Cauliflower heads what are the brown spots?

[asteele3]

Hello all.

I have 4 cauliflowers with brown spots on heads but not sure why and what they are? Are any of them edible?

Thanks in advance as it's my first time growing them so would love to not throw them away!

 

[Chuck]

Sunburn/sunscald from not covering the heads

 

[asteele3]

Sunburn/sunscald from not covering the heads

What they all are sunscald? The first picture I had covered the head but I saw them this morning and it had like a dark brown mush like texture to the head.

 

[asteele3]

Are the other 3 still edible with sunscald?

 

[Chuck]

Are the other 3 still edible with sunscald?

Sunburn doesn't make them inedible. Perhaps @headfullofbees will reply. He is the local brassica expert on the forum and knows a lot more about growing things in the UK than I do.

 

[asteele3]

Sunburn doesn't make them inedible. Perhaps @headfullofbees will reply. He is the local brassica expert on the forum and knows a lot more about growing things in the UK than I do.

Okay thanks Chuck I didn't think that would make them inedible I just want to be sure as I'll probably harvest them soon before the heat here gets too much but I don't want to eat them if they turn out to be some kind of rot or mold etc

 

[Mike Allen]

Agree with Chuck. Covering the heads during growth will help. Although the florets are still edible, the browning quickly advances to rotting. In the kitchen, the affected parts can be scraped/sliced away, but often signs of the decay go deeper. Mould will follow fast. Fast freezing of the florets can often prolong storage.

 

[headfullofbees]

I think you have varying degrees of slug damage there.
Certainly the top one, which has most damage, the leaves seem to be eaten away.
Whilst all will be edible, that top one looks unappetising, and I'd be inclined to ditch it, and just pare the rest back a bit with a kitchen knife when preparing.
At this time of year, cauliflowers don't stand well for long, and I think that's making some of the damage look worse.
I tend to think that autumn & winter are better harvest times for cauli's in the UK, so I grow varieties that suit.
They are far from the easiest brassicas to grow, & for a first time, you have done well.
The curds look good, & you've just been a little unlucky.
Slugs LOVE brassicas, protect them.