May 5, 2009
Again, sorry for the poorly lit picture. I’ve learned another lesson: broccoli bolts if it gets too hot. Every one of my 9 broccoli plants began to bolt due to all the 80 degree and sunny weather we’ve had so early in the season. This is very dissappointing to Ashley and me. We both really like broccoli. I’ve taken steps to try to save some of the heads and to save the side shoots that may come up soon: my solution was to make an attempt to keep the soil cooler in the heat of the day. I took some old newspapers and layed them out over the raised row that the broccoli is planted in. This should reflect a lot of the sun’s heat instead of allowing the dark soil to just soak it in. I layed the newspapers out last Friday and I haven’t seen any signs of an increase in bolting since then. So maybe I saved a little bit. The late season broccoli plantings should have any problems with that kind of heat, but next spring I’ll be sure to monitor the soil temperatures and apply the newspaper before the heads appear if we’re having any kind of hot weather. Fall plantings are more at risk of having a cold snap that is followed by normal or slightly above normal temperatures, which will also cause bolting. If this happens in the fall I would probably either apply black trashbags during the cold snap to help soak up heat from the sun or apply newspaper when it gets warm again to try to keep the soil from warming up too much. The key seems to be to just maintain soil temperatures as best as possible.

Again, sorry for the poorly lit picture.

I’ve learned another lesson: broccoli bolts if it gets too hot. Every one of my 9 broccoli plants began to bolt due to all the 80 degree and sunny weather we’ve had so early in the season. This is very dissappointing to Ashley and me. We both really like broccoli. I’ve taken steps to try to save some of the heads and to save the side shoots that may come up soon: my solution was to make an attempt to keep the soil cooler in the heat of the day. I took some old newspapers and layed them out over the raised row that the broccoli is planted in. This should reflect a lot of the sun’s heat instead of allowing the dark soil to just soak it in. I layed the newspapers out last Friday and I haven’t seen any signs of an increase in bolting since then. So maybe I saved a little bit.

The late season broccoli plantings should have any problems with that kind of heat, but next spring I’ll be sure to monitor the soil temperatures and apply the newspaper before the heads appear if we’re having any kind of hot weather.

Fall plantings are more at risk of having a cold snap that is followed by normal or slightly above normal temperatures, which will also cause bolting. If this happens in the fall I would probably either apply black trashbags during the cold snap to help soak up heat from the sun or apply newspaper when it gets warm again to try to keep the soil from warming up too much. The key seems to be to just maintain soil temperatures as best as possible.

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