Why is your lettuce getting tall? This is a question I have gotten a lot, especially as I was

sharing on Instagram, the story of my lettuce this season. And what's happening is that your lettuce,

if it is starting to grow tall instead of growing out, is it is starting to bolt.

If you're unfamiliar with what bolting is,

it is when a non-fruiting plant starts to send up a flower stock.

At the top of that stock, it will develop flowers

and those flowers will eventually turn into seeds.

What does that mean for you?

Well, if you notice that your central part of your

lettuce is developing a stock and growing tall, it's probably too late to harvest, although you can

always clip some of those leaves and taste them right out in the garden. And you'll notice right

away if they're able to be eaten,

because if they are bitter, you will know it.

You will probably not be able to even swallow it.

But sometimes with some varieties of lettuce,

I'm able to catch it quick enough to be able to harvest it

and it not be all that bitter yet.

It just depends on how quickly you catch it. Also, some varieties get

bitter much quicker than other varieties. Unfortunately, whenever your lettuce and other greens and

other vegetables like broccoli and kale, whenever they start to bolt, there's no going back.

That's basically the plant deciding to switch

into its reproductive mode and it's not going to bode well for you in your harvest.

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