Why are my cauliflowers going to seed?

Hi Graham, plants usually bolt or go to seed when they have experienced adverse weather or changes in temperature, the change is a signal to plants that they need to reproduce to save themselves, and so they go to seed. Too much rain and not enough sunshine are the most likely cause, the growing season has not been favourable. Other reasons are plants that are root bound or have been held in the pot for too long before planting out. Seasonally inappropriate varieties, that is, some brassica varieties are better suited to spring and some to autumn planting, but most seedling plants in garden centres will be grown for the correct season. There isn’t much that can be done now that the plant has gone to seed, cut any florets that haven’t gone to seed and are  able to be harvested, leave the plant there to go to seed, save the seed and re-sow either now or in autumn. Lianne