F1 Spinach bolted to flower, is it unusable now?

[Leeds_lad]

You heard right, the weather has been so wacky it has caused an F1 Spinach, which is bred for non-bolting, has bolted.

Can i still pick off the outer leaves as usual, or is it simply pull them up and compost?

[Two_Sheds]

If it still tastes good, keep eating it


I grow chard (leafbeet) instead of real spinach, it stands much better, lasts longer, and self-seeds prolifically

[Leeds_lad]

Just noticed my Shallots are throwing up a flower now as well.
Not been a good year D=

[sownsow]

My F1 Perpetual "Popeye" greens have also bolted!
I think I'll go down Two Sheds route of trying chard - maybe we'll see some sun next week......!

[Florence Fennel]

Salvage it and eat the still tasty bits. One of my calabrese plants bolted and loads of onions.

[salome2001]

If it still tastes good, keep eating it


I grow chard (leafbeet) instead of real spinach, it stands much better, lasts longer, and self-seeds prolifically

my perpetual spinach (= leaf beet??) has bolted. And my chard!!!

[Alison]

The thing is that if perpetual spinach / chard / leaf beet bolt then they still taste good but true spinnach becomes bitter and yukky.

[salome2001]

ok Alison, looks like "spinach" and ricotta cannelloni might still be on the menu for tomorrow night... will let you know if it's a success...

[taff]

has anyone let spinach flower and self seed? or is everyone growing F1's?

[Two_Sheds]

my perpetual spinach (= leaf beet??) has bolted. And my chard!!!

This year's plantings?

If last year's: they will, they're biennial

[Alison]

has anyone let spinach flower and self seed? or is everyone growing F1's?

I've had it self seed loads of times, can't remember what variety I have but it's certainly not an F1.

This year's plantings?

If last year's: they will, they're biennial

My chard always bolts in it's first year and also always dies off over winter (have tried loads of different varieties and had the same results) if left outside despite people saying it'll survive anything, even a mild winter like last year does for it. I do however overwinter some in the tunnel with great success. However, standard leaf beet (rather than the prettier chard varieties) copes quite well with even very cold winters with no problem. I used to get really annoyed about the bolting as I thought it couldn't be eaten, was a good day when I discovered that wasn't the case and now I don't worry