In My Seed Box For 2026 - Cauliflower

The life expectancy of cauliflower seed if kept in ideal conditions is 5 - 8 years. The saved to sow by date on most packs is only 2 years, I found one pack that was 4 years, Thus seeds should be viable but with a reducing germination rate each year for an additional 3 - 5 years beyond what it says on the pack. 

My History with Cauliflower is somewhat hit and miss, early on I had some really fantastic results but over the past years not so good. In 2022 I managed to get two really great looking cauliflowers after losing a lot of seedlings to the heatwave. 

In my seed box for 2026 are. 

Review of Seed Stock with Sow by date of 2020

White Step F1    - Thompson & Morgan  - 30 Seeds - £3.49 - Sow By 2020
Winter Aalsmeer - Thompson & Morgan - 50 Seeds - £2.49 - Sow By 2020

Review of Seed Stock with Sow by date of 2021

All Year Round   - Thompson & Morgan - 150 Seeds - £2.49 - Sow By 2021

Review of Seed Stock with Sow by date of 2022

Amsterdam F1    - Mr Fothergill's            -  25 Seeds - £ Mag - Sow by 2022

Sunset F1           - Marshalls                   -  15 Seeds - £2.29 - Sow by 2022

Review of Seed Stock with Sow by date of 2023

Orkney F1          - D.T.Brown                   -  30 Seeds - £2.59 - Sow by 2023

Zaragoza F1      - Dobies                          - 20 Seeds - £3.49 - Saved year ending 2021

Review of Seed Stock with Sow by date of 2025

De Purple F1     - Mr Fothergills               - 15 Seeds - £3.45 Sow by Dec 2025 

Cheesy F1         - Johnsons                     - 50 Seeds - £2.00^ Sow by Dec 2025

Ameresco F1     - Suttons                        - 12 Seeds - £4.49 Sow By 2025

^ Bought in wilko 50% Seed Sale for £1

Review of Seed Stock with Sow by date of 2027

Fioretto               - Dobies                          - 10 Seeds - £3.99 - Saved year ending 2024

Sowing Times vary for each variety

                                Indoors      Outside     Plant Out     Harvest 
All Year Round    - Feb - May   Mar-Jun                        Jun - Sep 
Amsterdam F1    - Mar - May     June          June          Oct - Jan

De purple F1       - Feb - Mar   Mar-Jun                        Jun - Oct
Fioretto                -                   Mar - Jun                       Aug - Nov

Orkney F1           - Jan - Feb                       5 leaves     May - July

Orkney F1           - Sep - Oct                       5 leaves     May - July

Sunset F1           - Feb - Apr    Apr - May                       Aug - Oct 

White Step F1     -                    May - June                    Aug - Nov
Winter Aalsmeer -                    My - Mid Jun                  April

Sowing Plan

Jan - Orkney F1

Feb -  All Year Round

Feb - De Purple F1

Feb - Sunset F1

Feb - Zargoza F1  

Mar - Amsterdam F1

Mar - Andromeda 

Mar - Fioretto

Apr - All Year Round

May - Winter Aalsmeer         

In My Seed Box For 2026 - Index

Dobies - Cauliflower Fioretto

Dobies have sent me a pack of a delicious alternative to standard cauliflower, that is more tender, sweeter and nuttier that has been added to their catalogue for 2024 called Cauliflower 'Fioretto 75' that cost £3.99 for a pack with an average contents of 10 seeds.

Instead of forming a dense head, this stick-type cauliflower develops lots of small florets on long, thin stems. The tender, crisp florets make a versatile ingredient. ‘Fioretto 75’ can be eaten raw in salads, gently steamed, roasted, pickled or stir-fried. 

It makes a lovely accompaniment to purple sprouting broccoli. This fast-growing, hybrid variety works well in small spaces, is more heat-tolerant than traditional cauliflower and only takes around 60-65 days to mature. Sweet and succulent, even fussy kids will enjoy Cauliflower 'Fioretto 75'. 

Height: 45cm (18in). Spread: 60cm (24in).

