The best thing to do is to let the plant go to seed and collect it to use (this seed is known as coriander). As soon as the plant begins to bolt it alters the flavor of the leaves. In the case of cilantro, it’s too late to remedy the situation if bolting occurs. I wish there was a more concrete answer to this, but there isn’t. Treatment for bolting will depend upon the herb you are growing. Chives: Flowering doesn’t affect the flavor at all, some varieties flower in the spring while others will flower on and off all throughout the season.Due to mint’s prolific growing nature, it’s best to pinch them off as well to prevent them from going to seed and reproducing. Mint: Flowers are edible, and their development doesn’t change the flavor of mint.You can actually eat them if you want, they don’t have much flavor. Thyme, marjoram, and oregano: These flowers are fairly small and insignificant. Pinch flowers when they appear and the plant will become bushier. The following herbs can produce flowers without having it affect their flavor. You’ll be rewarded with more parsley the following spring. Parsley also bolts, but it doesn’t affect the flavor of the leaves so you can let it go to seed and then overwinter. Well, in the case of arugula making the leaves even more bitter. Watercress and arugula bolt, quickly making the leaves bitter. Bolting cilantro automatically becomes bitter and tough, rendering the plant inedible. BoltingĬilantro is probably the most problematic when it bolts. Knowing which ones bolt and which ones flower without a change in their taste is important. We’re proud to present our new e-book, The Enthusiast’s Guide to Herbs! Learn everything you need to know about growing and caring for herbs indoors, including in-depth info cards for the 35 most commonly grown herbs.Ĭlick the link below to find out more! Find out more Herbs that bolt vs herbs that flower?įortunately, there are some herbs that will flower instead of bolting, and they don’t see a change in taste or the toughness/tenderness of the stems and leaves. If you’re nearing the end of the growing season bolting will cause the plants to produce seeds, encouraging them to reseed themselves naturally, increasing the chance seeds will germinate in the spring to produce new plants.Īlso, when they bolt and form flowers the flowers can attract pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and hummingbirds to your garden. In some cases, it is beneficial if your plants bolt. The plant turns tough and woody instead of having tender leaves and stems making it undesirable to use for cooking or medicinal purposes. It signifies the end of the herb’s life cycle and results in a reduced taste. Unfortunately, for some herbs, yes, it is bad if they bolt. All of the resources internally will be translocated from the foliage and used to set seed, altering the flavor of the leaves. Īn herb will bolt because it thinks it is nearing the end of its life and it wants to produce seeds before perishing to carry on its genetic line. These warmer temperatures or other abiotic stresses such as drought, changes in sun exposure, or lack of nutrients trigger a change in the internal plant hormones causing plants to adapt to the adverse environments. To clarify, bolting in plants is when they suddenly grow quickly, stop flowering and produce seeds.įor plants, it is a survival mechanism, usually triggered by temperatures warmer than the plant prefers, especially for cool-season herbs and veggies like spinach, lettuce, and arugula. While it may seem like a strange term, plants bolt in a similar fashion it’s also a fight or flight response of sorts. When we think of something “bolting” we think of an animal or object that moves away quickly, usually when it’s in danger. So what exactly is bolting? Why does it change the flavor of your herbs (or plants)? And what can be done to fix it or prevent it? What is happening when your herbs bolt? This is bolting and it means in most cases your plant no longer tastes good. Your plants are growing great, looking really healthy, and then all of a sudden they have what looks like a major growth spurt, sending a flower stalk shooting up towards the sky, and forming seed heads. Anyone who has tried to grow herbs, or lettuce, or spinach probably has some experience with their plants bolting.
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