Cauliflowers advice please

[Digeroo]

Well I sowed them and planted them out and they are nice stong plants.  So what do I need to do now to get a good nice head.  My biggest to date is about 2 inches.

I am watering,  I have applied blood fish and bone.  They are netted against the pigeons and deer.  I have given them a good talking too.  Is there anything else I can do?

[Digeroo]

[grannyjanny]

Pray  ;D ;D ;D.

[goodlife]

..and give them more water..and more food.. ::)
Cauli's are greedy..they do get upset easily if their growth is been slowed down..
so keep going with watering cans and you might think of giving them something more substantial than BFB..chicken pellets..those keep caulis 'bellies' full  ;) ;D
Other than that.. ::)...you are doing ok.. ;D

[Fork]

Cauliflowers do not like being "pot bound".They need to be planted out as soon as they are big enough to handle......otherwise the heads will be smaller than usual.....they also need plenty of space.....too close together and that will cause small heads too.

[Digeroo]

They have a good amount of manure as well as the BFB but I might try some more.  The interesting thing is that my sprouts are growing very well indeed but the caulis are not matching them.  Water is a huge problem we have only had one episode of real rain since easter and that is bow becoming a distant memory.  There is not a single drop in the forecast.

I do tend to plant too close together.  But had wonderful romanesco and red cauli last year.

I think that the praying might be the easiest option.

[kt.]

After about 3 months but before the head starts to form,  give them a booster feed with calcified seaweed or seaweed substitute.  Apply it around the base of the plant not actually on it.  This gives the necessary boost for the head to form productively.  Once the head does start to appear, don't allow the plant to dry our prior to harvest as this causes the head to bolt.  If it starts to bolt, then harvest small caulis rather than wait end up with none.

This apparently is the calcified seaweed replacement:
http://www.gardendirect.co.uk/calcified-seaweed-p-753

[Digeroo]

Not much seaweed available free but what about nettle or comfrey tea?  There are acres of those around the byways.