How To Harvest Spinach
To get the best out of your vegetable harvest, you must pick them at the right time and in the right way for a flavoursome and bountiful crop. Tom Cole shows us how to harvest spinach.
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You will need
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Step 1:
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When to harvest
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You can start to harvest spinach just a couple of months after sowing and on throughout the summer. This can involve cutting leaves as often as twice a week depending on rain levels, so regularly check your plants.
If cooking the spinach, wait for the leaves to reach 25-30 centemeters in length, as they will boil down dramatically. If using in a salad, you can cut the leaves when they are small and immature.
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Step 2:
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Harvesting
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With a sharp knife, cut the stem of a leaf close to the base, taking the outside leaves and leaving the majority of new growth at the centre. You are aiming to leave at least a quarter of the plant so that it will regenerate.
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Step 3:
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Taking care
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Whilst harvesting, it is worth tending to the plant. Remove any diseased leaves that have any minor pests, and place these on the compost heap.
Cut off any stems that feature flowers, as this will allow the plant to concentrate its nutrients on the leaves. These flowering parts are a little tougher, but still perfectly edible.
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Step 4:
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Storage
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Spinach is best when used fresh. It will keep for a couple of days in the fridge but will wilt quickly
If you wish to freeze, boil or steam the leaves first, then simply re-heat them when needed.