This red cabbage bolted into flower before forming a nice, tight, round head.

In gardening we are not talking about nuts and bolts or how fast you might want to chase away garden pests. The term “bolt” is more commonly used to describe plants that send up flowers and set seed too early. There are some plants that you don’t want to flower (and subsequently set seed). Vegetables like carrots, beets and lettuce, for example, will become woody or bitter as soon as the flower shoots begin to develop. Certain varieties of plants are more prone than others to “go to seed” or “bolt” if temperatures warm too much or vary from ideal and plants feel rushed to complete their annual or biennial life cycles. Starting plants early enough that they can comfortably finish their growth rather than rushing into flower will prevent the problem. Choosing varieties that are bred for your climate will help, too.

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