Spinach is one of the fastest-growing, most vitamin-packed crops you can grow at home, and it seems like you can throw it in just about any dish! Read on to learn how to grow spinach from seed, how to get the most out of your crop with proper storage, and how to choose the best varieties for your garden.
When to Harvest Spinach Seeds The Complete Guide
As a nutrient-rich easy to grow vegetable, spinach is a popular choice for home gardeners. However many growers overlook the opportunity to save spinach seeds for future plantings. Harvesting spinach seeds at the right time is crucial for getting high-quality seeds that will produce healthy plants. This guide covers everything you need to know about identifying seed maturity, proper harvesting techniques, and how to store spinach seeds after harvest.
When Are Spinach Seeds Ready to Harvest?
Depending on the variety, spinach seeds are typically ready for harvest 90-120 days after sowing. The optimal time is when seed heads are completely dry and brown. Here are some signs spinach seeds are mature:
- Seed pods turn light brown and split open
- Seeds are hard with a papery coat
- Leaves are shriveled and dry
- Stems and branches are brittle
Seeds harvested too early may not germinate well. Waiting too long increases the risk of mold and rot. Check seed pods daily as harvest time approaches.
How to Harvest Spinach Seeds
Use these steps for harvesting spinach seeds:
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Snip seed heads individually or cut entire plants at the base when pods are mostly dry and mature.
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Spread seed heads or whole plants in a single layer on a tarp, row cover fabric, or screen.
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Allow to dry for 1-2 weeks until completely brittle.
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Rub heads between hands or tread plants to remove seeds.
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Sieve and winnow seeds to remove chaff and debris.
Tips for Success
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Wear gloves and a mask to avoid irritation from seed dust.
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Leave some seed heads on plants so you don’t take all the seeds.
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Harvest in morning when seeds are dry.
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Check seeds frequently as they can go from ripe to overripe quickly.
Drying and Storing Spinach Seeds
Proper drying and storage helps maintain seed viability. Follow these guidelines after harvest:
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Spread seeds in a single layer and allow to dry for 1-2 weeks.
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Place fully dry seeds in an airtight container.
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Store in a cool, dry location away from sunlight.
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Ideal temperature is 40-50° F.
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Seed viability is approximately 6 years with proper storage.
With the right timing and techniques, it’s easy to harvest and store spinach seeds for future plantings. Pay close attention to signs of maturity, and allow seed heads to fully ripen before harvesting. Proper drying and storage will help ensure spinach seeds remain viable for years to come. Growing your own spinach from harvested seeds allows you to preserve heirloom varieties year after year.
Common Pests and Diseases
Common pests include aphids and slugs, and downy mildew is a common disease for spinach.
How to Grow Spinach
Spinach is a nutrient-rich green that is easy to grow in the garden. As spinach requires long day lengths in conjunction with cooler temperatures, it may be more feasible for growers in the north to save seeds from spinach.
While spinach is a wind-pollinated crop, meaning that it requires large isolation distances, most gardeners remove spinach from their garden before it bolts, which may make it easy for seed savers to grow and save seeds from spinach.
Plant spinach outdoors as soon as soil can be worked. Sow in spring and late summer. Spinach tolerates cool weather.
Sow seeds ½ inch deep in rows 6-8 inches apart.
When growing spinach for seed, increase spacing to 8-12 inches between plants in rows 22-30 inches apart, or to at least 12 inches on center.
SPINACH SEEDS – 2 EASY Ways to Harvest Spinach Seeds!
FAQ
How do you know when spinach seeds are ready?
Generally, spinach is ready to harvest 45 to 50 days after seeding. Expect a bit slower growth if temperatures are particularly cold, or if you’re growing in a location with less than full sun.
What does it look like when spinach goes to seed?
When a spinach plants starts to go to seed, the leaves change and resemble an arrowhead. This more angular shape is often the first sign that your plant is coming to the end of its life cycle.
How to dry out spinach seeds?
Spread the seeds out over the area so they don’t touch. Let the seeds rest for a week to ten days before gently stirring them with your finger or a small spoon. Let them dry for another two to three weeks. At this point, they should be dry enough to put into storage.
When to harvest spinach?
Spinach is a cool-weather crop that is usually ready to be harvested for seed in the late spring or early summer, after the plant has flowered and the seed pods have begun to dry and turn brown. The best time to harvest the seed is when the pods are fully dry and the seeds are still inside.
How does one eat spinach?
Spinach can be eaten raw, sautéed, in salads, in pies, with fruit juice, in omelets, in soups and broths, and as your creativity allows.
When should I plant spinach seeds?
If you plant spinach seeds in the late fall through mid-winter (anytime from a few weeks before the first frost to a few weeks after it), the seeds will sit dormant in the soil all winter long and germinate very early the following spring. This will yield an early to mid-spring harvest.
How do you harvest spinach seeds?
Harvesting spinach seed is a relatively simple process, but it does require a few essential tools. With a pair of scissors or garden shears, an air-tight container, a screen or sieve, and a few days of drying time, you’ll be able to collect and save spinach seeds for future use. 3. How do you determine when the spinach seeds are ready to harvest?
How do you know if spinach seeds are ready to harvest?
Check the stems. When the stems of the spinach plants start to turn yellow, it’s a sign that the seeds are ready to be harvested. Listen for a rattle. When you shake the seed pods, you should hear a rattling sound. This is a sign that the seeds are ready to be harvested.
How much spinach should I Harvest?
Continue harvesting until you have as much spinach as you need (but not more than 25-30% of the leaves on a single plant). Harvest spinach from the outside in. Not only is it easier to reach the leaves, but those are the older leaves that are typically larger, and it allows the young leaves inside to continue to grow.