Lettuce Bolting: Why It Flowers and Turns Bitter
Flowering problem · common pattern reported by gardeners · verify locally
What you'll see
- Stem elongates quickly
- Leaves turn bitter
- Tiny flower stalk shoots up
Most common causes
- Heat above 75°F triggers bolting
- Day length lengthens in late spring
- Drought stress speeds it up
How to fix it
- Harvest immediately — leaves get bitter fast
- Cut-and-come-again: trim outer leaves before bolting
- Shade cloth in warm spells
Prevention: Plant heat-tolerant varieties in spring Sow in fall for late-season crop Keep soil consistently moist
More Lettuce problems
Grow Lettuce with confidence
Open the Lettuce growing guide → · Planting calendar · Pest & problem diagnoser
ZoneFig content reflects widely published extension-service and gardening guidance. Symptoms and causes are common patterns, not a diagnosis for any individual plant — verify locally and treat conservatively.