Yahoo Answers is shutting down on 4 May 2021 (Eastern Time) and the Yahoo Answers website is now in read-only mode. There will be no changes to other Yahoo properties or services, or your Yahoo account. You can find more information about the Yahoo Answers shutdown and how to download your data on this help page.

Is it OK to eat spinach from a plant that has gone to seed?

It was already in the garden so I don't know how long it has been there but it has a really thick stem, and small ones were growing out of it. It went to seed, but I broke off most of the stems with seed heads. Now new spinach leaves have started to grow from the main stem. Would they be alright to eat?

Update:

Thanks guys - they are all little spinach leaves, not big ones so shouldn't be bitter then :). But one more thing - can I leave the one stem with seeds on it on the main stem, (to get seeds from when ready) and still eat the new growth from main stem or would I need to pick the seed one off?

Update 2:

Thanks guys - they are all little spinach leaves :). But I didn't ask my question very well - what I was wondering is can I leave the one stem with seeds on it on the main stem, (to get seeds from when ready) and still eat the new growth from main stem or would I need to pick the seed one off first?

Update 3:

ooops!.... I didn't mean to write that twice - I went back and I thought I was changing the first one not submitting it twice...duh me!

Update 4:

oh well...noone read this edit so I'll just choose a best answer :)

3 Answers

Relevance
  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago
    Favourite answer

    It is called bolting when a plant starts growing seed. Cut the seed pod or whatever the plant grows to produce seed and the new growth is usually good for food.

  • Anonymous
    1 decade ago

    .

    The large overgrown ones will be extremely bitter, if you can get past that it won't hurt you to eat it. Drowning it in butter and salt might help, but then that defeats the purpose of healthy eating.

    But the new ones coming on, yummy, catch them in time...:) Absolutly nothing wrong with eating the new growth.

    .

  • Judy
    Lv 6
    1 decade ago

    I would think so but just eat the small ones. The bigger ones may have a bitter taste.

Still have questions? Get answers by asking now.