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The Hollyberry Lady · 09-04-2009, 10:35 AM

Spinach...

Cut or pinch off leaves, or pull up entire plant. New Zealand and Malabar spinach: cut leaves and stem tips.

When to Harvest: Spinach: 40-50 days after sowing seeds. New Zealand spinach: 60-80 days after sowing seeds. Malabar spinach: 60-70 days after sowing seeds.

When spinach has put out 6-8 leaves (varieties come with either flat or crinkled leaves), it's ready for harvest. Either cut off the entire plant at it's base, or cut or pinch (don't pull) or just enough outer leaves for one meal. Wash thoroughly, because the leaves are usually sandy or gritty.

When the leaves of New Zealand spinach reach 3-4" long, begin harvesting them by plucking off the last 3" of stem tips. To promote growth and prolong the harvest until frost, pick leaves at least once a week while the leaves are tender and fresh. Overmature leaves may be tough and bitter.

After the vines of Malabar spinach reach a height of 2 feet, pinch out a few inches of stem tips (harvesting any young, tender leaves) to encourage the plant to branch and form more stems (vines reach a maximum height of of about 4 feet).

: )

09-04-2009, 10:35 AM	#11 (permalink)
The Hollyberry Lady The Hollyberry Lady's Photo Gallery Find me on the map! Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 15,161 BananaBucks : 1,456,659 Feedback: 1 / 100% Said "Thanks" 12,042 Times Was Thanked 11,326 Times in 5,311 Posts Said "Welcome to Bananas" 102 Times	Re: Harvesting Tips... Spinach... Cut or pinch off leaves, or pull up entire plant. New Zealand and Malabar spinach: cut leaves and stem tips. When to Harvest: Spinach: 40-50 days after sowing seeds. New Zealand spinach: 60-80 days after sowing seeds. Malabar spinach: 60-70 days after sowing seeds. When spinach has put out 6-8 leaves (varieties come with either flat or crinkled leaves), it's ready for harvest. Either cut off the entire plant at it's base, or cut or pinch (don't pull) or just enough outer leaves for one meal. Wash thoroughly, because the leaves are usually sandy or gritty. When the leaves of New Zealand spinach reach 3-4" long, begin harvesting them by plucking off the last 3" of stem tips. To promote growth and prolong the harvest until frost, pick leaves at least once a week while the leaves are tender and fresh. Overmature leaves may be tough and bitter. After the vines of Malabar spinach reach a height of 2 feet, pinch out a few inches of stem tips (harvesting any young, tender leaves) to encourage the plant to branch and form more stems (vines reach a maximum height of of about 4 feet). : )