whats happened to my salad leaves

[neil1280]

i started thes salad leaves from seed 2 months ago they were just titled "oriental spicy leaf" im postitve that one of the leaves amongst it was mizuna leaf.

anyway, it got really bushy and there was plenty to eat but now there is just a skinny branch with little yellow flowers? is that the leaves out of season now or what you reckon?

i should point out i potted them on the right of the flowerbox and it seems to have spread across and under the pathetically slow growing basil then came up on the left side

or could i be wrong and could it be a weed that has grew up from the soil, taken from elsewhere in the garden

[binley100]

Sounds to me like your mizuma has bolted (mine has as well )

[Jameslovell]

I think they may have bolted. Best to start again. You can grow salad all summer long, so plenty of time to try again.

Bolting, if i rememerb correctly, happens when they don't get enough water or are left too long. Try watering from below, keeping the soil moist. Test about 5mm below the top of the soil. Also try eating the leave a bit younger.

[neil1280]

aw well, start again. i know what happened, i had forgotten to water one day and when i got home it was very limp and wilty it mustnt have survived.

so what exactly does bolted mean?

[Jameslovell]

Bolted means it has started flowering. It happens when days get warmer, longer and dryer. The plants get over excited.

[tamsin]

You need to sow a bit every few weeks so you always have the young plants that aren't ready to flower yet. Reminds me - must sow more too, mines beginning to show signs of bolting as well.

[Two_Sheds]

Oriental veg likes cool weather: it will always bolt in the summer, it's not your fault. Try some again for an autumn crop.

Bolting means (prematurely) running to flower/seed.

[Snadger]

I am look after my allotment neigbours plot when they are away. They have a salad bar planted up with mixed oriental leaves.
They will be very surprised at there new flower patch on their return.........really quite pretty and saved me from experimenting with mine!

[shauno67]

leaves

can you still eat these leaves even though they have flowered????

[Bigmallly]

can you still eat these leaves even though they have flowered????

I tried a few Chinese cabbage leaves after they bolted but was not to my taste. Thats said, there is nothing to stop you trying a few.

[Bren In Pots]

can you still eat these leaves even though they have flowered????

like BM says give them a try and if they're a bit bitter chuck them in a stir fry.

and welcome to the forum

[Bigmallly]

Sorry Shaun, I must have been talking with my eyes closed. Welcome to the vine.

[chris]

I ate mine that had bolted, didnt really notice much difference, but I caught it quickly.

I've now 4 salad patches/troughs/containers so hopefully I can harvest one weekly to keep me going through the month.. each sown a week apart (ish) - we'll see if it works!