Mine has done the same. In past years, they perform well into mid March here in Southern California w/ generous green foliage. I suspect the warmer weather has inadvertently signaled them to call it quits. I would keep harvesting the leaves but some would say the flavors are too strong for their taste.

Yes, they are bolting. Eat them ASAP. You can eat the flowering stems if they are still in bud. As to the edibility of the leaves, try some, and decide if you like them. They won’t hurt you but you may find them tough or too peppery. Your call.

thanks for your replies.

a couple more questions.

I'm a bit surprised they are bolting so quickly, some are mature, but some of those bolting are just baby plants! The weather did get warmer here recently, but nothing over 75.

Plants like this that are prone to bolt, can you prevent it if you move them into a shady place on days when the temperature rises?

I'm also wondering, since they're bolting does that mean they're done for and I should just pull the plants after eating the leaves, or transplant them to an unneeded spot in my garden to let them produce seed?

Thanks.

Transplanting will not change the signaling that has set the cascade in motion. I believe mother nature favored the rapid bolters so in any batch, there will be outliers that bolt early. You might as well pull and eat them.

Cut off the flowers and a portion of the stalk below the blooms. Wait and see if your plants show new growth before discarding. I know this method will cause some plants to make fresh, new growth, but not sure about mustard.

thanks for the suggestion woodrose.

otcay, yes I know the trasnplant won't stop the process, but I thought I could let some of the plants go to seed. I'm guessing then they will automatically reseed themselves and new mustard plants will pop up? don't have a lot past experience doing this, but I did it last year with my arugula, and now I've had endless arugula coming up the last couple monfths!

You didn't mention how long ago you planted these mustard greens, all "greens" will begin to bolt/flower after a certain amount of time.

I didn't date them but I believe about a month ago - not long ago at all. Which is why I was surprised to see them flowering so soon, as it hasn't actually been hot here, although the temp did rise recently.

I see now, ok then, flowering after planting the seed just one month ago is strange. I'd be hard pressed to even name a flower variety which would bloom that fast.

I had the same experience last year with Ethiopian Blue Mustard. It bolted before I could pick many leaves and, as a result, was rather a waste of a precious row in my garden :(. Perhaps I should plant it earlier this year when the weather is cooler.

vgkg, sorry, I should have specified about a month ago is when I put the baby plants in containers. Originally I had grown mustard microgreens with the seeds but I had some leftovers still popping up from the soil afterward, so transplanted them to grow full plants.

Premature bolting is the result of some kind of stress. The first transplanting would have started this off. Fast growing greens like mustards don’t take well to transplanting. Now we know they’re in containers that could be another source of stress. If they got dry at any point or if the soil is insufficiently nutritious those are further stressors. Mustards need to grow fast, cool, moist and undisturbed. Any chance of a picture? And what is your location?