Allotments 4 All

The cauliflower plants that Sarah kindly sent me have all got through the winter so far in the cold frame, and have put on good growth - leaf and height.  I'm now wondering when I should plant them out - are they hardy and will survive the yet-to-come frosts?  Should I start hardening them off first?
First time I've grown them, so any advice (for now or later) will be much appreciated.
Cheers  :)

Hello elkebe, so pleased the perennial cauli are thriving! The old boy from whose plot they came has had his out all winter - they are completely hardy. But a few mild nights with the top off the cold frame would acclimatise them to mother nature. They should be completely hardy, like most of the brassica family. Remember to put them somewhere you won't mind them staying for, erm, three years or so ;D

Thanks for the quick relpy SS (and for the caulis  ;D ) - will start that tomorrow and then get them planted out.  Why does it have to be somewhere they'll be staying?  Aren't they included in the rotation?

Cos they are perennial and will last at least three years in the same spot! :o

Didn't know that  :)  Add it to the long, looooong list  ;D
If they're brassicas, doesn't clubroot figure into keeping them in one place for three years or so, or don't they get that?

I spoke to my old boy today, and this is more or less how he does it:
Crop rotation prevents buildup of viruses and soil pests e.g. club root. Viruses may or may not build up if things are planted in one place for several years. He's happy to plant the perennial cauli in healthy soil, and thinks there's little danger of club root affecting healthy growing plants (he's been growing these for 20+ years and not had a problem in other words ;D). Once he's dug them up, he won't use the soil for brassica for three years afterwards, as per his normal crop rotation.

Thanks SS - that's clear now  :)

i didn't know you could get perennial caulis! but then thinking about it aren't they growing wild in greece or something? so i suppose they would b perennial, or are most grown by setting seed in the wild? :-\

Speaking of cauli's...

I sowed some seeds which have germinated really quickly.

Did them in greenhouse in gentle heat.

Debs

I've just started reading the Beginner or Expert thread - and have just seen cauliflowers and lime in the same sentence.  Is there something I'm supposed to know  :( :( ??     (Oh - and 'beginner', clearly! ;D )