Symptoms
- check_circleStems or roots becoming hard and fibrous rather than tender
- check_circleLeaves turning leathery or tough
- check_circleHerbs developing woody stems with few soft new leaves
- check_circleRoot vegetables becoming hollow or pithy inside
Causes
- arrow_rightPlant bolting or maturing past peak harvest time
- arrow_rightDrought stress causing premature lignification
- arrow_rightOverly mature plants investing energy in structural tissue
- arrow_rightPerennial herbs not being cut back regularly
How to Diagnose
Snap a stem — if it does not bend or snaps with a fibrous break rather than a clean one, it has become woody. Taste a leaf: woodiness is accompanied by bitterness or toughness.
Treatment
Harvest immediately if approaching peak — woody texture cannot be reversed. For perennial herbs (rosemary, thyme, sage), hard prune in spring to encourage fresh soft growth. Do not cut into old wood.
Prevention
Harvest regularly to keep the plant producing soft new growth. Cut herbs frequently during the growing season. Sow fast-maturing varieties for root vegetables and harvest at the recommended size.
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