All-leaf or tiny cauliflowers

point 6/27/2013, 2:08 pm

Two of my cauliflowers are all big leaves, with no flowers at all. They're surrounded by peppers, eggplants and chard. The others from the same flat are in the middle of an onion and garlic square and have small leaves, but they're growing flowers at long last.

Should I cut away some of the enormous leaves so that the flowers can grow in the leafy cauliflowers?

I checked companion planting guides, and I think it was OK to plant with any of the other vegetables.

But there it is; I've just got leaves on the one hand, tiny plants on the other.
What to do?

**camprn** 8/10/2013, 8:50 am

How are you cauliflower plants doing these days?

Generally speaking if a plant is all leaves and no flowers the growing medium is higher in nitrogen.

point 8/12/2013, 1:52 pm

Thanks for asking. Some of the flowers never got beyond a tight knot, and I think that's due to the garlic and onions in the rest of the square.

The cauliflowers that grew were not smooth round "curds", probably because I hadn't known to cover the center with the leaves. The flower was spiky and bitter, and the spikes were purple-green-and-cream colored. Next time, I'll underplant so that all that real estate can get a workout.

I'll have to find out how to doctor my MM, since I've also had yellowing leaves at the bottoms of some plants. I don't know which of that is normal aging or mineral deficiency.

Lots to learn.

**camprn** 8/12/2013, 2:24 pm

point wrote:

I'll have to find out how to doctor my MM, since I've also had yellowing leaves at the bottoms of some plants. I don't know which of that is normal aging or mineral deficiency.

Lots to learn.

After the harvest and autumn garden clean up, I typically add at least a wheelbarrow full of compost onto a 4' x 4' box and mix it in well. That way all is ready for me to go out in the spring and fluff it all up, add a little more compost as necessary and plant. Easy peasy!

If you plan on doing an autumn compost pile with raked and shredded leaves and any saved grass clippings from the summer, I encourage you to find a local source of fresh manure to add to the pile. This will make it more likely to heat the pile and will make the resulting compost more nutritious for your garden next season.

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All-leaf or tiny cauliflowers

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