Again the sowing instructions on the pack do not tie up with the graphic from the web site (above) The pack says Sow May to June, and Harvest is August to November !!!! One has to ask does the web master actually look at the packs of seeds before he puts the web pages together? 

Sowing Instructions & Aftercare Instructions also missing from the web site

Sowing Instructions 

Direct sow outdoors into a well-prepared seedbed for transplanting to their final positions later on. Sow at a depth of 1cm (1/2") at a distance of 30cm (12") between rows.

Plants can be transplanted to their final positions approximately 5 weeks from sowing. Alternatively, sow indoors at a depth of 1cm (1/2") in trays of free-draining, seed compost. Place in a propagator or sealed container inside a plastic bag at a temperature of 21C (70F)

Germination takes 4 - 7 days 

Aftercare Instructions 

Transplant seedlings into 7.5cm (3") pots and grow plants on in cooler conditions until the risk of frost has passed and plants are large enough to be transplanted outside at 60cm (24") spacings.  

In My Seed Box For 2023 - Cauliflower

 

The life expectancy of cauliflower seed if kept in ideal conditions is 5 - 8 years. The saved to sow by date on most packs is only 2 years, I found one pack that was 4 years, Thus seeds should be viable but with a reducing germination rate each year for an additional 3 - 5 years beyond what it says on the pack. 

My History with Cauliflower is somewhat checkered, early on I had some really fantastic results but over the past years not so good. In 2022 I managed to get two really great looking cauliflowers after losing a lot of seedlings to the heatwave. 

In my seed box for 2023 are. 

Review of Seed Stock with Sow by date of 2020

White Step F1    - Thompson & Morgan  - 30 Seeds - £3.49 - Sow By 2020
Winter Aalsmeer - Thompson & Morgan - 50 Seeds - £2.49 - Sow By 2020

Review of Seed Stock with Sow by date of 2021

All Year Round   - Thompson & Morgan - 150 Seeds - £2.49 - Sow By 2021

Review of Seed Stock with Sow by date of 2022

Amsterdam F1    - Mr Fothergill's            -  25 Seeds - £ Mag - Sow by 2022

Sunset F1           - Marshalls                   -  15 Seeds - £2.29 - Sow by 2022

Review of Seed Stock with Sow by date of 2023

Orkney F1          - D.T.Brown                   -  30 Seeds - £2.59 - Sow by 2023

Zaragoza F1      - Dobies                          - 20 Seeds - £3.49 - Saved year ending 2021

Review of Seed Stock with Sow by date of 2025

De Purple F1     - Mr Fothergills               - 15 Seeds - £3.45 Sow by Dec 2025 

Cheesy F1         - Johnsons                     - 50 Seeds - £2.00^ Sow by Dec 2025

Ameresco F1     - Suttons                        - 12 Seeds - £4.49 Sow By 2025

^ Bought in wilko 50% Seed Sale for £1

Sowing Times vary for each variety

                                Indoors      Outside     Plant Out     Harvest 
All Year Round    - Feb - May   Mar-Jun                        Jun - Sep 
Amsterdam F1    - Mar - May     June          June          Oct - Jan

De purple F1       - Feb - Mar   Mar-Jun                        Jun - Oct
Orkney F1           - Jan - Feb                       5 leaves     May - July

Orkney F1           - Sep - Oct                       5 leaves     May - July

Sunset F1           - Feb - Apr    Apr - May                       Aug - Oct 

White Step F1     -                    May - June                    Aug - Nov
Winter Aalsmeer -                    My - Mid Jun                  April

Sowing Plan

Jan - Orkney F1

Feb -  All Year Round

Feb - De Purple F1

Feb - Sunset F1

Feb - Zargoza F1  

Mar - Amsterdam F1

Mar - Andromeda 

Apr - All Year Round

May - Winter Aalsmeer         

In My Seed Box For 2023 - Index

12 Cauliflower Depurple postiplugs

12 Cauliflower Depurple postiplugs from Suttons arrived today after having been in the mail system since dispatched 3 days ago on Tuesday. I must say the leaves look a little washed out but the plants look remarkably healthy for their journey during hot weather conditions. Cost £9.99 and Harvest during August.

