Should I remove spinach flowers?

As soon as the very first spinach flowers appear, you will want to remove them to maintain leaf quality and potentially lengthen your harvest period. If you are pinching off additional blooms, you are essentially redirecting the energy of the plant to leaf growth instead of seed. During warm months, I typically check my spinach leaves once a day to eliminate any early signs of flowering before bitterness starts to develop.

Use proper pinching methods for the best results. When pinching flowers, hold the stem of the flower between your thumb and forefinger just below the flower. Gently pinch off, making a clean cut and avoiding foliage around the stem. I carry a pair of small pruning shears for neatly and precisely removing flowers, and I always disinfect my tools for disease control between plants.

Timing has a huge influence on results. I make removals in the early morning when the plants are the most turgid. Cooler temperatures also reduce plant stress during removals. During excessively high temperatures, I focus on plants that exhibit signs of early bolting, as this is when the risk is greatest.

Care after the removal promotes recovery. Water plants deeply right after flower removal. Apply diluted fish emulsion fertilizer to encourage new growth. I shaded treated plants for 48 hours to limit stress. New leaf production usually starts within three days.

Know when removal fails. After several flower stalks have grown, or when the leaves turn spiky, stop pinching. At this point, hang up the whole plant. I compost bolting plants at the final harvest, helping to return nutrients into my garden.

Use cultural methods to prevent premature bolting. You can select varieties that are termed 'bolt-resistant', such as 'Tyee' or 'Space'. Consistent soil moisture and afternoon shade can delay flowering. I succession plant (every two weeks) to provide continuous harvests without bolting.

Read the full article: When to Plant Spinach for Best Results