When to Start Clipping Spinach?

Guest 6/5/2011, 1:20 am

Are you supposed to wait till the spinach gets so big or can you just start clipping the leaves off? It looks like if I clip them as they are now, I can have enough for a salad.

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happycamper 6/5/2011, 1:38 am

You don't have to wait. I prefer to harvest spinach when it is young and tender and use it mostly in salads and scrambled eggs, yum!

boffer 6/5/2011, 1:56 am

Spinach is ready to eat when you're ready to eat it! Based on your picture, I would snip a few leaves to add to a salad. I wouldn't try to make a spinach salad just yet with what you have.

My preference is to seed greens pretty heavy. My spinach squares have three or four times more plants in them. When it's time to replant, try one square heavily seeded to see if it works for you.

BackyardBirdGardner 6/5/2011, 9:45 am

I agree with those above me. I clip early. If you like a stronger flavor, you may wait a bit longer. But, to me, there is nothing better for a salad than a mild baby spinach leaf.

I kept my plants going a very long time this spring by continually harvesting. My plants got 4 true leaves, and I took 2. On yours, I would definitely take a couple of the outer leaves. Why wait? LOL With the trouble some of us have had with summer setting in super suddenly, it could bolt tomorrow. I say get some now!

Lavender Debs 6/5/2011, 10:32 am

Pretty spinach! I am also in Washington (the state). Spinach is cut and come again. I clip it often because as soon as it gets hot out (like today, June 5, 2011) it will bolt (go to seed) and be no good. Don't wait.

Deborah....who tries to avoid being around the spinach if a hot flash is coming on, sometimes that is all it takes for spinach to bolt.

sherryeo 6/5/2011, 11:27 am

, Lavender Deb!!! I love spinach in salads, recipes, omelets (especially in omelets) - just any old way. I was looking forward to trying it, but hate to hear it's that easy to bolt. I hope it will do better in a fall garden here along the Mississippi Gulf Coast!

Old Hippie 6/5/2011, 11:45 am

Lavender Debs wrote:

Deborah....who tries to avoid being around the spinach if a hot flash is coming on, sometimes that is all it takes for spinach to bolt.

LOL! Now I what the problem with my spinach has been sometimes and what to avoid this year!

Gwynn

Guest 6/5/2011, 8:42 pm

Thanks you all, so I'm going to go ahead and snip them off tomorrow probably or possibly here soon. Only thing stopping me is the fire ant invasion! Sad

**camprn** 6/5/2011, 8:54 pm

Scissors can be cumbersome; you can just pinch off the leaves you want. Very Happy

Guest 6/5/2011, 9:14 pm

camprn wrote:Scissors can be cumbersome; you can just pinch off the leaves you want.

Too late.....went out to check for ants and there was a lot of dead ones on the backs of the live ones marching towards the neighbor's yard and hardly any in the garden, so I seized the moment and snipped......

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So exciting to have our first edible from the garden!! When to Start Clipping Spinach? 53366

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When to Start Clipping Spinach?