[Sleepingpopman]

Hiya 
I grew from seed 6 Marian swede plants, put them in the veg patch & they have grown great with plenty of healthy leaves but I noticed yesterday that 2 of them have got a solid stalk coming out of the centre of the leaves of which 1 has a cluster of flowers appearing as if it is going to seed & bolting.   
 I have not let them go dry & then drowned them & I even gave them a feed last week.
Any suggestions.
Keith   

[Rich72]

All mine have done the same 

[DD.]

When did you sow them and were they transplants?

[Mark's Sussex Allotment]

How often should I be watering them?

I've only been doing it about 1 or 2 twice a week, but the soil is bone dry around mine.

[Aidy]

Following on from DD generally i only start sowing mine at the beginning of July so they are ready for autumn onwards, it may just be they have been sown to early.
I cant remember the last time one went to seed.

[DD.]

Smack on Aidy, that's what I was angling for.

Says he who can't grow a swede for love nor money.

[Beetroot queen]

Smack on Aidy, that's what I was angling for.

Says he who can't grow a swede for love nor money.

We dont believe that, i am waiting to see your swede entry. Mine has two true leaves, does it count yet. 

[DD.]

I have a cunning plan, that is by no means certain.

If it succeeds it means I won't win the worst swede compy - a title I don't really want!

[mumofstig]

I sowed mine, in modules, on 4th May in 2012 and 30th May this year, they'll be ready to transplant soon 

[DD.]

Hey - don't give the game away!

[mumofstig]

  I was just saying that planting earlier isn't necessarily a reason for them to bolt 

Getting too dry, or pot bound, are more likely to cause bolting than earlier planting IMO

[DD.]

Depends how early!

I'm sure it's not the case here, but someone was sowing them in March.

[seaside]

Hope you lot don't mind, but why is there so much mirth surrounding folk that maybe sow early, while late sowing decisions  are treated with far more respect ?
A sort of generic question that might produce a useful answer hopefully.
Am I missing something really obvious in a growing sense ?

[Sleepingpopman]

Hi again 
Thanks to those who have replied to my question.
I sowed them in modules in an unheated green house in late March, as it said on the seed packet & then planted them out at the end of May. Before anyone asks I can't remember who's seed they were as they were left over from last year but I did exactly the same this year.
Special thanks to seaside for making a valid point, I only asked for some advice.
Keith

[Rosehip]

Its the one crop I find very hit and miss,four years ago chucked them in and had a great crop,next year thought I planted late mid June tiny crop,last year flea beetle attacked them tiny crop again but this year touch wood they
look great.I sow in May direct and thin out.better luck next year.