brinboise
Full Member
Posts: 41
Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 11:53 am
Location: SW Idaho

Spinach bolting

I started some spinach in new plastic growing containers with jiffy mix 2/3 weeks ago and set them on my heating mat-they popped up nicely-then transferred to grow lights with 2-3" of clearance. They are growing very healthy, about 2" tall....but now are starting to bolt :?
Whats up with that? Any help appreciated

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rainbowgardener
Super Green Thumb
Posts: 25279
Joined: Sun Feb 15, 2009 6:04 pm
Location: TN/GA 7b

Too much heat. Spinach is a cold weather crop that starts to bolt as soon as it get hot.

I don't start spinach indoors (though I do a ton of other stuff). I just plant spinach seed directly in the ground as soon as the ground can be worked, usually about a month earlier than the average last frost date.

My in the ground spinach that was fall planted and over-wintered, is already starting to bolt, since it is 80 degrees today.

If I were going to start spinach indoors, I wouldn't use a heat mat for it. That's for stuff that likes warm weather.

I don't know where you are or how hot it is already for you. To try to save your spinach, I would cut all the tops off it, then get them outside to harden off ASAP. Get them in the ground in a partly shaded spot as soon as you can.

brinboise
Full Member
Posts: 41
Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2013 11:53 am
Location: SW Idaho

thanks for the reply....too warm seems a likely problem :idea: ....I can't start outside as most of my garden soil is 45* and I think that might be too cold for quicker germination. I'll start some again and transfer to the cold frame as soon as they come up. Thanks again



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