Cauli and broad bean problems

 
Hi,

I have grown cauliflower for the first time and followed the
instructions on the seed packet. I have started cutting a couple of them
which are about 5 inches in diameter, however, I notice that a couple of
them have florets which are separating and beginning to 'push up' rather
than keeping the nice tight ball I expected.  Any ideas where I went
wrong.


Also my broad beans plants have produced lovely bean pods near the
bottom of the stems but the ones further up are tiny and have withered
with black on them.  I had this problem last year too.


I would much appreciate help.




--
Lintama

 @gardenbanter.co.uk:


Your cauliflower might be bolting, but my main guess is that you didn't
plant them firmly enough. Apparently all bressicas (except swede) need to
be heeled in to get solid hearts or curds.
During my first year at veg. gardening I had the same problem, and also my
cabbages and brussels sprouts were soft and spongy. Planting them very
firmly indeed has sorted out that problem.
Your broad bean problem sounds like blackfly infestation and soapy water
spray should sort it out. When broad bean pods start to grow they do have
black around them, I think it is the dead flower so it might just be that
and is normal and the pods may grow.

Hope this helps
Baz

 
... swede is a brassica?  A type of turnip, surely!

 vicky@dinky.vm.bytemark.co.uk says...

  turnips are brassicas. So is mustard.

  Janet.

 
Only some of the culinary mustards (Brassica nigra, Brassica juncea) are
Brassicas, others aren't (Sinapis alba), at least by conventional
taxonomy.

(And there's garlic, hedge, hoary and treacle mustards, inter alia, to
muddy the pot.)

Stewart Robert Hinsley