When can you start picking spinach leaves?

[gardendancer]

So I planted some spinach, and the first pair of true leaves have appeared on the plants. I was wondering when I can start picking the leaves?

[piskieinboots]

when they are big enough for your requirements

[Flummery]

If you want them for trendy salads, as soon as they're big enough to grasp. If you want to wilt them down for traditional cooking, bearing in mind that a bucketful gives 4 people a tablespoon each - I'd leave them to get a bit bigger.

[gardendancer]

LOL
Yes i'm wondering how I'd get enough for a creamed spinach accompanyment for 2, if I need 300 grams of spinach.

I'll leave them to get a bit bigger, it's jsut nice sometimes to stick a few leaves in a curry, so watned to know when it'd be safe to start picking so I won't kill the plants.

It's my main problem with growing veg, I'm that little bit too impatient, and might pick things before they've reached their ideal size

[Flummery]

I like a bit of chard to stick in a curry. I find it doesn't bolt as much as spinach, though at this time of your you shouldn't have that problem.

[Alison]

I use chard also quite a bit instead of spinach also, as Flum says, little risk of bolting and it doesn't reduce down so much!