Nothing reminds me of summer quite like the fresh, citrusy scent of lemon balm.We link to vendors to help you find relevant pr
06.06.2023 - 20:24 / gardenerspath.com / Heather Buckner
How to Stop Turnips from Bolting and Going to SeedTurnips are typically an easy and productive crop to grow in the spring or fall garden. Both the leafy tops and roots are edible, nutritious, and can be stored and eaten in a variety of ways.
While relatively low maintenance, early bolting of turnips is a common frustration among many growers.
Luckily, preventing this from happening is easily doable with a few simple considerations.
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Read on to learn what to do to keep your crops from bolting and going to seed, and what steps to take once they do.
What is Bolting?Bolting is what happens when a plant transitions its energy from leaf or root production to flowering quickly and going to seed.
If you have ever grown lettuce or other leafy greens, you are probably familiar with the signs. One day your lettuce head is looking on track to grow large luscious leaves, and the next the plant has shot up a thin leggy stem, the leaves suddenly taste bitter, and soon stops producing new leaves altogether.
This can sometimes happen suddenly, causing plants to become leggy, bitter, tough, and generally unpleasant to eat.
When a plant bolts, or “goes to seed,” it means that it has decided to put all of its energy into creating seeds so that it may reproduce.
This physiological response often happens when a plant is stressed. Stress signals that time is short and forces it to transition all of its energy into seed production to ensure an opportunity to create new plants.
Essentially, it recognizes that favorable conditions are lacking to thrive and decides to sacrifice itself for the good of the next generation. It is a basic survival
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