My second attempt at spring cabbages and was going so well with plenty leafy growth. This past week they are all starting to go to seed before hearting up. Not happy at all. Variety is Durham Early. Any suggestions as to why or is this variety prone to bolting to seed?
It could be due to various reasons...but..have you added any feed to your cabbages? To get them produce plenty of growth you need to feed them late winter/early spring. As for the flowering..if the growth get checked for any reason..like lack of water, lack of feed,unsually warm spring..all those reasons may send 'message' to start producing seeds.
If it's any consolation most of my spring cabbages have gone to seed too, or at least they tried to - those tender offenham shoots were delicious! :)
I agree with goodlife about the conditions they experience determines how they grow. March was very warm this year wasn't it?
Just goes to show every year is different bringing new challenges or in this case disappointments.
Mine purple spring cabbages are Heading for seeds as well.
It's the first time I grow them but I guess it's because the warm March.
I had the same problem a few years ago so stopped growing them and went onto Spring Hero.
I now dont set my seed away till August and since doing this i have been getting good results
I put it down to climate change
Yep - two Durham Early types survived for me and i noticed yesterday one was going to flower, Dug it up, cooked it, already eaten :)
Think it is the mild dry spring, they prefer more water methinks. I did give them a few fertilizer pellets a couple of weeks back...
My couve tronchuda were all going to seed last autumn. I think that was probably the drought.
Sadly, I don't have spring cabbages this year, but I see that my neighbours cabbages, usually perfect, are now reaching for the sky.
Strange weather. But of course they are perfectly edible as spring greens and shoots.