I have some some plants of MrFothergill's 'Perpetual Spinach - Leaf Beet'.
I have taken 'perpetual' to mean continious cropping throughout the season,
until (I assume) first frost.
Does anyone know whether these plants are perenneal, or will I need to sow
fresh seed in Spring ? TIA.
Bertie

In article ,
Bertie Doe wrote:
I have some some plants of MrFothergill's 'Perpetual Spinach - Leaf Beet'.
I have taken 'perpetual' to mean continious cropping throughout the season,
until (I assume) first frost.
Does anyone know whether these plants are perenneal, or will I need to sow
fresh seed in Spring ? TIA.

Biennial. You will get some leaves early on, but they will go to
seed. That is, if they are what I think they are.


Regards,
Nick Maclaren.

Nick Maclaren wrote:
In article ,
Bertie Doe wrote:
I have some some plants of MrFothergill's 'Perpetual Spinach -
Leaf
Beet'. I have taken 'perpetual' to mean continious cropping
throughout the season, until (I assume) first frost.
Does anyone know whether these plants are perenneal, or will I
need
to sow fresh seed in Spring ? TIA.

Biennial. You will get some leaves early on, but they will go to
seed. That is, if they are what I think they are.

Yep. Compare the wild ancestor, sea-beet. I've left them in, and got
a very small picking before they bolted. Much better to sow afresh
every year, as there are other greens which will feed you early in
the year.

--
Mike.

In article , Bertie Doe
writes
I have some some plants of MrFothergill's 'Perpetual Spinach - Leaf Beet'.
I have taken 'perpetual' to mean continious cropping throughout the season,
until (I assume) first frost.

They keep going over the winter, but grow more slowly

Does anyone know whether these plants are perenneal, or will I need to sow
fresh seed in Spring ? TIA.

Biennial. They go to seed in the second year. You can stave it off for a
few weeks by picking out the tough flowering stems as they appear, and
thus extend the cropping of leaves, but only for a few weeks. You will
need to re-seed annually.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"

Thanks Nick, Mike and Kay - fortunately I have half a pkt left, but I may
order fresh, to play safe.
B

In article ,
Bertie Doe wrote:
Thanks Nick, Mike and Kay - fortunately I have half a pkt left, but I may
order fresh, to play safe.

I wouldn't bother. If it doesn't germinate, you can buy some more,
but it usually lasts several seasons.

Nick.

In article , Bertie Doe
writes
Thanks Nick, Mike and Kay - fortunately I have half a pkt left, but I may
order fresh, to play safe.

I wouldn't bother. Beet seed should keep into a second year.
--
Kay
"Do not insult the crocodile until you have crossed the river"