They have been potted into vending machine cups and watered in, plus they have been in a water bath for half an hour and are now in the space Saver greenhouse overnight but will be brought indoors and out of direct sun light as it's a little harsh for baby brassicas at the moment in the Space Saver during the day.

Two 4ft x 4ft Square Foot Gardening blank weed membrane sheets cut out ready for covering the beds in Winter once they are free of produce.

Sowing Update

 

Eight days on from Sowing Spring Onions on the 5th August, here's how they are doing under the propagator lid, they have been out in the unheated greenhouse for the last 3 days after I saw that germination was happening. The lid will stay on for a few days more until I see more activity happening in some of the cups and then the lid can stay off. Another batch will be sown in a weeks time. 

6 of the 11 Cauliflower Andromeda sown on the 7th April, just six days ago are showing their heads above the soil. The propagator lid is on at the moment once a few more plants surface I will take the propagators lid off. At 11am today being overcast and cloudy the temperature in the unheated green house is between 19.2 and 21.7C with the door cracked open a little. 16C at the moment but anticipated to be 18C outside at 3pm when the sun breaks through. 

Four Brodie Brussels Sprouts showing at the moment also sown on the 7th April with the Cauliflower. 

The first batch of Brassica that survived the mini fools spring heat wave and were potted on into vending machine cups on the 9th April appear to be happy in their new larger pots. 

The grass in the back garden that was trimmed yesterday was gone over with the lawn mower today, and the contents emptied into a 40L Tuff Tub or Flexi Tub or Flexible Rubble Container, or whatever other pet name you have for these very useful items that every allotment owner should have. 

I took the Tuff Tub down to the allotment and added to the active Dalek watered in then added a 10 Litre of shredded compressed paper into the Dalek and also watered that in.

In My Seed Box For 2022 - Cauliflower

The life expectancy of cauliflower seed if kept in ideal conditions is 5 - 8 years. The saved to sow by date on most packs is only 2 years, I found one pack that was 4 years, Thus seeds should be viable but with a reducing germination rate each year for an additional 3 - 5 years beyond what it says on the pack. 

New for 2022 - Mr Fothergill's Cauliflower De purple F1 - 15 Seeds - £3.45

If you are looking for something unusual, this is the one to grow!

An exciting variety that has been naturally bred to develop deep purple heads – which intensifies further with exposure to sunlight. Ideal served raw in salads or lightly steamed to preserve colour, this variety is packed full of sweet buttery flavour.

New for 2022 - Dobies - Rob Smith Range - Andromeda - 15 Seeds - £3.50

Andromeda F1 can be sown successionally and crops for months! Plants have an open habit, so it's easier to see when your cauliflowers are ready to harvest, plus there are less hiding places for slugs and caterpillars. Modern breeding in cauliflowers, producing plants that keep a white curd even when they are exposed to sunlight. No need to cover the curd. Plants stand well and are slow to bolt, very good, nutty flavour. 

Height 50-60cm 

Width 60cm. 

Sow indoors or in a cold greenhouse January - May in good quality compost 5mm (1/4") deep in trays. When large enough too handle, transplant to individual pots and grow on.   

Plant out Harden off and plant out after the last frost at a spacing of March-July, at a spacing of 600mm and firm plants in well. Alternatively , sow thinly in a seed bed in April / May and transplant to final growing position when large enough to handle .

Protect plants from butterflies and pigeons by using netting. 

Harvest June - October.   

