How to Cut Spinach Leaves After a Frost

Frost damage occurs when the water inside of a plant's cells freezes. As the water freezes, it expands and ruptures the cell wall. These ruptured cells give plant tissue a wilted look. Because the cell walls cannot repair themselves, frost damage is irreparable. Luckily, spinach leaves are particularly resistant to frost damage because of the high salt content in their cells. Spinach leaves can often survive a hard frost of temperatures below 28 degrees Fahrenheit.

Pruning shears

Instructions

- 1
  Cut frost damaged leaves to within 2 inches of the soil line. Frost damaged spinach leaves appear wilted, water-logged or yellowed. Even leaves with partial frost damage should be pruned. The remaining healthy tissue will use up vital plant resources until it eventually dies, and pruning damaged plant material will make room for new leaf growth.
- 2
  Compost or discard the pruned spinach leaves. Do not leave them in the garden bed. Decaying plant material attracts fungi and bacteria that may infect nearby living tissue.
- 3
  Harvest the healthy spinach leaves at your leisure. Individual leaves may be harvested at anytime before the spinach plant forms flower stalks. If there is an impending hard freeze that your spinach crop will not survive, harvest the crop now.

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