I was wondering if anyone else has heard of growing spinach as a perennial crop. I saw today a story on a farmer who plants spinach in batches and lets it go to seed in the summer,the seeds fall ,and come fall a new crop is up. They then go to seed and in spring another new batch is up. I seems to make sense anyone try this before?

-- renee oneill{md.} (oneillsr@home.com), February 08, 2001

Answers

Sounds good,what zone was it in?, I'm in zone 7 [north side] and it is too hot for spinach to germinate out doors here most years until around Oct.I have to sprout mine in the frig. It also gets too hot early on,I think its a bad deal that just one hot day can make it go bitter and bolt to seed so quick. I day dream about grow lights in my refrigerator.

-- Thumper (slrldr@aol.com), February 09, 2001.

I've had volunteer spinach come up in the garden the following year,we are in nw ohio.

-- david (nelson3@bright.net), February 10, 2001.

I have an Amish friend who sows spinach, cabbage, beets and a few other things in mid- February (in NE Ohio. When they get to be decent size she transplants the cabbage and some other stuff. I sprayed some seeds on the ground the other day to see if I have such luck. Might work? I have had lettuce reseed itself quite well so I do not see why spinach would not do the same.

-- Tiffani Cappello (cappello@alltel.net), February 13, 2001.

Farm Share, a charitable packinghouse that recovers fresh produce for free distribution to needy families will take rejected or unsalable product. We will incur trucking fees or will divert loads to agencies in your community that serve the poor. Great opportunity for farmers, packers, wholesalers, and brokers to save on dumping fees, while feeding hungry families with your crops. For more information, call toll free, 1-888-749-3276 or visit our website at www.farmshare.org

-- Meredith Levine (meredith@farmshare.org), April 09, 2001.

We left two patches of arugula (rocket) and several broccoli plants in the ground last winter. They all took off all on their own this spring and began flowering a few weeks ago. We put the flowers along with this years greens for some great salads.

-- jz (oz49us@yahoo.com), April 09, 2001.