Can bolting lettuce still taste OK?

[Storming Norman]

Is this odd?

I took a few days holiday last week and the lettuce that were ready sneaked up on me and bolted.

I was so peeved I tried eating a few leaves - the little gems are really good still, not bitter at all, even though they are 3 times as tall as last week. They got picked pretty quickly. Same with the black seeded simpson.

Are there any other lettuce worth eating when bolting or is this a one off?

Ann

[Snadger]

If you're a chook!!

[Helenclare]

or a rabbit!

[shirlthegirl43]

or a giant land snail

[LostGoddess]

LOL at the replies! Well I wasn't a giant land snail last time I looked, but I am eating bolting lettuces galore right now. I read somewhere that if you chop a bolting lettuce off at the base it will regrow, so I tried it and it works a treat. No need to re-sow woohoo! The only things I find go bitter after bolting are rocket (even more bitter I should say) and mizuna.

[WeeGarden]

I'm eating bolted red salad bowl. Doesn't taste that different, but not sure if it's cos I always dress it.

[sarraceniac]

LOL at the replies! Well I wasn't a giant land snail last time I looked, but I am eating bolting lettuces galore right now. I read somewhere that if you chop a bolting lettuce off at the base it will regrow, so I tried it and it works a treat. No need to re-sow woohoo! The only things I find go bitter after bolting are rocket (even more bitter I should say) and mizuna.

You have got me upset LG. We have so much Mizuna we can't eat it all, especially as we find it rather bland. Maybe I should let it bolt?

[Alice]

It will all taste fine in soup.
Melt some butter
Add some chopped onions and sautee a few minutes
Stir in some curry powder (you know how much you like)
Fry for 1 minute
Add about 1 pint of stock and bring to the boil
Add all that lettuce you have no use for
Simmer about 10 minutes
Add 1 cup of peas (the cheapest fozen ones you can find)
Simmer another 10 minutes
Cool, and liquidise the lot. Reheat or freeze.
Serve with good bread (your own) and a dollop of yoghurt.
Lovely lunch.

[Hazel at the Hill]

It will all taste fine in soup.
...

Thank you, Alice - I have bolting lettuce at the Hill which I didn't know what to do with.

[SlugLobber]

Yup, I cook overgrown lettuce. I've left some this year to go to flower, just to see what they looked like. A bit rampant, but prettier than expected!

[Maddie106]

LOL at the replies! Well I wasn't a giant land snail last time I looked, but I am eating bolting lettuces galore right now. I read somewhere that if you chop a bolting lettuce off at the base it will regrow, so I tried it and it works a treat. No need to re-sow woohoo! The only things I find go bitter after bolting are rocket (even more bitter I should say) and mizuna.

I've started cutting off the Rocket flowering stems with scissors, harvesting the little leaves to eat (Haven't noticed they taste bitter) and giving the big leaves to the chickens. The stems go into the compost bin.

[Sue]

Hi
I got some of the Cos Lettuce Gelbus trial seeds from DTBrown and they've done very well, not bolted but have grown an "extra bit" alongside the main heart of the plant.

The seeds were sown on 23rd March and planted out on 27th April. They went in a raised bed and were very well watered in, the earth covered with a straw mulch and never given any more water. I've got one left to eat!

They've been in the ground for nearly 3 months and not bolted so I've been very pleased with them. They did get a sprinkling of organic slug pellets on planting and that seems to have kept the giant slimeys off, I've found a few babies but very little overall damage.

Oh, and they taste good too, so will def be growing this one again. I'd given up on Cos lettuce as they all bolted very quickly so this one has been excellent. The other lettuce that stands very well is Minigreen from T & M, an iceberg type.


Sue

[GrubbyGirl]

I've started cutting off the Rocket flowering stems with scissors, harvesting the little leaves to eat (Haven't noticed they taste bitter) and giving the big leaves to the chickens. The stems go into the compost bin.

Actually try the rocket flowers themselves, they taste really good and can go in a salad. It was a tip given me by a neighbour and they are really nice, so all is not lost with bolting rocket.

[Bren In Pots]

I use my bolting lettuce in a stir fry, it tastes fine.

[indigox]

It will all taste fine in soup.
Melt some butter
Add some chopped onions and sautee a few minutes
Stir in some curry powder (you know how much you like)
Fry for 1 minute
Add about 1 pint of stock and bring to the boil
Add all that lettuce you have no use for
Simmer about 10 minutes
Add 1 cup of peas (the cheapest fozen ones you can find)
Simmer another 10 minutes
Cool, and liquidise the lot. Reheat or freeze.
Serve with good bread (your own) and a dollop of yoghurt.
Lovely lunch.

Ooh, that's almost exactly the same recipe I did last week to use up about 10 bolters, I was feeling kinda smug for thinking it up myself! I also added a big bunch of mint.
Bolted lettuces are great in soups, I highly recommend.