How to Harvest Spinach for a Continuous Supply of Leafy Greens

Learn the basics of when and how to harvest this cool-season crop.

Spinach growing in garden — Credit:
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Spinach is a fantastic cool-season crop that is easy to plant and even easier to harvest. But harvesting at the right time is key, as the leafy green will wilt under the hot summer sun. To help you pick the leaves the right way and at the right time, we spoke to gardening experts who explain the basics of harvesting your homegrown spinach.

Meg Austin, gardening instructor and fifth-generation farmer
Kathy Jentz, host of the GardenDC Podcast and co-author of The Urban Garden

When to Harvest Spinach

Harvest spinach early in the morning when temperatures are cool and before the sun wilts the leaves, says gardening instructor Meg Austin. Most spinach varieties mature quickly (about 50 days), but you can start harvesting before that. "You can harvest spinach at any stage from baby leaf to fully mature plant," says author Kathy Jentz. "It is best to wait until the leaves are about 5 to 7 inches long, and then you can selectively cut the larger, outer leaves and leave the smaller, inner ones to grow bigger and harvest those next."

But don't wait too long to harvest spinach. "When spinach starts to bolt (send up a flower and set seed), it is too late to harvest," says Jentz. She adds that while you can technically still harvest and eat spinach at this stage, the leaves will not be as sweet and can have a bitter taste.

How to Harvest Spinach

Harvesting spinach is extremely easy. Here are a few ways to do it:

Harvesting Leaves

If you need a small amount of spinach, you can harvest a few individual leaves by snipping them one by one with scissors. "The best way to harvest is by snipping the biggest outer leaves first and letting the baby ones in the center keep growing, like giving it a little haircut instead of pulling the whole thing. This way is perfect for a long, cut-and-come-again harvest," says Austin.

Harvesting Bunches

To harvest a larger amount of spinach, grip a bundle of leaves in your hand and cut them a few inches above the base of the plant. If you're careful not to disturb the roots or the crown while you're doing this, the spinach plant should regrow leaves again, starting the process over (expect two weeks for the plant to recover). Don't harvest more than about a third of the leaves at one time when cutting bunches, as the plant may not grow back.

Harvesting the Whole Plant

If spinach season is winding down, you might want to go ahead and harvest the entire plant by removing all the leaves. Once the plant matures, it’s best to snip the whole thing off at the base below the crown, says Austin. "Mature plants don’t bounce back as well, so it’s usually a one-and-done deal," she adds. If the spinach is starting to bolt (form flowers), then it's time to call it quits.

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How to Store Spinach

After harvesting spinach, rinse the leaves off and let them dry completely before storing. "Spreading the leaves on a clean towel helps to speed up this process," says Austin. "Once they’re dry, tuck them into a container or bag with a paper towel to soak up any extra moisture." Place the container in the refrigerator, and the leaves should stay fresh for a week or more. "You can also freeze a portion of the washed and dried spinach leaves for future smoothies or soups," she adds.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does spinach regrow after you cut it?

As long as you don't cut leaves below the crown (the point the leaves grow from), or harvest more than about a third of the leaves at one time, spinach will happily regrow until the season winds down.
How do you know when spinach is ready to pick?

Spinach is edible even when it's small. But otherwise, you can wait until there is a complete set of leaves growing around the crown to harvest.
How do you keep spinach from bolting?

Timing your planting to avoid summer heat will prevent bolting. "Spinach is a cool-weather crop, so once those hot May days hit, it usually bolts in a hurry," says Austin. "I try to plant early—sometimes even late winter if the ground is workable—and I stick with bolt-resistant varieties like Bloomsdale." She notes that proper watering and afternoon shade help keep the plant from becoming stressed. "I also stagger my plantings so when one patch bolts, I’ve got another one coming up. And when it finally gives up, I just let it go to seed and save some for next year."