Has my Spinach bolted?

[thecarnage]

Hello,

Only been gardening since Feb and I've only just learned what "bolting" means and I think my beloved spinach has bolted.

Looking at the pics below, have they?

Can you still eat them?

Do I just dig them up and throw them away?

Badgers for answers

[Rocketron]

As far as I'm aware, if you pinch out the flowering tips and eat the other leaves now, the spinach will replace the leaves quite easily.

[PAULW]

For some reason spinach doesn't like the heat and will bolt you can get a crop from early sown miss the hottest bit of the summer and sow again, there is suposed to be a bolt resistant variety on the market but I dont know what this one is called.

[WeeGarden]

Yes, they've bolted.

People say not to eat the leaves and to just throw the plants away after they have bolted, as they become bitter, but I cook them up and don't notice any bitterness.

I'd do one last harvest and cook them up to try. You've nothing to lose.

[thecarnage]

I've pinched out the heads and will eat them anyway!

Thanks WeeGarden, PAULW & Rocketron.

[Rocketron]

I've pinched out the heads and will eat them anyway!

Thanks WeeGarden, PAULW & Rocketron.

No problem. On a side issue, does KUMB mean anything to you ?

[thecarnage]

No problem. On a side issue, does KUMB mean anything to you ?

KUMB? In what context?

[Rocketron]

KUMB? In what context?

Sorry, I've obviously got the wrong man. Kumb is Knees Up Mother Brown, a West Ham United Forum I frequent. Another member is known as carnage and I wondered if it was you.

[thecarnage]

Sorry, I've obviously got the wrong man. Kumb is Knees Up Mother Brown, a West Ham United Forum I frequent. Another member is known as carnage and I wondered if it was you.

Not me soz. I'm a Sunderland fan!!!!

[ckfe]

Hello,

Only been gardening since Feb and I've only just learned what "bolting" means

psssssssssttttt explain it to me carnage, i've no clue either but i didn't like to ask lol

[teakdesk]

Bolting just means running to seed - normally refers to a plant you don't want to go to seed.

When a plant is badly treated and feels threatened it will rapidly throw up flowers and turn them to seed. Because it happens very quickly and is then outside the control of the gardener it is called bolting.

Rather like an out-of-control horse is said to be bolting.

[Rocketron]

Not me soz. I'm a Sunderland fan!!!!

You must be happy with Barcodes & Smoggies going down whilst you remain in The Premiership (for 1 more year)

[Two_Sheds]

When a plant is badly treated and feels threatened it will rapidly throw up flowers and turn them to seed. ... it is called bolting.

not just if it's badly treated ... a plant will bolt (flower) when it feels it's time is up. This may be a natural response to lengthening or shortening daylight, or changing temperatures.
The plant feels it now needs to reproduce, and quickly!
my weeds do it all in the fourteen hours my back is turned.

[thecarnage]

not just if it's badly treated ... a plant will bolt (flower) when it feels it's time is up. This may be a natural response to lengthening or shortening daylight, or changing temperatures.
The plant feels it now needs to reproduce, and quickly!
my weeds do it all in the fourteen hours my back is turned.

I have always treated them well.

They had a nice spot on my veggie patch, I fed them with some nitrogen feeds and they looked happy.

I think it's to do with the weather. We've had dry hot sunny days then humid wet days, then chilli nights etc.