QUESTION : What does it entail when your lettuce thunderbolt ? Is it just seed and can I still harvest it ? -Jasmine S.
result : Bolting is a instinctive part of the life sentence cycle of your lettuce plant . It can be check , but bolt can not be avoid wholly . When the dough plant deadbolt , it begin to quickly extend taller , sending up a flowering stubble . Bolting means that the plant is interchange its direction aside from farm foliage and toward efflorescence and creating cum .
Bolting station free energy and nutrients to the flowering stem that would otherwise go toward keep on the leaf healthy and tasty . That means the longer it ’s been since the lettuce plant ’s flowering stalk appeared , the less tasty the lolly leaves will be , although they ’re still edible .
you may minimize the effect of bolt on the plant by using clean , sterilized shears to clip the flowering shoot off as soon as you notice it ’s there . If you ’d prefer , you’re able to leave the flowering stalk on the industrial plant and collect the seeds it produces to use in your garden in succeeding season . It takes six to eight weeks from the appearing of the flower husk for the plant life to bear mature seeds . Another choice is simply pulling up the lettuce plant life and sowing raw seeds in the place it was growing .
Even though every loot flora is designate to bolt sooner or after , there are some tone you’re able to take to slow the process down and delay it as much as possible . First of all , arrange yourself up for success by opt lettuce varieties that are dim to run out to grow in your garden . set your dinero in a slur where it will get some shade during the live part of the daylight , or use companion plant selected for their elevation to bring home the bacon your lettuce with some good afternoon shade .
Be careful when harvest your lettuce to apply the right proficiency and avoid damaging or stressing the flora . For channelize varieties , you may merely utilize your shear to cut off the top two third of the plant . To harvest other types of cabbage , pick leaves from the outside of the plant at its base , and work your way up and toward the center of the plant . Always pass on at least one third of the leaves on the plant when you ’re done harvest so the plant can keep growing . There ’s more to learn in our article “ Preventing Bolted Lettuce ” .
