All Year Round is all I've grown, and I've had variable results from them. I think the seed that I have left over from last year (19p Netto packs I think) is a poor batch - germination was ok but they didn't put any growth on and subsequently got thrown.
Anyhow, time for a change. Again, heavy soil, fertile but pretty well drained.
So what do you reckon guys and gals? What does best for you? :)
I have grown Snow Crown for the last couple of years, they are an early sown variety (March, indoors) and they have done well.
The only ones I do well with are "Purple Cape" for Winter use... not everybodies idea of a cauli though... :-\
Grow a lot of caulis cos my family love them. Trouble with caulis they wont stand once they are ready do I tend to grow 3 or 4 different ones through the year. So sowing for around 5 months to give progression. I can recommend the following which are F1s - Aviron, Beloti and others Igloo, Snow March but my favourite is Aarlsmere.
This may sound expensive but as I only grow what I intend to eat I am only sowing 3 or 4 seeds at a time so a packet of seeds can last a few seasons.
I have some Aarlsmere in... a neighbour gave me some for the sale (to prick out) and I had some left... :-X
I'm a fan of 'Shasta' after Jeannine kindly sent me a few seeds from Canada to try. I grow them for summer and overwinter use and they do really well on our clay soil. Also like Purple Cape as previously mentioned.
do't do many cauli, idol is a small, one meal type, mainly do romanesco and calabrese 'cos i can freeze them :)
I find Candid Charm & Snow Prince as good as any for an early variety.
Found this late one this year and I like it ! It is called Thompson F1
Basically if you go for any of the F1's you should be OK
(http://i222.photobucket.com/albums/dd27/tgalmanac/Nov%202009/P1110932.jpg)
Candid Charm have been the biggest and best caulis I have grown. They can be harvested from late Jun-Nov if sown in succession.
Candid Charm it is. £1.39 from ebay.
Thanks all.
I love Purple Cape too.
Very hardy and produces lovely heads with lots of extra (purple) flavour in Spring. Sometimes a few will miss the manure, start small and take an extra year - no problem.