Skip to Content.
Sympa Menu

homestead - Re: [Homestead] spinach sex

homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org

Subject: Homestead mailing list

List archive

Chronological Thread  
  • From: Clansgian AT wmconnect.com
  • To: homestead AT lists.ibiblio.org
  • Subject: Re: [Homestead] spinach sex
  • Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2008 12:06:11 EDT


> >I saved a few spinach plants from harvest last week and am wondering how
> to tell male from female, needing both to make next year's seed. Anyone
> know?

Spinach flowers are unisexual until the flower opens, so you can't tell for
sure until then.

The flowers have no pedals. Male flowers have four stamens and the femal a
single carpel.

But here's a thing, and it's pretty reliable, see if it doesn't work out this
way.

On the stalk of a male plant, there will never be more than three whorls of
flowers. On a female stalk there will never be more than two whorls. That
doesn't cinch it, but it's a good clue.

James </HTML>




Archive powered by MHonArc 2.6.24.

Top of Page