All Year Round Caulis

[Elderflower]

Being a bit dim I thought that `all the year round` caulis could be planted all the year round.
What a wally eh?
Anyway, I`ve got a nice bed of caulis growing away about six inches tall/across then I read in a seed catalogue that they should be sown in May/June.
Are they doomed?

[Primrose]

Do you have any empty 5 litre mineral water bottles with the bottoms sawn off which you could use as individual cloches over the winter - or ever better, the heavy duty water cooler bottles that are used in offices, etc? That might protect a few of them although they probably won't grow much. I've used these on various occasions to protect radicchio and lettuces over the winter. I scavage round the Council's plastic bottle recycling centres. You can often find them in there.

[John]

Don't panic, Elderflower! All's well!
With this variety, your plants should grow on slowly through the winter and then pick up quickly in the Spring to produce heads in May/June next year. Just at the right time too as there's not much greens about then.
Make sure now that they are set well down into firm soil and be prepared to give them some protection only in periods of severe weather during the winter. They will benefit from some serious feeding in the early Spring when they start back into growth. Also make sure that the plants are free of insects as these will do a lot of damage if they are allowed to overwinter inside the plants.

John

[Elderflower]

Phew! Thanks!
So if I give them lots of TLC they might be all right? I`ll do that.