Why does lettuce go to seed and how to extend its shelf life
When the lettuce starts to shoot up, it means it is starting to flower.
This occurs when the plant encounters unfavorable conditions that cause stress.
Plants, like animals, have a survival instinct built into them by nature. Only animals can run away or attack in case of a threat to their life, but plants cannot. Therefore, the only way to save yourself is to continue your race, surviving as a species.
Any deviation from the norm causes stress in a plant. Drought, heat, root undermining, transplantation, damage to the rosette, as well as hot weather and long daylight hours - this is a signal that it is time to reproduce. Therefore, when sowing in the summer, do not delay the removal of leaves.
How to Avoid Lettuce Bolting
There are several ways to help avoid premature bolting.
1. Maintain proper watering regime.
Lettuce needs regular watering, especially during hot weather periods. Plants should receive sufficient moisture.
2. Provide sufficient light.
Lettuce needs sufficient light for normal growth and development. Plants should receive at least 6-8 hours of full sunlight per day. If you are growing lettuce indoors, make sure that the plants receive sufficient light from the lamp.
3. Maintain proper soil pH levels.
The optimum soil pH should be between 6.0 and 7.5. If the soil pH is low or high, it will result in the plant not being able to get enough nutrients from the soil. This is a threat to survival. So, it is time to reproduce. The same applies to situations where the plant is planted in poor sandy soil.
4. Select the appropriate variety.
There are different varieties of lettuce. And each of them has its own characteristics. Some varieties are resistant to bolting, others are resistant to low temperatures, and others are resistant to diseases. Before sowing, it is important to choose the right variety. For early spring, more cold-resistant, for the summer period, resistant to bolting.
Don't forget about weeding. Weeds compete with lettuce for nutrients and moisture, which can lead to bolting of plants. Therefore, regularly remove weeds and keep the soil clean.
