The Independent
·Jul 2026
Vegetables bolting in the summer heat? Expert gardener shares seven tips to stop this from happening
Environmental stress such as heat, cold or changing day length increases the risk of leafy vegetables producing flowers prematurely. Gardener Harrison Fannon recommends keeping soil moist through mulching, creating shade with plants or netting, intercropping to reduce sun exposure, planting densely, watering early, and focusing on heat-tolerant crops. Perennial varieties can also reduce bolting, and bolted plants can be left to decompose in place to improve soil moisture and nutrients.