Cauliflowers

Folding the leaves over won't stop them bolting. It's to protect them from hot dry conditions which cauliflowers hate and keeps the curds white.

They are greedy feeders so might need a liquid feed. I wouldn't bother with the ones that have bolted if you have some perfect ones.

Hi elegran no they are definitely cauliflowers. The tips of the bolting florets are a light purplre colour. We have now folded all the leaves over! Some of the plants have perfect cauliflowers.

Folding the leaves over keeps them white too, though it sounds as though these ones are naturally purplish. are you sure they are not purple sprouting broccoli? Or some other variety of sprouting broccoli?

You can also get coloured cauliflower, but I think you would have known that when you bought them

Thanks flickety and anno <hopes to find a labrador>.

I haven't grown them, but my Dad used to fold the leaves over the curds which presumably was to prevent them bolting. Their labrador developed a liking for cauliflowers and used to nick one from the garden to eat.

a)Yes, you can eat them b) cauliflowers are really difficult to grow so your results are par for the course.