This is going to be a very short one (1) item post.
Was rushing to get as much outdoor chores completed as possible. Only photos I took were the spinach photos (taken yesterday). Finally had a few gorgeous and bug free days had to take advantage.
As you can see from the photo below, the spinach in the window box is obviously very over crowded.
Over Crowded Window Box Spinach
Had a large bag of spinach seeds leftover from last year and it seemed a shame to just toss them out. Knowing that the germination rate for old spinach seeds is very poor decided to over sow to compensate for the low germination.
And what happened? It seemed every seed germinated resulting in overcrowding.
But there is a bright side. Using a scissors, I carefully harvest the larger plants and got 8+ ounces of deliciously tender baby spinach.
It was a tedious process but well worth the effort and also the right task for the moment. After multiple days of digging, planting, pruning, hauling, etc. a sit down mindless task was just what I needed.
Baby Spinach
The above photo is showing about half of the harvest.
A neighbor dropped by just as I had completed my harvest so I offered her some of the spinach, she sure was at the right place at the right time.
The photo below is the window box spinach after thinning.
Window Box Spinach After Thinning
The spinach in the window box is still over crowded. Looking forward to harvesting another crop in a few days.
I fertilized with fish emulsion fertilizer after thinning.
This over sowing of spinach seeds is working out really well and I love the results. I think from now on I am going to over sow as this allows for more frequent and extended harvest of tender baby spinach.
Thinking: What other greens will work with this method?????
Will try to find out as soon as I have empty window boxes.
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Garden to Wok 
How lucky for your neighbour to get beautiful tender fresh young spinach to take home.
Have a beautiful week ahead Norma.
🙂 Mandy xo
Hello Mandy,
Pay off to be at the right place at the right time. Have a lovely weekend.
I wish I lived closer so I could learn gardening from you, Norma. Those spinach leaves are so awesome.
Hello Angie,
And I could learn baking and all about the healthful ingredients you use in your cooking.
Lucky, lucky neighbor! Your spinach looks divine!
Hello Melissa,
Pays to be at the right place at the right time.
The spinach is so beautiful overcrowded like that and is very fine and healthy looking harvested. It must taste amazing, too.
Hello Betsy,
The spinach tasted amazing, tender with a hint of sweetness because it was so fresh – from the window box onto the table, cannot get any fresher.
I love your experiments, Norma! That is some gorgeous spinach. I’m still trying to grow a nice bunch of spinach and it’s touch and go on that front right now. Many of my transplants from a couple of weeks ago were decimated by some strong winds, but a few did survive and I have also sown some seeds directly, so am not giving up hope just yet.
Hello Margaret,
Thanks, I love to experiment. the weather has be crazy this year, very challenging garden year, wonder the rest of the year is going to be like.
Well, I think it is better to have the seeds germinate well than not at all, which sometimes happens to me with old seed. I see lots of spinach harvests in that box!
Hello Dave,
Previous years I sow fresh seeds as recommended on the package and always a hit or miss this year I get 100%(?) germination with year old seeds, go figure.
How did it taste? Looks so healthy! I have to get mine quick before the slugs move in on my spinach! Happy Spring!
Hello Kim,
The spinach were tender with a hint of sweetness, I think it’s because they are so fresh, from the window box to the table. How is your garden growing? I envy your long growing season.
Those spinach you have are beautiful and really blooming. So much better than the ones we buy at the market. Have a good week, Norma.
Hello Ray,
Oh definitely better than the ones at the food market, home grown is always the best.
I know its overcrowded, but WOW that is splendid. My mother would pinch them off me and make Spinach pakoras – aka onion bhaji’s. I don’t tend to grow spinach, as I like chard – but I may give it a go this year.
Hello Shaheen,
I grow both spinach and chard. You may like growing spinach as they go from seeds to the edible plant faster than chard.
You never fail to surprise me with your window boxes. Wish I had that talent! LOL
Hello Barbie,
No talent involved, I am sure you would do just as well if not better than I.
Whoa lucky neighbor and beautiful spinach, I’m going to try your method next time.
Hello Mac,
Timing is everything and she sure timed it right.
How fortunate to have the problem of too much spinach. Your neighbour was very blessed I’m sure with such perfect produce xx
Hello Charlie,
This is the first year I am having the “problem” of too much spinach.
Wow! Norma, your baby spinach looks so healthy! It loves the planter box!
Hello Sandra,
Yes, the spinach are very happy in the window box.
Oh yum baby spinach. Some years I get to eat my thinnings too. This year I didn’t sow most of the spinach closely though as I didn’t have much seed.
Hello Daphne,
But you have such beautiful spinach.
How great your spinach looks and how healthy. This is a great part of gardening, when we can share our harvest with people. Big Like!
Hello Cecilia,
Thanks for the Big Like. We gardeners love to share out bounties.
Your spinach is the stuff dreams are made of. I LOVE spinach and would love to grow some. You’ve already given me inspiration to try growing things in my apartment :). Thanks Ms. Norma.
K / The House of KTS (formerly of Pure & Complex)
http://www.houseofkts.com
Hello Kay,
Would love to know what you are growing.
Norma your spinach is beautiful I would love a bunch of that for my lunch… I think I would have to plant acres of that to feed my boys. Don’t you always chuckle when you see a big bunch turn into a couple of bites in your wok?
Hello Bam,
A big bunch is on its way over the internet 🙂 Yep, always amazed to see a big pot of spinach or other greens shrink to very little with just a bit of heat.
Oh Norma, your baby spinach are so cute…I can only imagine how delicious and tender they must taste.
Hope you are having a wonderful week 🙂
Hello Juliana,
The baby spinach was tender with a hint of sweetness because it was so fresh, from the window box to the table.
This year is the first time I am growing my own vegetables. Thanks so much for sharing this, I was curious about growing spinach like this and now I know.:)
Hello Nancy,
Thanks for stopping by and for taking the time to let me know my post was helpful. Congrats on your first veggie garden, feel free to contact me anytime if I can be of any help.
I love fresh baby spinach. It’s wonderful to toss in with anyone and takes a second to cook. Your oversowing was a great idea.
Hello Maureen,
I am definitely going to oversow again and again in the future.
Great gardening skills you have Norma.. love your spinach. I would like to have a pot of those.
Hello Amira,
I enjoy gardening wish I have great gardening skills. Spinach is very easy to grow, you would enjoy the process.
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Totally wishing I was your neighbor. WOWZA…. your garden looks so vibrant and happy – yes, happy! 🙂
Hello Anna,
We would have a grand time together if you were my neighbor.