Most of my stems are broken and I am worried my spinach will not grow. It’s only three plants…should I remain patient? Anyone have any suggestions? I think the windy weather recently caused the breaks but will they grow back?
This entry is about
|
Day 4
Spinacia oleracea
Sown
|
|
|
|
? This question is currently listed as unanswered. If you think you may be able to help with this question, leave BrantleyFamilyGarden a possible answer below.
Comments
cristyn wrote:
What matters for future growth is the crown, not the leaves. If the plant were to break off below the crown, then I would give up on it. But it looks like most of your damage is on the base of the leaves. Those leaves will not repair themselves, but new leaves should keep growing from the crown as long as there’s enough energy in the roots to keep trying.
Posted on 19 Apr 11 (about 2 years ago)
BrantleyFamilyGarden wrote:
Do you think I should trim the broken leaves? Or let them compost into the soil?
Posted on 19 Apr 11 (about 2 years ago)
cristyn wrote:
Personally, I’d eat them. But when you’re harvesting greens cut-and-come it’s not a good idea to take too many leaves from one plant at once; it stresses them. I wouldn’t take more than a third of the leaves at a time. So looking at your picture, that big plant I’d think you could probably trim the broken leaves with impunity and add them to a salad. But that little one on the top right looks kind of small and stressed and even though they’re bent, if they aren’t broken completely off they are still giving energy to the plant. So I’d leave them and check back in a few days and cut them off after the plant shows signs of recovery and enough new growth that you won’t hurt it by taking those.
Posted on 19 Apr 11 (about 2 years ago)
ktthevillain wrote:
To prevent it happening again you may want to try hilling up some extra soil around each plant so the base is more supported. I do this with many of my seedlings with great success!
When they first start out they are a bit too small to do it, but once they have a few decent leaves it seems to help :-)
Posted on 22 Apr 11 (about 2 years ago)
Like to add a comment? You'll need to sign up for a free account, or log in if you're already a member.