My History with Cauliflower is somewhat checkered, early on I had some really fantastic results but over the past years not so good. In my seed box for 2022 are 

White Step F1    - Thompson & Morgan  - 30 Seeds - £3.49 - Sow By 2020
Winter Aalsmeer - Thompson & Morgan - 50 Seeds - £2.49 - Sow By 2020

All Year Round   - Thompson & Morgan - 150 Seeds - £2.49 - Sow By 2021
Amsterdam F1    - Mr Fothergill's            -  25 Seeds - £ Mag - Sow by 2022

Sunset F1           - Marshalls                   -  15 Seeds - £2.29 - Sow by 2022

Orkney F1          - D.T.Brown                   -  30 Seeds - £2.59 - Sow by 2023

Cauliflower Zaragoza F1 - Dobies            - 20 Seeds - £3.49 - Saved year ending 2021

Andromeda F1 - Dobies                           -  15 Seeds - £3.50 Saved year ending 2022

De Purple - Mr Fothergills                        -  15 Seeds -  £3.45 Sow by Dec 2025 

Sowing Times vary for each variety

                                Indoors      Outside     Plant Out     Harvest 
All Year Round    - Feb - May   Mar-Jun                        Jun - Sep 
Amsterdam F1    - Mar - May     June          June          Oct - Jan

De purple F1       - Feb - Mar   Mar-Jun                        Jun - Oct
Orkney F1           - Jan - Feb                       5 leaves     May - July

Orkney F1           - Sep - Oct                       5 leaves     May - July

Sunset F1           - Feb - Apr    Apr - May                       Aug - Oct 

White Step F1     -                    May - June                    Aug - Nov
Winter Aalsmeer -                    My - Mid Jun                  April

Sowing Plan

Jan - Orkney F1

Feb -  All Year Round

Feb - De Purple F1

Feb - Sunset F1

Feb - Zargoza F1  

Mar - Amsterdam F1

Mar - Andromeda 

Apr - All Year Round

May - Winter Aalsmeer         

Cauliflower Orkney F1 - arrived 28/10/2020 from D.T. Brown added to their catalogue for those who lamented the loss of Mayflower, the earliest cropping summer cauli, DT Brown have found an excellent replacement! Orkney F1 is a high quality, reliable variety which produces dense heads of large white curds from as early as May. An excellent choice to maintain a continuous harvest.  

Winter Aalsmeer

Sow Cauliflower seed from April to June. Direct sow outdoors into a well prepared seedbed, for transplanting to their final positions later on. Sow at a depth of 1cm (1/2") and distance of 30cm (12") between rows. Cauliflower plants can be transplanted to their final positions approximately 5 weeks from sowing.

Alternatively sow Cauliflower seed indoors at a depth of 1cm (1/2") in trays of free-draining, seed sowing compost and cover with a sprinkling of vermiculite. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a plastic bag at a temperature of 21C (70F) until after germination which takes 4 -7 days. Transplant seedlings into 7.5cm (3") pots and grow Cauliflower plants on in cooler conditions until all risk of frost has passed and plants are large enough to be transplanted outdoors.

Gradually acclimatise Cauliflower plants to outdoor conditions over 7 - 10 days before planting in a sheltered position on firm, rich fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Prepare the soil in early spring by adding plenty of well rotted farmyard manure to the soil to improve its structure and fertility. Apply lime to acid soils to reduce the acidity and lessen the risk of clubroot. Plant cauliflowers at a distance of 25cm (10") between plants each way for 'baby heads', and 60cm (24") apart for larger heads. Cover with a protective netting or fleece to prevent attack from birds and insects. Water the plants thoroughly after planting.

All The Year Round  

Sow Cauliflower seed from March to June. Direct sow outdoors into a well prepared seedbed, for transplanting to their final positions later on. Sow at a depth of 1cm (1/2") and distance of 30cm (12") between rows. Cauliflower plants can be transplanted to their final positions approximately 5 weeks from sowing.

Alternatively sow Cauliflower seed indoors at a depth of 1cm (1/2") in trays of free-draining, seed sowing compost and cover with a sprinkling of vermiculite. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a plastic bag at a temperature of 21C (70F) until after germination which takes 4 -7 days. Transplant seedlings into 7.5cm (3") pots and grow Cauliflower plants on in cooler conditions until all risk of frost has passed and plants are large enough to be transplanted outdoors.

