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  • From: Pat Meadows <pat AT meadows.pair.com>
  • To: Market Farming <market-farming AT lists.ibiblio.org>
  • Subject: Re: [Market-farming] Bolting of Pac Choi
  • Date: Sat, 07 Jun 2003 15:05:13 -0400

On Sat, 7 Jun 2003 07:13:22 -0700, you wrote:

>Has anyone had problems with Mei King Pac Choi from Johnny's bolting
>this season. We have used their seed for five years with great
>success-this year our last three plantings have bolted. We used seed
>we purchased from Johnny's this season. Weather has been on the cool
>side-the opposite of what might cause bolting. Even the starts in the
>shade house appear too tall-looks like they too might bolt.
>

I bought a book this year called 'Oriental Vegetables' by
Joy Larkcom - this is a wonderful book, btw, lots of good
information (although the author is British and doesn't
understand USA climates: but still the book is terrific for
anyone growing Asian veggies, IMHO).

Anyway, she says:

--------------
The bolting problem

Under certain conditions, a number of the oriental brassicas
have a tendency to bolt...The causes of bolting are complex
and interrelated. To a greater or lesser extent the
following factors play a part:

Low temperatures in the early stages of growth - This is
thought to be the single most important factor. Low
temperatures, both when seeds are germinating and in the
early stages of growth, lead to the initiation of flowers
instead of leaves. Put very simple, young plants need to
'clock up' a certain number of heat units to prevent
bolting: once this has been done they can be subjected to
lower temperatures without bolting.

---------------

She then goes on to list other factors that can contribute
to bolting, including day length, genetic factors (I think
you've eliminated those by having used it successfully
before), and 'various kinds of stress'. She goes on to say
that stressors such as 'transplanting, lack of water,
over-weating, or sudden temperature changes can exacerbate
the tendency to bolt.'

I hadn't realized that cold temperatures could cause bolting
before I read the book. BTW, it really is an invaluable
book for anyone interested in growing Asian vegetables. (I
think I said that before, sorry.)

It's available used at various places, and you can find a
list of the places that have it used, and their prices, at:
http://www.addall.com.used . My copy cost $8.00 and it's
really worth a lot more to me.

Pat




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