Bolting
Lettuce, spinach, rocket, coriander, beetroot or onion suddenly sends up a tall flower stalk. The leaves stay small, become tough and taste bitter.
Long days, heat, drought or a cold spell just after sowing push the plant to flower instead of making leaves.
What can you do?
- Harvest bolted plants straight away; young leaves are sometimes still usable.
- Let a few plants flower for the insects or to save seed, and put the rest on the compost heap.
- Resow with a bolt-resistant variety or a crop better suited to the season.
Prevention
Choose bolt-resistant varieties, sow lettuce and spinach in spring or late summer rather than midsummer, and water regularly. Sow small amounts every two to three weeks.
When to watch out: May–August