Gradually acclimatise Cauliflower plants to outdoor conditions over 7 - 10 days before planting in a sheltered position on firm, rich fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Prepare the soil in early spring by adding plenty of well rotted farmyard manure to the soil to improve its structure and fertility. Apply lime to acid soils to reduce the acidity and lessen the risk of clubroot. Plant cauliflowers at a distance of 25cm (10") between plants each way for 'baby heads', and 60cm (24") apart for larger heads. Cover with a protective netting or fleece to prevent attack from birds and insects. Water the plants thoroughly after planting.

In My Seed Box For 2022 - Index

In My Seed Box For 2021 - Cauliflower

The life expectancy of cauliflower seed if kept in ideal conditions is 5 - 8 years. The saved to sow by date on most packs is only 2 years, I found one pack that was 3 years, Thus seeds should be viable but with a reducing germination rate each year for an additional 3 - 5 years beyond what it says on the pack.   

My History with Cauliflower is somewhat checkered, early on I had some really fantastic results but over the past years not so good. In my seed box for 2021 are 

Zippy Bags

All Year Round - Suttons - Sow By 6/2016
Gypsy - Thomson and Morgan - Sow by 12/2017

Packs 

White Step F1    - Thompson & Morgan  - 30 Seeds - £3.49 - Sow By 2020
Winter Aalsmeer - Thompson & Morgan - 50 Seeds - £2.49 - Sow By 2020

All Year Round   - Thompson & Morgan - 150 Seeds - £2.49 - Sow By 2021
Amsterdam F1    - Mr Fothergill's            -  25 Seeds - £ Mag - Sow by 2022

Sunset F1           - Marshalls                   -  15 Seeds - £2.29 - Sow by 2022

Orkney F1          - D.T.Brown                   -  30 Seeds - £2.59 - Sow by 2023

New Cauliflower Zaragoza F1 - Dobies   - 20 Seeds - £3.49 - Saved year ending 2021 -No Sow By

Sowing Times vary for each variety

                                Indoors      Outside     Plant Out     Harvest 
All Year Round    - Feb - May   Mar-Jun                        Jun - Sep 
Amsterdam F1    - Mar - May     June          June          Oct - Jan
Orkney F1           - Jan - Feb                       5 leaves     May - July

Orkney F1           - Sep - Oct                       5 leaves     May - July

Sunset F1           - Feb - Apr    Apr - May                       Aug - Oct 

White Step F1     -                    May - June                    Aug - Nov
Winter Aalsmeer -                    My - Mid Jun                  April


New!  Cauliflower Orkney F1 - arrived 28/10/2020 from D.T. Brown added to their catalogue for those who lamented the loss of Mayflower, the earliest cropping summer cauli, DT Brown have found an excellent replacement! Orkney F1 is a high quality, reliable variety which produces dense heads of large white curds from as early as May. An excellent choice to maintain a continuous harvest.  I've just missed the opportunity to sow between Sept - Oct but one to sow to over winter in 2021 


Winter Aalsmeer

Sow Cauliflower seed from April to June. Direct sow outdoors into a well prepared seedbed, for transplanting to their final positions later on. Sow at a depth of 1cm (1/2") and distance of 30cm (12") between rows. Cauliflower plants can be transplanted to their final positions approximately 5 weeks from sowing.

Alternatively sow Cauliflower seed indoors at a depth of 1cm (1/2") in trays of free-draining, seed sowing compost and cover with a sprinkling of vermiculite. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a plastic bag at a temperature of 21C (70F) until after germination which takes 4 -7 days. Transplant seedlings into 7.5cm (3") pots and grow Cauliflower plants on in cooler conditions until all risk of frost has passed and plants are large enough to be transplanted outdoors.

Gradually acclimatise Cauliflower plants to outdoor conditions over 7 - 10 days before planting in a sheltered position on firm, rich fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Prepare the soil in early spring by adding plenty of well rotted farmyard manure to the soil to improve its structure and fertility. Apply lime to acid soils to reduce the acidity and lessen the risk of clubroot. Plant cauliflowers at a distance of 25cm (10") between plants each way for 'baby heads', and 60cm (24") apart for larger heads. Cover with a protective netting or fleece to prevent attack from birds and insects. Water the plants thoroughly after planting.

