I just noticed that one of my Spearmint plants and a Mustard plant had developed blossoms even though they're only a few weeks old. Well, I don't know much about bolting,but it seems to me that that is how it manifests itself. Anyway, can the process be delayed by simply removing the flowers as soon as they appear? Also, does the cause and the treatment for bolting differ for different plants? In other words, will removing the blossoms lengthen the lifespan of any kind of annual plant?
Preventing/delaying bolting
Yes,remove the blossoms that will help some.
Hot temps are what normally triggers "bolt". Other stresses can cause it also.
You can extend the life of some plants by removing the blooms. Your mint will not die after blooming but it is not an annual. Some herbs like Dill do die down after producing seed but I've managed to keep one alive thru summer by removing the blooms.
On herbs, the flavor will become a bit bitter when blooming so it is preferable to remove the blooms if you use the herbs. Many herbs like the basils will bloom freely throughout the summer but the basils are considered annuals in most climates. In late summer, you can allow herbs to bloom to save seed if desired.
In this zone, the mustard is a cool season plant. The foliage is best eaten when young and tender. The seeds are harvested in spring and used to make prepared mustards. You are warmer so I wouldn't think removing the mustard blooms would make any difference. Did you start them from seed? If so, I would suggest trying them again in late fall.
Sometimes (I know this works with cilantro) when you see the flower stalk just barely starting to form and cut it out, the plant will continue to grow.
To keep basil and some cool season greens, I replant continually and use shade cloth for the greens. I get several weeks young greens before they bolt, but still not as mild as cooler season plantings and the heat is going to make them bolt eventually no matter what you do.
When my mint bolts, I cut it back to the ground, water well and new growth starts. The mints I have in moist, shady areas bolt slower than the ones in the herb bed (which is dryer and in full sun).
Calalily-Are you saying that you grow greens all summer long and they just dont taste the same, or last as long? How do you germinate them, in the fridge?
Pod-Good point about the heat. San Diego generally has a pretty mild climate not too hot and not too cold. Ive heard CA is having a mild summer so I didnt even think about that.
Bolting refers to the time when a plant goes to seed at the end of its life cycle. Since mint is perennial, and normally blooms around this time of year, I don't think that would qualify as bolting. Keeping mint flower free will help put more energy into growing a strong, leafy plant. When greens and some herbs bolt it's usually triggered because the soil temperature has reached a certain point regardless of the maturity of the plant. It's a survival mechanism. In regards to bolting greens and many annual herbs...they are not very good to eat at that point. Once the plant is set on flowering and seeding the leaves become tough and/or bitter. Perhaps this is nature's way of helping the plant to procreate.
1lisac, we grow many greens almost year around. Some will germinate better in warm soil than others. Some need to be started indoors. Collards, chard and arugula are a few examples of the more heat tolerant. We direct seed as well as greenhouse start cabbage from early April through late June and start again now. This gives us fresh cabbage all but a few months of the year. We picked the last of our broccoli a week ago and have seedlings started for Fall. The hardier greens (collards, kale, chard and some mustards) Winter over and pick up where they left off when weather allows. I bet it's the shade cloth that is benefiting Calalily's greens by keeping the soil temp cooler. Here are our Spring greens in early July.
Nice greens, Maypop!
:). I squish 'em in there to keep the ground cooler. The Fall ones are more widely spaced 'cause they grow longer.
Thanks, everyone. Your answers are just what I needed, and more; in fact, I'm going to print them for further study. You have raised a number of issues which I must resolve, one of them being the effect of the time the seeds are planted on the quality and taste of the plants. I'll have to give this matter more thought. Lately, after considering the mild climate in my area, I've been wondering if planting calendars serve any useful purpose for me. I had been thinking of ignoring them and just planting whatever I wanted year around. I still think I could do that, but you have raised some important considerations. Thanks for giving me something to think about.
Snorkel-One thing to consider is that if a plant is true annual it is going to bolt at some point. No matter the environmental conditions. I know you normally have mild temps so I was wondering if there was something else that could cause this, it seems pretty early in the season still. I do think you can remove the flowers to prolong the life of the plant. I havent noticed the taste to be much different if I catch them early.
You have reached the crux of your question (problem). Your planting of seed perennials, such as mint, should be timed between when they bloom for an early start and when they would normally drop seed for a later start. Greens are biennial and work like this...if you plant them in Fall, and your weather is not too extremely cold, they will grow through the cooler months of Autumn, stall in the coldest weather (probably not at all in your zone) and then pick up again come Spring. They will then flower and be done sometime in summer. However, greens seed (mustards, turnips, rutabagas, and arugula) planted in Spring, where the weather is mild for a protracted number of months, will usually be done by mid-summer as well. Collards, chard and kale are the exception and are not as prone to bolt.
And it still wasn't clear if these were purchased as plants or started from seed.
If plants, it is entirely possible they have an earlier start on life so will be ready to wind down earlier also.
Snorkle posted they are only a few weeks old so I assumed they were young plants. Thats a good point maybe they are just newly purchased.