Spinach Beet

[Stroppy scotte]

Hi again ( whoever he is ).
How hard do you pull back spinach beet? Have been leaving about half the leaves on the plant but wonder if I can take more?
I have discovered that the kids love it if cooked with cabbage . Let's hope they never find out what I am doing , otherwise they will want o leave home because they won't trust me!!!
(Don't ) tell them Please!!!

[nick the grief]

I grew soem Swiss Chard "Bright lights" last year & it turned out I was the only one who liked it so I cut it all off about 2" above the ground with a sickle & it's still a growing !!

[Stroppy scotte]

Does that mean the more I pull , the more will grow!! Yummy. Am struggling to pick enough to keep us all well fed!

[dexterdoglancashire]

I thought you could pull off the young leaves to start off with then pull the bigger ones, as long as you keep a few growing methinks it should be OK. My first year this year with beet - really enjoyed it! one on my list to grow next year. DDL

[Earthbabe]

As far as I understand and in my experience, yes SS. To a point the more you pick the more you get. It is after all otherwise known as "Perpetual". I think it gives up the ghost eventually depending on the weather conditions. IE too cold, too hot etc.

[roitelet]

I always grow Pertetual Spinach it is a biannual as it doesn't go to seed in th first year If you have enough space it can be left in the ground and you will get an early crop in the early summer before it runs to seed. Once it is established I pull it very hard down to two or three leaves and it doesn't seem to do it any harm. It's very productive and I often end up having to compost it after having eaten enough to turn my hair green and frozen loads for winter. Sorry can't spell this morning it's too early

[Nicos]

I will continue picking mine until it stops growing - if it's a mild winter( ) and it's covered with fleece, it just keeps on growing slowly until it goes to seed in the summer.Mine last into the 2nd summer, so I only tend to grow it from seed every other year.
Depends on how much of a supply you need.

[Stroppy scotte]

Thanks for all the advice.
So far the kids haven't cottoned on and seem to enjoy the mixture of Beet and cabbage!!!

[Nicos]

Goes really well in soup too

[nick the grief]

...... annd you can serve the mid rib as a seperate dish steamed & dollops of butter & a twist of lemming er sorry meant black pepper - touch of the Monty Pythons then rather than Monty Dons

[Earthbabe]

Alternatively if the stems are long and thickish use in place of pastry to line a pie dish. Very tasty especially with salmon.

[Stroppy scotte]

Fantastic ideas.
Thanks

[Alice]

Or add it to the lamb curry. Yum. my favourite.

[angie loves veg]

I grow bright lights also, I always pull the biggest leaves first, i snap them at the base - I have kept three plants for two years doing this eventually they give up the ghost, bolt, turn into fantastic (and attractive) 8ft plants from which I got this years seed!

The leaves are good layered into a lasagne, or at the bottom of a fish pie... wilted with (too much) butter...YUM!

[angie loves veg]

Does that mean the more I pull , the more will grow!! Yummy. Am struggling to pick enough to keep us all well fed!

I find so long as you pick from the outside, and leave at least the central three or four small leaves it will keep going - slower in the winter admittedly, but it will start up again in the spring (I've never cloched it either - but maybe that would increase winter productivity?)