Cabbage Collars Green Gardener Economy Pack of 100

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Autumn varieties – sow indoors or outdoors in mid- to late spring. They are slightly slower growing than summer types and bred to withstand higher summer temperatures, although light shade in the middle of the day is beneficial. They grow best in cool autumn weather and should be harvested before the first frosts. Crop rotation should be practised. Otherwise cabbage root fliescan emerge from overwintered pupae in the soil under the fleece or meshcover, if host plants are grown in the same piece of ground in successive years To prepare a cauliflower, cut the head into smaller florets, removing the toughest stems and slicing up smaller stems, so everything cooks evenly. Then steam, stir-fry, sauté or bake. Cauliflower is great in soups, stews and other hearty dishes, including classic cauliflower cheese. To make low-carb cauliflower ‘rice’, grate the head or whiz in a processor. Or enjoy the florets raw with a dip or in salads.

To harvest, cut the stem with a knife, taking the head and a few of the leaves beneath it, to protect the curd. Harvest cauliflowers as soon as the head is large enough, when still firm and compact. Don’t wait too long though – once it starts to separate, it’s past its best and will taste bitter. White varieties should be harvested before they turn yellow. Mini varieties can be harvested at tennis-ball size.I mentioned a few weeks ago that not only do I have to lime my plot because our soil is so acid, but I also have to use brassica collars here to stop cabbage root fly. I have bought 180 of them this year so far and used the lot and I already had some from previous years which have been used as well. Typically I recommend covering cole crops with floating row cover to keep pests away, but in the case of cabbage root flies, covering them too early may actually trap newly emerged adult flies underneath the row cover, so instead I turn to making cabbage collars to protect my plants. I put a collar around each plant by late April because the first generation of adult flies typically starts to emerge in early May through June here in my Pennsylvania garden. Making Cabbage Collars What You’ll Need:

Cauliflowers are best eaten fresh, but can be stored in a fridge for a few days – they keep better with a few leaves intact. Cauliflower florets can also be blanched then frozen. Brassica downy mildew – this consists of light green spots on leaves developing into a larger, darker color with fuzzy mold appearing. Ensure there’s plenty of circulation and sunlight for the plants. Or, try sowing disease resistant varieties. Indoor-raised plants must be hardened off so they are acclimatised to outdoor conditions before transplanting.Toilet paper roll tube – once the toilet paper is used up, just take the cardboard cylinder and use it as a cutworm collar. You might be able to cut the roll into two or three collars. However, make sure you make the collars tall enough to deter pests and keep them away from your plants. Adult cabbage root flies look a lot like bristly houseflies only slightly smaller. They’re about 1 centimeter long with bristly hairs all over their gray bodies. This European species is now found across much of North American and up into southern Canada. Stop cabbage root flies laying eggs by placing collars over the base of your young plants at planting time. This barrier method often proves more effective than chemicals and is ideal for organic growers reluctant to use chemical products on their harvests. Of course, plant collars will add a little extra effort to your gardening. However, it is worthwhile to protect your plants from devastating pest damage. Plants canbe protected by growing them under the cover of an insect-proof mesh. Horticultural fleece may be preferred for seedbeds as it will also help warm the soil. This can also help reduce other brassica problems such as cabbage caterpillars. It should be kept in place throughout the growing season

The final step in making cabbage collars is to bend the small flaps created in Step 3 upwards. Step 5 To do this, once the cauliflower head is the size of a golf ball, tie the outer leaves loosely over the head of the vegetable and secure them in place with twine. Leave enough room so the head can continue to grow unhindered. This will both protect it from the elements and the sun from discoloring it.While you can certainly buy brassica collars for your plants, these simple tools are just too easy to make at home with materials from your recycling bin to not try at least once. Personally, I prefer cardboard. It is easy to work with and will ultimately decompose. Just follow these steps to make your own brassica collars: Varieties with orange, purple or green heads generally keep their colour when cooked, although boiling can fade purple heads. Although gardeners have been making cabbage collars for years to protect plants from this pest, mine are a little different from the flat cabbage collars others use. Their shape affords an added layer of protection, and it works like a charm. What Are Cabbage Root Flies? Cabbage root maggots – the larvae hatch at the base of the plant and they tunnel into the roots, damaging the plant. Therefore, fleece plants and place brassica collars at the base of plants.