My Spinach Is Bolting - Learn About The Bolting Of Spinach

What to do if spinach is bolting?

You have a few options when spinach begins to bolt, such as pulling it up immediately and planting a warm-season crop in its place. You can plant a new spinach crop after the hot weather ends in fall. You can pinch off the flower buds in an attempt to slow the bolting process, but this is usually a losing battle.

Is it safe to eat spinach that has bolted?

Spinach that has bolted. Once your favorite leaf lettuce or other leafy green has begun to bolt, the leaves turn bitter and can no longer be eaten. But, just because your lettuce plants have bolted, doesn't mean that you should pull them out right away.

How do you get rid of bolting?

Bolting can be prevented by either planting early in the spring so that bolt-prone plants grow during late spring, or late in the summer so they grow during early fall. You can also add mulch and ground cover to the area, as well as watering regularly in order to keep the soil temperature down.

What happens during bolting?

Bolting is when plants produce a hearty, nutrient-gobbling flowering stem before harvest. This occurs as a natural attempt to produce seeds – a means of survival when a plant is put under stress and feels that it is in danger. For this reason, many gardeners will also call this dreaded behavior “going to seed”.

Will spinach regrow after cutting?

ANSWER: As long as the growing point is not damaged during the initial harvesting and the weather is still cool, spinach plants will most likely regrow for two or more harvests. ... The leaves should then regenerate for a second harvest within four weeks after the first cutting.

Is bolted lettuce poisonous?

Bolted lettuce can still be harvested and eaten, although the leaves will taste unpalatable and bitter if they are left on the plant too long, so it is best to pick the leaves as soon as possible after bolting and remove the plant entirely once all the edible leaves are removed.

How do you keep spinach from going bad?

Store fresh spinach in a clean container wrapped with paper towels. Place it in the refrigerator in the crisp drawer to save the greens for up to ten days. Containers will protect the greens from being moved around or crushed like they would in bags. Paper towels absorb the moisture, and keep your spinach fresh.

How do you trim spinach?

Small spinach leaves can be harvested with scissors by simply cutting the leaves at the stem. One way to do this is start harvesting the outer, older leaves first and then gradually working your way in to the center of the plant as those leaves mature. You can also just cut the whole plant off at the base.

What causes bolting?

Bolting is induced by plant hormones of the gibberellin family, and can occur as a result of several factors, including changes in day length, the prevalence of high temperatures at particular stages in a plant's growth cycle, and the existence of stresses such as insufficient water or minerals.

Why is my broccoli bolting?

When broccoli gets too hot, it will bolt or start to flower. Contrary to popular belief, hot weather will not cause bolting broccoli. What actually causes bolting broccoli is hot soil.

How do you keep vegetables from bolting?

Use bolt-resistant varieties for the earliest sowings of annual vegetables that respond to increasing day length: spinach, lettuce, beetroot, rocket etc. Resistant varieties are also a good option for biennials like onions and carrots that are sown very late in winter/early in spring.

Why is bolting bad?

One of the biggest nuisances in the summer vegetable garden is bolting - when crops put on a vertical growth spurt to flower and set seed before the vegetables are ready for harvest. The result is inedible, bitter-tasting leaves or poor-quality produce with little that can be salvaged.

What does bolting look like?

The signs are easy to identify: Sudden, upward growth—usually of a singular, woody stalk with few leaves. Production of flowers, followed by that of seeds. Slowed production of edible, vegetative growth.

What does slow bolting mean?

The Slow Bolt Cilantro is an easy to grow variety that has a great flavor! This variety gets its name for being slow to bolt; bolting means that the plant starts to produce the seed, rather than growing more leaves. ... The Slow Bolt Cilantro's mature, spicy dried seeds, coriander, are a staple of Indian cooking.

Why is my spinach growing tall?

Spinach will begin to flower as soon as spring days begin to lengthen. The response comes when days are longer than 14 hours and temperatures creep above 75 F. ... Cool season varieties or broadleaf species will elongate, get taller, produce fewer leaves and develop a flower head in warmer weather.

How many times will spinach regrow?

Spinach grows very fast and can be easily harvested after 20-25 days from sowing. It can even regrow up to two to three times after harvesting.

What is the best fertilizer for spinach?

Spinach grows best when given plenty of fertilizer. Adequate nitrogen is needed to develop the dark green leaf color. Before planting the seeds, apply a general garden fertilizer such as 10-10-10 at the rate of 2 to 3 pounds per 100 square feet. Or, fertilize as directed by a soil test report.

When can I pick my spinach?

Spinach leaves are ready to harvest as soon as they are big enough to eat. Harvest by removing only the outer leaves and allowing the center leaves to grow larger; this will allow the plant to keep producing.

How often should I water spinach?

Spinach needs about one to one and a half inches of rain or irrigation per week. If you don't get any rain, you will need to manually water your spinach plants. Instead of one long deep soak, spinach plants will do better with three or four light waterings per week.

What grows well with spinach?

Beans: Both bush beans and pole beans make excellent companions for spinach. As the beans grow, they'll provide shade to protect the tender spinach plants from the heat of the summer.