If the spinach suddenly starts to bloom, you need to act quickly. The longer you wait, the more the quality deteriorates and the vegetables no longer taste good. It becomes problematic when flowers develop prematurely, which is favored by various factors.
Why is my spinach sprouting and what can I do about it?
If spinach shoots (flowers) prematurely, this can be caused by stress factors such as cold frosts, drying out of the soil, too much heat and sunlight. Cut the flower stems and ensure optimal growing conditions.
Natural growth
The herbaceous plant grows as an annual and forms rosette-shaped basal leaves in the first stage of its growing season. As a long-day plant, Spinacia oleracea requires a minimum day length of twelve hours to begin inflorescence development. The flowering period extends from June to September and is accompanied by weak rosette formation.
Stress factors are unfavorable
When spinach blooms prematurely, gardeners speak of bolting or bolting. This phenomenon is an adaptation to unfavorable conditions. Stress leads to a sudden growth spurt as the plants prepare for the end to come. They try to ensure the survival of the species within a short period of time and produce flowers and seeds. Cut off the flower stems as soon as they emerge. With a bit of luck, new spinach leaves will form.
You should prevent this:
- direct impact of cold frosts on young plants
- Drying out of the soil during the growth phase
- too much heat and sunlight
Create optimal conditions
Vegetable spinach loves a constantly moist substrate that has humus properties. The vegetables do not thrive in an acidic environment. Leafy greens grow best when starting conditions are cool and not frosty. Direct sowing occurs between March and May, so you avoid the summer heat. Subsequent sowing is possible again in autumn. Spinach thrives in a partially shaded location.
The right care
After you have improved the garden bed with compost (€43.00 on Amazon) before cultivation, no further fertilization is necessary. Garden spinach is one of the weak eaters. A strong supply of nitrogen ensures that the leaves grow strong and cabbage-like. It is more important to water consistently, as the crop relies on constantly moist soil. A layer of mulch prevents the soil from losing too much water during dry periods. By regularly loosening the soil, weeds have no chance and you improve ventilation.
Harvest
Spinach is usually ready to harvest six to eight weeks after sowing, although you can cut off the young leaves in stages. This means the vegetables constantly grow back. The older the leafy vegetables get, the tarter and tougher they taste. The final harvest date has come when inflorescences appear.
From this point on, the plant increasingly stores nitrate, oxalic acid and bitter substances in the foliage, making it inedible. Cut spinach leaves just above the soil surface. The root remains rot and supply the soil with nutrients.
Tip
So-called root spinach grows more compactly and is cut off just below the root base. This increases its shelf life to up to two weeks. This harvesting method works better in sandy soils.
