Gardening question: once veggies "bolt", are they still nutritional to eat?

[MsWhatsit]

I was pondering this while weeding in our community garden plot earlier today. (Related but tangential note: sugar snap peas fresh off the vine are so tasty.)

We have some spinach and arugula that has bolted, i.e. put up flower stalks. Most of the people I know write the plant off once this has happened, as the flavor becomes a bit too strong and bitter. However, I actually like my arugula on the bitter side. I'm just wondering what actually happens to the leaves of the plant once it bolts. Do they lose some of their nutritional/vitamin content? Are they still just as good to eat as ever?

I guess maybe this wouldn't be such a big issue for me if I got out there more often and kept the dang plants trimmed back a little more...

[Balthisar]

Good question -- ditto for me and corriander. It grew and bolted so fast it lasted LESS in the garden than it normally does in the refrigerator! On the other hand, the corriander seeds'll be good seasoning, I guess. But it's the leaves we usually really want!

[Stana Claus]

I can't say with certainty what happens to the vegetables you specified, but as an owner of numerous horses that consume a lot of hay, I do know about the changes in the nutrient content of hay grasses as they age.

During early growth stages, the leaves of the plant have their highest nutrient levels. As the plant begins to flower, then go to seed, the nutrient content of the leaves and stems drops significantly as those nutrients are diverted to the reproductive efforts. As an example, Bermuda grass hay if cut before full maturation (seed heads developed) can have a protein content near 16%. Once it starts going to seed, the protein content can quickly drop into the 10-11% range and continues to drop as the plant ages. That translates to about a 33% loss of nutrative value.

Not being a certified horticulturalist, I can only extrapolate that something similar happens with your typical vegetable garden plants. Anyone feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

SC

[MsWhatsit]

Thanks for the info, Stana Claus! I kind of suspected that was the case, because it makes logical sense from a botanical standpoint, but I wanted to see if anyone knew for sure.

I guess I'll stick with my not-yet-bolted lettuce, and wait until the next spinach planting comes up before I make my next baby spinach salad...