Topic: Perennial spinach

[caroline7758]

My perennial spinach is going to seed and I've got some new baby plants ready to go in. But when I cut the old plants down, planning to dig them up, they have a lot of new leaves at the bottom. Is it worth leaving them in?

[Tee Gee]

My knowledge of spinach is limited.

I have never heard of perennial spinach I only know of the annual type which has a habit of running to seed so it is usual to sow a little often.

I would leave a few of the existing plants in place and see what comes of them in terms of texture and taste, as I have a feeling that it is these leaves that make this variety " perennial"

[ancellsfarmer]

If you have perpetual spinach beet, then you will find that if cut back,leaving 5-10cm above the root top, they will send up new leaf  shoots, but probably also a new seed head! I top mine with a swap hook, similarly chard and sometimes beetroot if requiring baby leaf from overwintered stunted beet (from "too-late sowings")
If its New Zealand 'spinach', then beyond my experience.
The same technique also gives results with annual spinach, but the more delicate trimming with scissors or sheep shears leaves them still planted!

[caroline7758]

In typical T&M style, the packet just says "Spinach perpetual", but I think it is spinach beet. I'll leave it and see what happens but plant a few new ones as well.

[titus a duxas]

For me this works the best for perennial spinach
I sow a row early in spring time then use the thinings as salad greens or for stir frying leaving the plants 10 inches apart
Cropping until autumn all are removed and composted apart from 6 as it gets colder the bolting seems to arrest
These 6 are then cloched which will provide early pickings in the winter-times