All The Year Round  

Sow Cauliflower seed from March to June. Direct sow outdoors into a well prepared seedbed, for transplanting to their final positions later on. Sow at a depth of 1cm (1/2") and distance of 30cm (12") between rows. Cauliflower plants can be transplanted to their final positions approximately 5 weeks from sowing.

Alternatively sow Cauliflower seed indoors at a depth of 1cm (1/2") in trays of free-draining, seed sowing compost and cover with a sprinkling of vermiculite. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a plastic bag at a temperature of 21C (70F) until after germination which takes 4 -7 days. Transplant seedlings into 7.5cm (3") pots and grow Cauliflower plants on in cooler conditions until all risk of frost has passed and plants are large enough to be transplanted outdoors.

Gradually acclimatise Cauliflower plants to outdoor conditions over 7 - 10 days before planting in a sheltered position on firm, rich fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Prepare the soil in early spring by adding plenty of well rotted farmyard manure to the soil to improve its structure and fertility. Apply lime to acid soils to reduce the acidity and lessen the risk of clubroot. Plant cauliflowers at a distance of 25cm (10") between plants each way for 'baby heads', and 60cm (24") apart for larger heads. Cover with a protective netting or fleece to prevent attack from birds and insects. Water the plants thoroughly after planting.

In My Seed Box For 2021 - Index

Marshalls New Seeds for 2020

As a result of visiting the Marshalls stand at the 2020 Garden Press Event they have sent me a small selection of their new seeds for 2020. Some are so new they don't have their final packaging with their photo on. 

Cauliflower Sunset F1            

Onion Fasto F1   

Chilli Pepper Longhorn F1   

Lettuce (Lollo Rossa) Nikolaj       

Tomato (Indoor Cherry) Yellow Mimi F1   

Sweetcorn Moonshine F1               

French Bean (Dwarf) Voltage 

I will let you know how I get on with these different varieties as I grow them 

In My Seed Box For 2020 - Cauliflower

My History with Cauliflower is somewhat checkered, early on I had some really fantastic results but over the past years not so good. In my seed box for 2020 are 

Zippy Bags

All Year Round - Suttons - Sow By 6/2016
Gypsy - Thomson and Morgan - Sow by 12/2017

Packs 

White Step F1    - Thompson & Morgan - 30 Seeds - £3.49 - Sow By 2020
Winter Aalsmeer - Thompson & Morgan - 50 Seeds - £2.49 - Sow By 2020

All Year Round   - Thompson & Morgan - 150 Seeds - £2.49 - Sow By 2021
Amsterdam F1    - Mr Fothergill's            - 25 Seeds - £ Free - Sow by 2022

Sowing Times vary for each variety

                                Indoors      Outside     Plant Out     Harvest 
All Year Round    - Feb - May   Mar-Jun                        Jun - Sep 
Amsterdam F1    - Mar - May     June          June          Oct - Jan
Gypsy - 
White Step F1     -                                                          Aug - Nov
Winter Aalsmeer -                   Apr - Jun                          April


Winter Aalsmeer

Sow Cauliflower seed from April to June. Direct sow outdoors into a well prepared seedbed, for transplanting to their final positions later on. Sow at a depth of 1cm (1/2") and distance of 30cm (12") between rows. Cauliflower plants can be transplanted to their final positions approximately 5 weeks from sowing.

Alternatively sow Cauliflower seed indoors at a depth of 1cm (1/2") in trays of free-draining, seed sowing compost and cover with a sprinkling of vermiculite. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a plastic bag at a temperature of 21C (70F) until after germination which takes 4 -7 days. Transplant seedlings into 7.5cm (3") pots and grow Cauliflower plants on in cooler conditions until all risk of frost has passed and plants are large enough to be transplanted outdoors.

