I've recently started my first vegetable garden this year and just noticed that my spinach plants have developed flowers. I also have kale, collards, baby bok choy, and red lettuce in the same area, and they seem fine. We've had some warm weather recently, where the real feel was in the 80s but mostly in the 70s. I packed my spinach into a small container, thinking it would be fine, but I suspect overcrowding could have led to this bolting. Can the weather be to blame as well? I'm located in zone 6a. I've pinched off the flowers because they just appeared overnight and I check my plants daily. Should I try to separate them since their roots might be tangled, or is it too late? If I remove the flowers, will that prevent further bolting like with basil? Also, would leaving the flowers benefit the bees, and is it worth trying to reuse the soil/pot?
3 Answers
Your spinach has definitely bolted, which can happen for a variety of reasons like temperature changes or crowding. Unfortunately, cutting off the flowers won't stop the bolting. I suggest you just pull up the plants and try something more resilient like Swiss chard. It might be a bummer, but it's a good switch!
I have a lovely red chard plant that I adore! I'm so glad you mentioned this—I'll clear out my bolted spinach and plant something new tomorrow!
Just a heads up that bolted spinach can have higher oxalic acid levels, which isn’t great. If you notice a strange feeling in your throat after eating it, that’s a red flag. Cooking it can help break that down, so that’s what I recommend.
Spinach tends to bolt quickly once the temperatures rise. If you want to keep growing it, try sowing late in the fall—it’ll winter over and start growing again in spring before it gets too warm. Switching to chard has been a lifesaver for many of us!
Totally agree! I switched to Swiss chard as well since it thrives better for me. I've also tried some Asian greens that do well in my climate. You're not alone in this!