Spinach

[Diana]

OK, so every year my spinach bolts before I've had chance to do any more than use baby leaves in salad. We already have flower heads appearing!

What am I doing wrong?

Should I just give up + stick with chard?

I'm growing Samish, is there a different variety I should try?

All help greatly appreciated

D

[Diana]

[cleo]

Three things-taxes,death and spinach bolting.

We cannot avoid two of them-but with Spinach we have a chance-sow very early and hope for an early season(ha ha this year)or sow late and hope for a long summer-and water water water.

Stephan

[Svea]

i have problems with my spinach even germinating :(
bolting is the least of my problems, at least for the time being

[Lady Cosmos]

No problem with spinach: put them in shady place: read in between other veg, not to sunny otherwise they will run to seed. Plant in soil with a lot of organic matter and water every day.
I am picking spinach every day, nice with lettuce ;D ;D

1, soil rich of organic matter
2, between rows of tall growing veggies
3, water, water and water..... and you will have success.

[tim]

I'm afraid we always stick to chard - available all season. But sown fresh each Spring.

Rainbow Chard is more delicate than the Swiss Chard.

[chrispea27]

C ;Dhard also makes a great foliage plant for your borders can last through winter when there is little else

[Diana]

I love chard + will be growing that anyway, but wanted to sort out the spinach too - challenging ;)

Thanks for the info LC. I think my main problem is that I think all veg need sun - will put the next batch behind something a bit taller - broad beans maybe?

D

[wardy]

I want to grown lots of spinach as it's full of potassium.  I have learned that in the past few days as my mum is very ill and her potassium levels have gone down to dangerously low levels.  Doctors say the best potassium food is spinach so my sister has gone into to town just now to get a juicer! So like your mother always said you must eat your greens.  Oranges and bananas are two other high potassium foods, oh and porridge  :)

[aquilegia]

I absolutely adore spinach. But I've never bothered with it because my garden is infested with slugs and snails. It seems I'm completely incapable of growing my favourite vegetables anyway (parsnips, fennel, asparagus...)

[tim]

Alright - but I can't cope with spinach, & chard doesn't fare too badly in the nutrient stakes??

http://www.gardenguides.com/articles/swiss.htm

[Mrs Ava]

I had the same problem, so grew perpetual last year and I served us very well all year and stood nicely through the winter.  Only removed in spring to make room for yet more spuds!

Am planning a late sowing of spinach, and the chinese greens like pakchoi to hope to get some before they bolt on me!

[wardy]

I am having spinach for my tea - creamed with grated nutmeg  :)

[Diana]

wotsat? Sort of mushed up a bit? or with cream :-\

Cooking terms are more confussing than gardening ones!

[tim]

Puréed + cream - even the non-spinachers love it!

[Bambi.1]

Puréed + cream - even the non-spinachers love it!

Hi,l love spinach cooked that way too tim   ;D this is my first time growing spinach,l've stuck it in my fruit cage  ::) ;D  well with a big dog looking for anything to lift his leg,l played it safe  ;D ;)