Gradually acclimatise Cauliflower plants to outdoor conditions over 7 - 10 days before planting in a sheltered position on firm, rich fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Prepare the soil in early spring by adding plenty of well rotted farmyard manure to the soil to improve its structure and fertility. Apply lime to acid soils to reduce the acidity and lessen the risk of clubroot. Plant cauliflowers at a distance of 25cm (10") between plants each way for 'baby heads', and 60cm (24") apart for larger heads. Cover with a protective netting or fleece to prevent attack from birds and insects. Water the plants thoroughly after planting.

All The Year Round  

Sow Cauliflower seed from March to June. Direct sow outdoors into a well prepared seedbed, for transplanting to their final positions later on. Sow at a depth of 1cm (1/2") and distance of 30cm (12") between rows. Cauliflower plants can be transplanted to their final positions approximately 5 weeks from sowing.

Alternatively sow Cauliflower seed indoors at a depth of 1cm (1/2") in trays of free-draining, seed sowing compost and cover with a sprinkling of vermiculite. Place in a propagator or seal container inside a plastic bag at a temperature of 21C (70F) until after germination which takes 4 -7 days. Transplant seedlings into 7.5cm (3") pots and grow Cauliflower plants on in cooler conditions until all risk of frost has passed and plants are large enough to be transplanted outdoors.

Gradually acclimatise Cauliflower plants to outdoor conditions over 7 - 10 days before planting in a sheltered position on firm, rich fertile, well drained soil in full sun. Prepare the soil in early spring by adding plenty of well rotted farmyard manure to the soil to improve its structure and fertility. Apply lime to acid soils to reduce the acidity and lessen the risk of clubroot. Plant cauliflowers at a distance of 25cm (10") between plants each way for 'baby heads', and 60cm (24") apart for larger heads. Cover with a protective netting or fleece to prevent attack from birds and insects. Water the plants thoroughly after planting.

Planting Out Brassicas

My Sister-In-Law Pauline has donated her excess Cabbage, Cauliflower and Broccoli plants and I popped down to the allotment and cleared Bed 2, planted them and then installed the water pipe hoop frame over the bed and covered them up with Debris Netting to keep the Cabbage White butterfly's off them.  

It's nice gradually seeing the beds on plot 1A getting sown and planted up, it will not long and I will be able to move onto digging up and weeding the new beds on Plot 1.  

Note to self 

Get the sweetcorn started and sown in the Space Saver Greenhouse this week.
  

Rear Extension

Today I fixed the sides to the rear extension to the back of the shed supporting them off upturned flower buckets and offcuts of timber to get the top of the extension nicely tucked over the shed roof overhang. Two timber roofing battens were then fixed between the cheeks at the front and back and the polycarbonate sheeting was screwed in place. 

If I can find some more offcuts to fit I may extend the cheeks down to just off the ground, if not a timber leg will go in once the paving has been laid behind the shed. 3 number 600x600mm slabs will do it. The covered area to the rear will allow me to keep stuff like the Hawthorne that I'm cutting up dry until October when we are once again officially allowed to have fires on the plot.

As you can see the onion rack shelfing has been placed in the upright position as the onions are now dry and have been top and tailed and the dry skins removed.

After six years of sitting in the other shed the gas stove was finally used today for the first time with the camping kettle I bought from Wilko in the sale to make a couple of cups of coffee. 

Much better than taking a flask to the plot, and now finally when my Brother-In-Law and his wife are on the plot I can make them a coffee rather than them always making me one.

Another mushroom tray of large Crimson Crush and Rapunzel tomatoes have come home together with another two cauliflowers. 

I took four food buckets worth of apples to go into the Dalek, but it had not sunk enough to get them into the double width Dalek no 5 so I set a new Dalek up on plot 1 sitting on cardboard on top of the membrane and added a layer of woodchip mulch grade to the bottom, then the four buckets of apples and topped it off with another layer of mulch grade woodchip, then the onion trimmings and the leaf's off the cauliflower, and dampened down each layer as it was added to the Dalek.