I just found a bunch of tiny white dots all over my spinach and I'm curious if anyone knows what they are. Are they harmful or harmless? I live in Zone 10b, so maybe that helps!
2 Answers
What you’re seeing are likely oxalate crystals. Spinach tends to produce these, especially in humid conditions or after heavy watering. They’re not harmful, but you definitely want to wash them off before eating because eating too many can lead to some side effects. Also, be mindful that homegrown spinach can cause allergic reactions if eaten raw. It's better to boil it for a bit to get rid of excess oxalate and inactivate the histamines.
Those might be trichomes, but I’m just a night owl with a garden. They shouldn't be harmful! Looks like your spinach really loves the attention!
On second thoughts, I’m not entirely sure anymore. Hopefully, someone else can chime in!
Oh wow, that’s super helpful! Thanks for that tip about allergies, I’ll steer clear of using it in salads!