spinach changes

Hi everyone,

I have been happily picking spinach for a few weeks now. For most of this time the plants were full and bushy and I was picking leaves from all plants. Suddenly the plants have shot up n height, with the stems lengthening by inches in days and the new growth on the plants looks different. I am new to this and wondered if anyone could tell me what happens as spinach starts to go to seed or bolt? I'm trying to decide whether to pick it all for freezing. Thanks!

it's definitely bolting. you can pick out the thickened central stalk, that looks like it may produce a flower. this will delay the process, but not stop it, unfortunately. I eat mine anyway - bit of garlic and butter and it's fine!

Did you plant it this year? if so that's very early to bolt - you may want to investigate varieties. Mine started bolting last month from last spring's  planting. by choosing the right variety you can get spinach for most of the year - it tends to die down in the winter, but perks up a bit in the spring, and gives you another month or so of leaves before starting to bolt, by which time this years will be planted, hopefully. I use a slow to bolt perpetual spinach, not a true spinach, but just as good, I think.

Thanks all. I have now harvested all the spinach. I don't mind too much as I now have room for more cucumbers, which beat spinach any day! Kermit perhaps it was our 'hot' Scottish weather that did it! To be honest I have no idea if my variety is true or perpetual. It was called medina. Does anyone know?