Let's talk about Spinach and Chard!

[veggiechicken]

I've just realised how little I know about growing and seed saving Spinach.
My plan had been to broadcast spinach seeds over an empty bed and let them self seed so that I'd never have to sow them again. With its reputation of being quick to bolt it seemed simple...............but it isn't

RealSeeds advise that beets will cross-pollinate within an area of 2 miles - and that includes any beetroot, chard, perpetual spinach and sugar beet.

Apparently, spinach plants are either male or female so only half will produce seed.

Then, I looked at my spinach seed stash and find that most of them are F1s

Does anyone know what happens when these plants interbreed? Do you get a new variety or something rubbishy?

I already have a bed of selfseeded chard. Am I putting it at risk by growing spinach nearby?

All answers appreciated - thanks

[Scarlet]

You can let each variety flower at different times...that's how I saved my chard and beetroot last year. Seemed to work.

[muddled]

Can you experiment with a view to free chicken food if it all goes wrong?

My spinach has flowered but is taking forever to drop the seeds.

[happyhumph]

You might get something wonderful or something yuck - that's what makes it interesting. As for adding an f1 into the mix, well, that's another layer of complexity to add....

Realised this isn't very helpful sorry go with what scarlet said! I'm trying to save turnip greens seed this year.

[Zelenina]

Perpetual spinach is actually a type of chard and will cross with chard and beets. Proper spinach, on the other hand, is not closely related to beets or chard and won't cross with them.

[veggiechicken]

Thank you Zelenina - that's very reassuring!

I now have a plan
One self perpetuating spinach bed will be sown soon with non F1 seeds. I'll sow some now in the hope that it will bolt and set seed - and some a little later for cropping.

The F1s will be grown elsewhere and picked young.

Here's a List of RHS recommended varieties https://www.rhs.org.uk/Education-Lea...AGMspinach2011