Cauliflower panic

Hi all,

I had more or less given up on my cauliflowers this year, they seemed all leaves-until I was watering today and saw a little one growing!

There's so many leaves they are all getting swamped and some of the lower ones were rotting. I cut them back a little, removing any massive leaves that were not protecting anything and any yellow/rotted ones at the bottom. The mini cauliflowers are still totally covered in leaves.

Is this OK? I'm worried I shouldn't have cut it back but it was becoming like a rainforest, and in a grow bag any unessesary growth is using up space!

 

I like to give mine a good feed of BFB and plenty of space in a rich soil.
They are needy greedy feeders.
With other brassicas you can get away with less space and feed, but you'll end up with smaller growth.
With cauliflowers you end up with small (or no) florets.

 

Is it OK to lightly tie the larger leaves around them? Some are quite exposed so just wanted tolrotect them from the sun and any bugs

 

Yes, that'll also help to keep the curds white. They mustn't be allowed to dry out at the roots either cos that will check the growth.

 

I have a cauliflower!!!!

There were a lot of caterpillars on the leaves! Does anyone wash them a particular way before eating?

Also, as I harvest the cauliflowers I'm gaining room in my 400ltr grow bag and I need to plant my beetroot seeds. Do you think its OK to use this area if I top off with new compost?

 

No idea, the packet just said cauliflower! I had written them off as just leaves as my mum gave me horror stories of them being really difficult to grow, but then suddenly these little heads emerged!

 

I have an infestation of caterpillars! I looked it up, I think they are cabbage butterflies. I noticed them flying around last week. Now I've had to save a cauliflower head prematurely as it was being infested!

Is there any natural way to get rid of these?

And

Is it still safe to eat the cauliflowers? Once picked I submerge in salt water for an hour before rinsing off.

 

I read washing up soap and water in a spray bottle helps so I've done that! It's hard to see as I've tied the leaves around the heads. Should I untie and check?