I just got a garden tunnel to shield my lettuces from pests, but I'm worried about them bolting when the weather heats up. What can I do to keep them from bolting, especially as the days get longer and hotter? Is there a specific type of fabric that can block UV rays? I'd love to hear successful strategies from anyone who's dealt with this!
2 Answers
Lettuce mainly bolts due to heat and stress. Keeping them well-watered and avoiding any stress is key, but with summer comes the heat. I usually harvest quickly and re-sow every ten days to keep a fresh batch growing. This method works well for cilantro, too!
I grew Grandma Hadley's lettuce variety one summer, and it bolted slower than others! It still bolted eventually, but I got a couple of extra weeks out of it. It's worth a shot if you're looking for some delay.