Has anyone tried sowing spinach in pots and transplanting rather than sowing direct? When I sowed direct last year my results weren't too clever. Spinach is one of the few things we all love in my house but I always have trouble with it ???
Spinach can be a sod-like coriander >:(-I am not sure planting in a pot would help but give it a go and see.
I find I get the best results from very early or late sowing,my veg patch has fairly light soil and gets a lot of sun,sowings in the `main` period bolt very easily.
Stephan
I start mine off in individual cells and plant them out when they are, what I consider, able to fight off the slugs! ;D
My first lot last year all bolted, then so did the direct sown. Ended up with perpetual which I have only just dug as I need the room for spuds! Not to everyones taste, but suited me just fine.
Hi, I first tried planting spinach seeds in 2003 but it flowered straight away and went straight to seed once the green shoots came up. Was told this was probably because we had had a very dry summer and they like to be watered a lot. So last year, like EJ I planted perpetual spinach, which is much more tolerant and that has been great. In fact have just come from the lottie with a big bundle of it, to cook for tonights meal, so it is still going strong and looking very healthy, and what's more is very tasty. :) busy_lizzie
And here it is: :) busy_lizzie
Yum. That looks tasty.
I can't get my spinach to do a d**n thing. However I grow it, germination is erratic. Could be the packet of seed I guess, although they were quite expensive, not my usual Poundstretcher bargain. ;)
I have sown a row direct, we'll see what happens. I'm very stubborn but if nothing happens this time, I might get some of the perpetual sort if that is much easier. As much as I'm stubborn, I don't like wasting time, either!
EJ/BL - does perpetual mean periennial?
I just adore spinach!
I've started a few spinach plants in a seedtray and now potted into small pots, so far they seem happy. Will let you know how they go, I'll be planting them out over the weekend. But some more seed will be sown direct as well just incase they bolt or die or something terrible like that!
perpetual spinach for me usually lasts for about nine months before bolting but I get plenty of harvests (1 or 2 a week). I planted these from modular cells last year and are just starting to bolt now.
Dictionary definition or perpetual - continuing or lasting for a long time.
Definition for perrenial - lasting an indefinately long time.
So, in a way, I would assume, they are almost one of the same!
You can be pretty harsh cutting it back as it resprouts around the stem, or you can just remove a bunch of leaves from the plant. The young leaves make a tasty addition to salads.
Perpetual spinach, I tried it once and on the pack it was also called New Zealand spinach, is this what you mean with perpetial spinach? It didn't grow like spinach at all, actually it's not spinach, it creeps along the ground.
I had no luck with spinach at all, didn't like the perpetual spinach so I'll stick with swiss chard, good stuff.
Thanks for the tips, I sowed 1 full row today & will try some in peat pots to see which wins, knowing my luck it'll be nil-nil.
The guys on the plot next to me grow the perpetual stuff, they let me try it but it just doesn't taste as "green" to me, Swiss chard is fine but I can't convince the rest of the family that they like it so I'll just keep persevering, it's probably one of those things that respond to neglect, I always molly-coddle it, maybe I should leave it be. By the way I can grow coriander no probs, chucked some seed in last year and I was freezing enough for an army.
hmmm, dunno Ina. Mine didn't creep, just formed a glorious huge lime green rosette and a thick tap root! Cut the lot the other day as I needed the row for a row of spuds, and had some for dindins tonite. How did you have your BL? Mine was shredded, blanched for just a minute or so whilst I sizzled some lardons. Squeezed the spinach then sprinkled it in the pan with the bacon, added some sliced mushroom and a couple of finely chopped cloves of garlic. Fried for about 3 minutes then served. Delish! The kids didn't think so, so all the more for me! :P
Mmm, sounds similar to the way I do cos lettuce with lardons
I love spinach and I think it is not so difficult to grow if you have a few things right:
the soil must have plenty of organic matter, otherwise it taste bitter
plant spinach between two rows of taller vegetables, so it get shade and does not run to seed
weed all the time and
give lots and lots of water and pick all the time the outer leaves. :P :P
Quoteplant spinach between two rows of taller vegetables, so it get shade and does not run to seed
Fantastic idea :D, why didn't I think of that, thanks
that is a very clever idea indeedy! I have a shady spot at the start of my plot by the shed.....maybe I will try a row there. Plus, that is where my waterbut is so no excuse for not watering!
MT - how do you do your 'spinach' that is different ,in the family's eyes, to chard?
I'm a chard fan - all year, no problems, pick it little for salads or large for cooking. More weight per plant than spinach & no bolting. Lovely stems. Pretty!
Contrary to some teachings, I find that I can transplant thinnings successfully.
I really don't understand why but they just don't like it, personally I'm a big fan of chard and it's so easy to grow
Try it blended in a white sauce?
Or saag aloo?
What are lardons?
Smoked streaky bacon cut into little itsy bitsy cubes.
Yes white sauce & Indian spuds are OK but it's not really a case of disguising the stuff, they all love the taste of it steamed with Sunday roast, poached salmon or raw in a salad etc. I think perseverance is the answer
Thanks EJ.
What is saag aloo?
It's a dim week. Something to do with the clocks moving: I can't keep up.
Saag Aloo is a version of Bombay potato (Bombay Aloo) that has spinach mixed in, loverly
Thinking out loud here - and have never grown spinach before, but...
If it bolts in a bout of dry weather - would the bolting be prevented if the
spinach was grown in a semi-bog situation?
i.e planting plastic punctured with holes for drainage then the spinach into that, so that it has a good supply of water in the compost??
Would this work??
Debs
hmmm, I would think it would rot if it were in a bog, but could be wrong. For me, perpetual spinach and the chards are excellent value. I reakon the trick is to sow in pots very early or very late so the plants aren't trying to grow in the height of summer.
I lightly steam my spinach, then I don't have to squeeze any water out of it. The liquor that percolates down into the steamer water I can use as a basis for a stock for soup or casserole or stew or anything else. I have never thought of using the leaves in a salad but that is an interesting idea which I will try. I have never grown Swiss Chard, but they look very colourful and attractive so must give that a go too. :) busy_lizzie
Thanks MT
You'll need the baby leaves for salad. I use the older stuff for stir frying and curries. An old Asian guy on our lotties grows it throughout the year and at the moment it's looking great. He lets them go to seed and saves some. He gave me a packet bless him :)