Ever since I was young, I would always hear my gardener mom complaining about her bolting spinach every year.
Now that I took over her garden, I’ve faced bolting problems multiple times, whether it’s my peas bolting or the backyard spinach patch. Thankfully, I’ve found a way to overcome bolting problems, and now they’re a very rare occurrence.
In today’s article, we’re going to go over a long list of fast-bolting crops and ways you can prevent them from going to seed early.
Let’s dive deep into it, shall we?
What Is Bolting (& Why It Hurts Your Harvest)?
So, bolting is essentially when a plant goes to seed prematurely or at least quicker than expected, and it’s commonly triggered by factors like excessive heat or stress. But that’s not all!
Bolting can also be a result of:
It hurts harvests by halting both the flower and the fruit production, which is not something any gardener would be happy about.
Crops That Bolt Quickly (& How To Slow Them Down)
1: Cilantro
Yep! Believe it or not, cilantro is a common bolter, especially in heat or overcrowded areas.
Fix: The simple solution to bolting cilantro is to grow the herb in partial shade and keep it hydrated. Watering consistently and harvesting early can go a long way to prevent bolting problems.
2: Arugula
Despite its hardy and resilient appearance, arugula is actually quite heat-sensitive and can bolt quickly as temperatures rise.
Fix: Plant your arugula in early spring or fall. Provide it with partial shade and water consistently for growth without hindrance. If you want, you can use a shade cloth to keep the heat out and extend the season.
If you’re already seeing signs of bolting or want a deeper dive into prevention, here’s what you can do when arugula bolts.
3: Lettuce
Despite its ability to withstand long periods of cold, lettuce often bolts in long daylight hours and excessive outdoor heat.
Fix: To keep this from happening, I suggest you only work with bolt-resistant varieties and provide your lettuce with plenty of shade during hot hours.
To understand why your lettuce might suddenly shoot up and turn bitter, this guide on bolting lettuce explains it all.
4: Spinach
Unfortunately, spinach is super quick to bolt in warm weather, even if it’s just mild warmth.
Fix: Plant your spinach either early or late in the season and keep the roots cool by applying mulch around the base of your spinach plants.
To keep your spinach from rushing to seed, take a look at these tips to prevent bolting, they’ll help you extend your harvest even when the temperatures rise.
5: Radishes
Yeah…even radishes aren’t safe from bolting issues. This vibrant vegetable can bolt quickly if left in the ground too long or during long periods of heat.
Fix: Harvest your radishes as early as possible and try not to delay things. If that isn’t feasible, choose early varieties and keep the soil well hydrated.
6: Bok Choy (Pak Choi)
This unique Asian leafy green is super sensitive to both heat and frost. You definitely don’t want to be planting it in either extreme.
Fix: When it comes to protecting bok choy, try to avoid transplant shock and give it lots of even moisture. Most importantly, plant it in partial shade and NOT under direct sunlight.
7: Broccoli Raab (Rapini)
Although this broccoli variety is super fast-growing, it does come with the risk of bolting as well.
Fix: Unfortunately, broccoli raab isn’t ideal for midsummer planting. It should only be grown in cool weather conditions and harvested somewhere around the bud stage.
If you’re also growing regular broccoli, here’s what to do to stop it from bolting too soon.
8: Mustard Greens
In the case of mustard greens, hot seasonal conditions can result in quicker flowering and poor leafy growth.
Fix: I’d suggest planting mustard greens around early to late fall and harvesting leaves while they’re still relatively young.
9: Dill
Dill unfortunately bolts as soon as it matures, and this happens even quicker if they’re grown in pots or containers.
Fix: You can use bolted dill for seed collection and succession sow this fragrant herb every few weeks to bring some consistency into the crop.
10: Swiss Chard
While this vibrant leafy green is great for adding some pop and visual appeal to the garden, it still tends to bolt during drought-like conditions or sudden temperature shifts.
Fix: It’s very important to provide Swiss chard with plenty of water, especially in hot and humid environments. Do not transplant this one late in the season, as it will most probably disappoint you by bolting quickly.
How To Prevent Bolting In The Garden?
But, if you’re gardening through the heat, these heat-tolerant vegetables are much less likely to bolt too soon.
Let’s Conclude
Bolting has to be one of the most common gardening concerns after wilting plants and pest issues. To be fair, it’s not without good reason; I mean…no gardener really likes bolting. It ruins growth momentum and completely ruins the harvest for the season.
Implement the solutions I suggested for every common issue and save your plants from premature flowering early on. Good luck!
