Why do broccoli plants start to flower?

Question

well, why do broccoli plants bolt early before producing broccoli?

Answer 1

Plants use flowers as a way to breed. Broccoli flowers so that bees can pollinate the flowers, and create seeds, which will in turn creat new broccoli plants once the seeds reach the ground.

Broccoli is a vegetable that will flower unlike some other plants. The parts that we eat are called florets. Each floret has the potential of opening a tiny flower. When broccoli goes to flowering, it has bolted and is not edible. Bolting means the plant has finished its reproductive cycle and is now going to make seeds.

Answer 2

After the flower comes the seed and then you can grow more Broccoli. It is the natural order of things. We eat the broccoli before it flowers as with many other veg.

Answer 3

ok , will try to address your add details , as in why your plants have gone straight to flowering .

It is a bit of an odd time of year to be harvesting brassicas ,in the uk . They are usually planted to crop in the autumn , winter , and spring . So , that could be a reason .

A chronic lack of certain nutrients , may be the cause , - use a fresh piece of ground , if poss , and dig in lots of nitrogen rich , rotted , manure .

Other than that , maybe they aren't broccoli plants , and are just a mustard . I hope you can try again , and have more luck .

Answer 4

Because pretty much all plants want to flower.  It's in their DNA.  Growing flowers result in seed development. Just like we desire s*x (to have kids in some cases), flowers want to develop seed so that they can continue the gene pool.

Broccoli flowers after the plant has grown.  When it flowers it's too late to harvest as the plant will be bitter to the taste.  This is true for other brassica plants, lettuce, spinach and many herbs.