Did you know that spinach grows back after you pick it? All you have to do is pick the right leaves at the right time, and every few days the plants will send up new leaves for you to pick again.
It’s very easy to pick spinach, and there are a few different ways to do it depending on the situation.
We’ve put together a complete guide on how to pick and store fresh spinach that should teach you everything you need to know to get the most out of your plants and make as many spinach recipes as possible.
Growing your own spinach seeds can be a fun and rewarding way to get free seeds for future crops. But knowing the optimal time to collect those prized spinach seeds is key to ensuring you harvest mature, viable seeds.
In this complete guide, we’ll go over when and how to harvest spinach seeds so you can save quality seeds from your own plants.
Spinach Seed Maturity Signs
Spinach is unique in that it flowers and sets seed indeterminately. This means new flowers, seeds, and seed pods are produced continuously as long as conditions allow.
Seeds at the base of flower stalks mature first, followed by seeds progressing up the stalk as more blooms form. Watch for these signs that spinach seeds are maturing:
- Seed pods turn from green to light tan or brown
- Seeds inside pods change from green to brown
- Seeds feel hard when pressed
- Endosperm in seeds is solid white instead of green or clear
Seeds that are immature will be bright green and the endosperm will appear gelatinous and translucent when cut open Mature spinach seeds have a firm, dry endosperm
How Long Until Spinach Seeds are Ready to Harvest
- Earliest harvest: Approximately 4-5 weeks after flower stalk formation, some seeds at the bottom are mature.
- Main harvest: 8-10 weeks after bolting, most seeds on stalks will be mature.
- Final harvest: Just before plants decline, final upper seeds mature.
Fast-bolting spring varieties will be ready about 8 weeks after bolting, Slower-bolting fall types need 10-12 weeks for most seeds to fully develop,
Note Harvesting time can vary depending on weather and growing conditions. Hot, dry conditions accelerate maturation
Harvesting Spinach Seeds
Since spinach sets seeds over an extended period, you’ll need to check plants frequently as the earliest seeds mature, then harvest the remaining seeds in stages.
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When the lowest portions of stalks have brown, dry seeds, gently rub the stalks over a container to collect mature seeds.
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Allow the rest of the plant to continue maturing seeds upwards. Make 2-3 more passes, rubbing off seeds as sections mature.
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For the final harvest, cut entire spent plants and hang upside down in a dry location to collect any remaining seeds.
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Dry freshly harvested seeds further indoors for 1-2 weeks to reduce moisture content for storage.
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Screen and winnow seeds to remove plant debris. Discard any immature seeds.
How Many Seeds Do Spinach Plants Produce?
A typical spinach plant can produce approximately 350-500 seeds over staggered harvests. Larger, more robust plants may yield more.
Carefully hand-rubbing seeds ensures only mature seeds are collected, maximizing the quality of your harvested spinach seeds.
Storing Your Saved Spinach Seeds
When stored in a cool, dry location, spinach seeds will remain viable for:
- 1 year at room temperature
- 3 years refrigerated
- Up to 6 years frozen
Place dried seeds in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator or freezer to maintain viability as long as possible.
Testing your harvested seeds’ germination rate yearly allows you to observe seed longevity. Discard seeds when germination drops below your acceptable threshold.
Growing your own spinach seed takes some patience, but allows you to produce seeds adapted to your garden. Follow proper harvesting techniques and you’ll be rewarded with an abundant supply of free spinach seeds to sow next season!
How to Harvest Spinach
There are several different ways to harvest spinach. Let’s see what those are.
The first and simplest method to harvest spinach is by the leaf.
All you need is a pair of scissors and a place to store the leaves you pick up.
Depending on your needs, you can either choose to harvest baby leaves, or larger, mature leaves. You can pick and choose which leaves to take, or you can just start at the outside and work your way in to the middle. Just find the leaves you want to pick, hold one in each hand, and use the other hand to cut the stem. It’s that simple.
Make sure to only harvest about 1/3 of each plant. After picking your spinach, all that’s left to do is water it and wait for the next harvest. Spinach leaves will regrow in just a matter of days.
To harvest spinach this way, either leave the plant to keep growing and make more leaves, or just take a few leaves for a smoothie or a small dish.
To get a lot of spinach, you can harvest it by the bunch, which is also known as “clear cutting.” Just take as many leaves from one plant as you can hold in one hand and cut through the stems with a serrated knife. Make sure to cut above the crown, which is where all the stems meet.
For this method, the plant will grow new leaves about two weeks after you harvest it, so you can do the same thing all over again.
Another method of harvesting spinach is by the plant. You should use this method when you want to plant something else in the garden, when you don’t need the plant to grow back, or before it flowers.
When spinach starts to “bolt,” or set seed, the new leaves will look narrow and pointy, and a thick stem in the middle will grow flower buds. At this point you can start harvesting all spinach plants one by one. Use a knife to cut the plants below the crown or pull them out by hand.
SPINACH SEEDS – 2 EASY Ways to Harvest Spinach Seeds!
FAQ
What does a spinach plant look like when it goes to seed?
How do you know if spinach seeds are viable?
Can you harvest spinach after it goes to seed?
How many times a year can you harvest spinach?
When should I start harvesting spinach?
I always start harvesting spinach as soon as the leaves form a rosette with five to six leaves, usually around 37 to 45 days after planting. To harvest, I cut the outer leaves first, allowing the center leaves to continue growing. This method encourages more yield from each plant.
How do you harvest spinach leaves?
Once your spinach plants are established, you can repeatedly harvest spinach leaves by picking a third of the plant’s leaves and taking another large harvest of leaves a few days later. Or you can harvest the entire plant at once by holding the leaves in one hand and cutting them off with a serrated knife about 1 to 2 inches above the soil line.
When to pick spinach?
When to pick spinach is crucial for getting the best-tasting leaves and preventing bolting. Spinach is ready to harvest when it forms a rosette with five or six leaves, which usually takes 37 to 45 days. Spinach is a cool-season crop that will flower or bolt when the sun is high and temperatures are warm.
How much spinach should I harvest from one plant?
Harvest spinach from the outside in, taking no more than 25-30% of the leaves on a single plant. Continue harvesting until you have as much spinach as you need. Not only is it easier to reach the older, larger leaves, but allowing the young leaves inside to continue growing ensures the plant keeps producing.