The spinach is currently the sweetest we've ever tasted! Four varieties of kale are ready for cutting. The smooth leaf will be harvested first as it is already beginning to bolt. The lettuces are growing vigorously but will be susceptible to the very warm temperatures expected in the coming week. Despite the healthy, lush look of these plants, their "edible" days are numbered.
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| The smooth leaf kale is the first to bolt |
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| The lettuces are gorgeous! |
"One of the most confusing terms that new vegetable gardeners come across is ‘bolting’. Also known as ‘running to seed’ this is where a plant suddenly, often in a matter of a few days, starts to grow flower stems, simultaneously stopping all useful growth of the vegetable itself. It is not just a problem for people new to growing edible plants – experienced gardeners also have to manage this problem as I found out last week when several salad plants I have been carefully over-wintering in my greenhouse suddenly shot up central stems. Once the flower shoots form not only is growth slowed as the plants put all their energy into reproducing but they can rapidly become unusable in the kitchen as well. Lettuce, for example, becomes bitter tasting and the leaves are less tender once the plant has bolted."
Read more about bolting and how to "prevent" it at
Note to self: Mizuna (mustard variety) and Rocket (arugula) do not do well sown in the spring. They are better sown in mid- to late-summer. I'm hard-headed enough to try anyway!
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