to water one day, and no check to root growth by the pots being too small.  Also no check from a big temp difference when planting out.  Ideally cauliflowers need a totally smooth growing pattern with plenty of nutrients and plenty of space.


Where we are it's very cold so planting outside hasn't worked so far for me - in the tunnel with adequate space between plants gives the only useful result for us.


I haven't had splitting as a problem but when a head has failed to develop it has been because of one of the factors above. I don't grow heading broccoli, just the winter sprouting kind which is usually problem free.


Perhaps try a different variety, or try a couple for comparison

[Terry T]

Hi there,
Bolting too early in Brassicas is usually caused by a temperature shock for  example planting out too soon.
Splitting is usually caused by excess water after the head has formed.
You might find changing varieties helps, some of the shorter cycling varieties might be more resilient. I use Calabrese Marathon and Cauli Boris and rarely have a problem.

[PK]

Agree with FW that any check to their development from sowing onwards is a big factor in cauliflowers bolting. Bear in mind that once the head fully develops it will start opening out. You can’t leave them in the ground like cabbage. To add to Terry’s recommendations White Excel is consistently good in my sandy soil.

[Anke]

.
 and Cauli Boris.

now I wonder where cauli "Boris" got its name from...