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Early bolting #876869

Asked July 11, 2024, 5:33 PM EDT

I am an experienced gardener and have a very large garden and have been proving CSA boxes to a few people for the past 3 years. I say this because I want you to understand my experience before my questions. I have had several varieties of things bolt especially early this year and I am trying to figure out why. For instance, I have four parsley plants all seeded in winter this year and three of them are sending up a flower stalk. I have a couple of celery plants doing the same (also planted by seed in Feb) and it seems that all of my cruciferous vegetables are creating heads earlier than normal. I tested my soil this spring and discovered that I have a very little available nitrogen although I have lots of organic matter, so I am sure that there is some stored. I also have high phosphorus and low potassium. According to the tests I did test myself with a kit and so I do not have ppm numbers. Because of my low nitrogen numbers, I added bloodmeal at planting for pretty much all of the garden. I’m not sure if that has made a difference with the bolting or not as it added nitrogen but not potassium. If you could direct me to a great resource, I would appreciate it or if you happen to know what might be going on that would be fabulous as well. If you need more information, please don’t hesitate to ask. Thank you so much.

Otter Tail County Minnesota

Expert Response

https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/edible/herbs/parsley/bolting-parsley-plants.htm#:~:text=Bolting%20usually%20occurs%20when%20the,plant%20also%20stops%20producing%20leaves.
Parsley bolts when it is stressed or when temps are over 80. I think all the rain has stressed plants. They get too much water and roots rot and then the plant can’t take up water so it looks like it is short of water. Plants also respond slowly to environmental conditions so if they are getting lots of water they need a couple of days to cope with much less water. The plant response to stress is to make seeds. My parsley has bolted this year too. 
This link has advice on how to delay bolting and I am going to try pinching mine back. I am already removing flower heads as soon as I see them. 
High phosphorus is also blamed as a cause of bolting but all soils in Hennepin county are very high in phosphorus and I have grown parsley in past years without it bolting.

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