"Bolting" Swede

[nerobot]

Hi all,

Was wondering if anyone has ever left a swede in the ground over winter to collect the leaves in spring? I left one in last year and once it started getting some sun about a month ago, it started to grow lots of leaves and flower buds. The funny thing is that it is about 4 feet tall and so has more greens and buds on it than my PSB! Didn't need to feed it or anything, it just came up all by itself and I have been using the leaves like spinach and they are very nice. Think I might do the same this year with one or two. Might also let it flower to see if the bees like them.

Steven

[Snadger]

Chooks luv the bolters as well!

[Two_Sheds]

Not with swede, but I leave my beetroot in the ground for the new spring leaves it throws up.

[shirlthegirl43]

I have a Snowball turnip which I left overwinter. Didn't think to harvest the leaves but it is flowering wonderfully at the moment and I hope to collect the seeds and pass them around if anyone wants them (don't think they are F1)

[Pumpkin Becki]

I bunged some swede seeds onto an empty patch last September. They never really came to anything, but I hoped they'd bulk up in the spring. Instead they went woody and horrible, so I pulled them all up in disgust. (Note to self: sew things at the right time of year!!)