Topic: cauliflower's leaves

[trinity]

I have been told that I should break or cut the large outer leaves in half when the curd (think that's the word for the middle bit )  starts to grow on my cauliflower's
what would this be for ???
and more importantly should i do it ???

[keef]

I've never heard of doing that...If you are going to do it make sure to leave any leaves that cover the curd - else if we get some hot sun it'll go brown...

[tim]

I've always wondered why something like brown paper wouldn' t do the same? Or ventile black material??

[cambourne7]

yep dont snap it off just break the spine (keeps the leaf alive and feeding the plant) so it beds over and use some thick weed or bamboo to hold it into place. This makes the curd white and stops the birds pecking at it.

[Fork]

I have been told that I should break or cut the large outer leaves in half when the curd (think that's the word for the middle bit )  starts to grow on my cauliflower's
what would this be for ???
and more importantly should i do it ???

Dont cut, just bend the big outer leaves over the forming curd to stop the sun turning them yellow.

[davyw1]

I agree with fork just pull them together and tie some string round to keep the sun off.

[RSJK]

Complete waste of time, do you ever see farmers bending the leaves over ?

[Ishard]

and when you harvest the cauli's you can eat the leaves too  ;)

[trinity]

 :) thank you all for your answers
 the gentleman who told me had a stroke last year and finds it difficult to talk so i did not want to ask him to repeat himself as he gets embarrassed and as i have a hearing problem i find it hard most of the time to understand him.