Allotments 4 All

Anyone know why this has happened? it happened last year as well.

We've just got pink cauliflower with our box scheme - we'd assumed it was varietal.

I believe this is just a reaction to growing temperature - in colder temperatures some cauliflowers have a pinkish/purplish colour to the curd, also when exposed to light the curd can colour this way. Not all do it.

Is that why you are supposed to bend the leaves over the curd?  I have done it but couldn't remember why, I must have read it somewhere.

Most probably. However, I am speaking as an 'cauliflower expert' who only ever managed to grow 2 good cauliflowers when I forgot they were there, the weeds grew up around them and I discovered them when cutting weeds down.  ;)

Quote from: AndrewB on August 23, 2005, 21:43:10
Is that why you are supposed to bend the leaves over the curd? I have done it but couldn't remember why, I must have read it somewhere.

As jenny mentions pinking in cauliflower, which is excess production of the anthocyanin pigment, is caused by low temperatures. Bending leaves over the curd will help prevent the curd taking on an unattractive brown hue.

Hi John, haven't seen you around for a while!