premature seeding

agriculture

Also known as: bolting

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 13, 2026

Quick Summary

Premature seeding, also known as bolting, is an undesirable agricultural condition where a plant enters its seeding stage before the edible portion reaches a marketable size. This phenomenon is observed in vegetables like cabbage, celery, lettuce, and spinach.1

Bolting is primarily influenced by temperature extremes, either too low or too high, in combination with the plant's genetic traits. For instance, young cabbage or onion plants may bolt when exposed to temperatures between 50°F to 55°F (10°C to 13°C). Similarly, lettuce plants may bolt at temperatures between 70°F to 80°F (21°C to 27°C). Different vegetable varieties exhibit varying tendencies to bolt.1

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

3 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

vegetable farming
Temperature
Premature seeding, or bolting, is an undesirable condition that is sometimes seen in fields of cabbage, celery, lettuce, onion, and spinach. The condition occurs when the plant goes into the seeding stage before the edible portion reaches a marketable size. Bolting is attributed to either…
Read More
Premature seeding, or bolting, is an undesirable condition that is sometimes seen in fields of cabbage, celery, lettuce, onion, and spinach. The condition occurs when the plant goes into the seeding stage before the edible portion reaches a marketable size. Bolting is attributed to either…
Read More