everything running to seed

[shaun01]

all my crops are running to seed with very little growth its doing my head in ,just a complete waist of time this year for me , my allotment will be empty in a few weeks at this rate going to start getting the beds ready for the winter crops 

[shaun01]

[Crystalmoon]

Hi there I know what you mean  :(
Lots of my summer salad crops are going to seed very quickly.
Ive tired growing the same seeds in differents locations, some at home, some at the allotment, some in the soil, some in containers......nothing is making any difference ::)
I have been very careful to water properly too. The last mesclun mix I sowed has gone to seed virtually as soon as it started to grow (its only a couple of inches high but still gone straight to flower).
Ive lost a few of my raddichio plants too.
I dont usually grow many winter crops as bad arthritis makes it very hard for me to work my allotment in the damp colder months but I think I will have to try this year or I wont be harvesting very much!
     

[GrannieAnnie]

I've had success planting lettuce in tubs that can be pulled into part shade. It seems to keep them from bolting and it is very hot here- 92 F (33 C) here today.  

[Jeannine]

Yes, I agree with the shade thing, I manage to grow salad leaves all year round but  I  do pick varieties that are known for not bolting early, especially lettuce and spinach. To use the others is futile in the summer.

I have some that are OK in early summer and again later but have to switch to the others midway.

Crystalmoon, what varieties are in your mesclun mix? I think that could be your problem.

XX Jeannine

[Crystalmoon]

Hi Jeannine, I used a packet of Mesclun mix bought from a low cost store so that probably is the problem, I bet it was full of varieties that bolt easily....unfortunately I havent kept the packet to check if this is the case. I have read on other posts that you make your own mix....would you mind sharing which varieties you use that resist bolting? Many thanks  ;D

Hi GannieAnnie I will sow some more lettuce in tubs & position them in the more shady areas of my garden & see how they do. Unfortunately there isnt any shade at my allotment so that has probably caused the bolting. 

[Jeannine]

Hi Crystal moon, what is in it varies as I chuck all kinds in. I actually make  a few different ones. I have my basic one to which I add anything that is lettuce,any out of date etc go in there with a several different others picked for variety , it is cheap to make and has all colours, texture etc, if that starts to bolt or the weather is very hot, I switch to the hot weather one. This is more selective and costs more to make but then I switch back when the weather cools off later in the year. I also have one that contains varieties that do well in the winter.  I will dig through my stash and let you know which ones will have likely gone into  the hot weather one. I don't usually add anything that is not lettuce. I have a fourth  mix of  other salad  greens. I grow separately as I like a little in my salads but prefer it to be mostly lettuce. Then of course I do grow many as plants on their own I will get back to you when I have a look.

Re shading, I have an arch thing that I grow beans up and over on sides and back. The patch of ground underneath is good for growing a deep tray of baby greens in.

Easy to rig something like that up.

XX Jeannine

[GrannieAnnie]

Hi Jeannine, I used a packet of Mesclun mix bought from a low cost store so that probably is the problem, I bet it was full of varieties that bolt easily....unfortunately I havent kept the packet to check if this is the case. I have read on other posts that you make your own mix....would you mind sharing which varieties you use that resist bolting? Many thanks  ;D

Hi GannieAnnie I will sow some more lettuce in tubs & position them in the more shady areas of my garden & see how they do. Unfortunately there isnt any shade at my allotment so that has probably caused the bolting. 

I'd recommend a lot of rotted cow manure in the pot, not regular old garden dirt. The manure provides all the nitrogen lettuce loves and hold moisture- but maybe your soil is better than my clay soil.
The other nice thing about pots is you can put them up out of reach of rabbits etc.  Small romaine does hold well in the heat.

[Jeannine]

Hi again,  slow to bolt seeds that would be in my summer mix would include the following as I have all of them .............

Australia Yellow Leaf
Pablo 
Black Seeded Simpson, the base of my other mix too, grows all the time
Webb's Wonderful               ditto
Red Salad Bowl
Freckles
Winter Density...  forget the name it does OK all round
Slowbolt
Rossa Di Trento
Red Sails
Rouge de Hiver
Green Oakleaf
Red Rapids
Salad Bowl
Flame
Gold Rush


The above should be fine in a mix and many will stand as a full lettuce.

I start my mix, then as and when I feel like it I take small plants out and plant them for full size plants, so there are varieties in there that would not usually be in a mix as they grow a big plant.  It works fine for me. A lot of them are easily recognisable due to their colour of leaf shape.

Most you should find in the UK, a few of the above came from seedsmen in  the US but all except a few were bought when I lived there, so available on line.

For a few to  grow as full sized plants on I would suggest...

Australia Yellow leaf.. looseleaf type
Flame.. loose leaf
Pablo.. fave of mine,very slow to go,crisphead
Ice Queen.. I only grow her separate, very slow,crisp heart
Webbs Wonderful..another fave  crisphead
Black Seeded Simpson ( or Simpsons Elite) faves again
Summertime..crisphead ..only grow separate

I grow Little Gem  or Baby Green (romaine/cos types)  and Tom Thumb or Esmerelda  (butter/bibb types) Tennis ball (crisphead)  as they are small/mini lettuces and ideal for John and I and I pull them early.I also grow all in this paragraph on their own in containers  inside through the winter.

There are hundreds more,and many folks will know more about lettuce than I do, I really only muddle through. I tend to choose them to look good in a mix apart from a few as that is how I prefer to eat them.

Hope this helps. I think it is fairly accurate , but lettuce are not something I study!!!

XX Jeannine

[Crystalmoon]

 ;D wow Jeannine thank you so very much for such a detailed reply I really am very grateful.
I will be getting some summer seeds this week ;)

[1066]

Chin up Shaun - plenty of time yet  :)

Crystalmoon -  to add to Jeannine's wonderful list I've been growing Sylvesta Lettuce from Plants of Distinction) which hasn't bolted when others have (Endive Frenzy has!), it's an early spring Summer one. And so far the Giardina and Lollo Rossa from Mr Fothergills' are looking good with this dry spell

1066  :)

[antipodes]

Yeah, once again I got about 3 decent lettuces before it all went wrong. The butterheads were not too bad but the salad bowl cut and come again just bolts on me every time. i won't bother next year, this happens every time. I am going to try winter lettuce this year (scaroles and red radicchio) and see what happens.
The red onions have had a few bolters too and the landcress just went straight to flower. Bugger.