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| Hi all, This is only my second year really gardening and first year growing cauliflower and broccoli. I got a little of a late start with them (I think). They were started inside mid March and transplanted early April. They are all huge, but no heads to be seen. Is this normal? Thanks, |
Follow-Up Postings:
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- Posted by farmerdill 8a GA (My Page) on Wed, Jun 4, 14 at 15:14
| Yes if plants are growing normally. Variety is important and some varieties of both cauliflower and broccoli take a long time. As long as your summer temps don't get too high you should be ok. Here I have to grow quick maturing varieties as June and july are too hot for them to survive. |
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| Thanks for the quick reply! I guess I am just anxious to see them grow :-) Is there any chance that they just won't head? If so, what would cause that? |
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| Is there any chance they won't head? Yes. Cause: abnormal temp extremes - some varieties tolerate them more than others - and/or excess nitrogen feedings. The unusual weather patterns in much of the country - alternating periods of abnormally high temps followed by abnormally cold and vice versa - means that many of us won't get any or only very small heads this year. I hope your luck is better than mine appears to be this year. :) Excess nitrogen can also cause big huge healthy plants with minimal head formation. Dave |
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- Posted by farmerdill (My Page) on Wed, Jun 4, 14 at 16:09
Actually mine have done pretty well this year, but like I said earlier I use varieties with short DTM. There are lots of varieties I cannot grow successfully in spring. Cauliflower is finished now and broccoli in full harvest. should get a few cuttings of side shoots in June. Then they will all be tilled under for a crop of cowpeas.   |
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| We have had crazy weather...I will keep my fingers crossed that they aren't a total loss. How do I know if there is excess nitrogen? Soil test? What could remedy that? (sorry for all the questions, I am just getting my feet wet with all the gardening stuff) |
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| Farmerdill - Yours look great! I hope I get some that look that nice! I think I planted Calabrese Broccoli and Snowball Cauliflower --- not sure if those varieties are short or long for development. |
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| One usually knows if there's EXCESS nitrogen in their soil because it's usually the person fertilizing that adds too much. How have you fertilized and with what? I've had broccoli and especially cauli take forever to start heading and usually it was a hot spell that kicked them into gear. As long as the plants were big, I smiled...because I knew i was going to get some great heads. It's a bit easier to grow heading brassicas out here in the spring than a lot of the country though. I notice that once it starts to heat up in many parts of the country, it's pretty damn quick and it STAYS warm. Here --- it's a gradual warm up with an occasional hot spell lasting a few days. Heavy mulch will definitely help regulate those soil temps though. Kevin |
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| All that has been added to the soil was a little peat and a ton of compost at the start of the season (our natural soil here is pretty much just clay). The plants are really big, so im probably just being impaitent :-) |
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| Dang but those look good. I have had prize Waltham for broccoli the past 7 or 8 years but not this year. Will give give Arcadia a first try this fall unless you have a better recommendation. How do I know if there is excess nitrogen? What all did you amend your soil with before planting and fertilizers what have you been feeding them since planting? Dave |
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| "All that has been added to the soil was a little peat and a ton of compost at the start of the season (our natural soil here is pretty much just clay). " Sounds good to me. Kevin |
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| Yeah no problem there. I feared you might be hitting them heavy with Miracle Grow or something. |
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