Argh! My spinach is bolting...

[Bex]

Do we know why? Can't be lack of water lol. If I pinch out the forming flower heads will it prolong my leaf production? Thanks all.


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[Nicos]

Yes it will help...mine are doing the same.
Take as many leaves as you can to reduce the height to encourage new growth from the base.

Tis the variable temperatures

[Bex]

Thanks Nicos, I wouldn't mind if I'd had some use of it yet but I've not harvested any lol 😖


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[BertieFox]

As a spinach lover, have you tried Swiss Chard? I find it so similar to spinach that I no longer grow the real thing. Chard has the big advantage that the spring sown plants can be harvested in early summer, left to grow over winter, and produce another crop the next spring, before going to flower. They self seed so easily you need never be without it.

Otherwise, New Zealand spinach is perfect for a summer crop, especially on sandy soils, and will go on producing more and more small shoots which have probably the best spinach flavour of all these plants. NZ spinach can be difficult to germinate but you can make more plants from the shoots which root relatively easily.

[Bex]

There was some chard on the allotment when I first got it. I tasted it then immediately dug it up. Not to my taste unfortunately.


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[Florence Fennel]

I too chop the tops off to encourage more shoots - it usually woriks - good luck Bex

[snakeshack]

I grow spinach beet instead , tastes like spinach and if it bolts I just cut it off at ground level and wait for it to resprout I'm just about to grub out the plants I put in last year ( march) as this years are now producing


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[Bex]

I grow spinach beet instead , tastes like spinach and if it bolts I just cut it off at ground level and wait for it to resprout I'm just about to grub out the plants I put in last year ( march) as this years are now producing

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Hmmm sounds like a plan. I did sow another half row today because I had the seeds. I also harvested enough for 2 to have on our dinner and pinched out forming flower heads. We will see what happens.


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[Ja9]

Yes mine is bolting too. Really annoying. I'm not so keen on Swiss chard although the rainbow version looks pretty.i find spinach beet tougher than spinach.I will use as much as possible today in a pesto ,spinach and chicken lasagne.The hens can have the flower heads!

[Richard Eldritch]

I'm having my best spinach year ever! Mines refusing to bolt and keeps throwing up loads of nice new leaves. Sorry didn't mean to gloat.... I'm growing Emillia F1

[Penellype]

Both my Bloomsdale and Tirza are bolting, even though they are in a fairly shady place and have been well watered. I find spinach doesn't like warm springs which this has definitely been. It produces bigger leaves and for longer when it is cool and damp.

[Chris172]

Hi I have grown bloomsdale and perpetual spinach which has been great but just now about finished from last years crop. I also have grown rainbow chard and has also been great and have had to remove it for another crop to fill in.

I have grown this is partial shade for two years and it has worked out well.

New plants in the greenhouse ready for planting out in about two weeks and these hopefully will last until same time next year.

To get the best from your plants you have to pick the crop don't leave it and if you have too much freeze or give it away as your plants will not reproduce to a good standard

Happy gardening


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[Richard Eldritch]

Further to my earlier boast, mines bolted as well! lol. It was delicious though. I'm going to sow a new lot in a shadier damper part of the garden. see how it goes eh...

[Bex]

Further to my earlier boast, mines bolted as well! lol. It was delicious though. I'm going to sow a new lot in a shadier damper part of the garden. see how it goes eh...

Lol that'll teach ya!


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[Chris172]

Hi just returned from garden and this afternoon cleared out the spinach bloomsdale plants however with carefully picking from the good wife a full bag of baby leaf ready for the pot or shall I say spinach and lentil dahl really tasty

Happy gardening


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