Q Why do my ‘Musselburgh’ leeks bolt?
John Foster, Kendal, Cumbria
ABolting is when a vegetable prematurely flowers and runs to seed. Plants bolt as a result of a prolonged cold period early in their growth cycle, often at the seedling stage. Don’t sow too early, especially in colder areas. If the weather’s poor, late April or even into May is fine for sowing. Alternatively, you could sow in modules under cover, and only plant outside once all risk of cold weather has passed. Seed of F1 varieties will be more expensive, but they’re often more reliable than open pollinated types, such as ‘Musselburgh’. Thompson & Morgan’s ‘Below Zero’ is a good choice for cold areas.