Spinach
Type: Vegetable
Rotation Group: 0, No rotation needed
 | | AMAZONFast growing, for baby leaf or mature plants. Dark green colour. Resistant to downy mildew, slow to bolt. |
 | | TROMBONESlow growing, smooth leaf spinach with dark leaves. Has a good bolt tolerance and flexibity in sowing times at both ends of the season, making it ideal for home gardeners. Use as mature leaf or as baby leaf. |
 | | MATADORDeep green succulent leaves for a summer long crop. Ideal for sowing in succession for a constant supply of fresh leaves. A slow bolting variety. |
 | | GIANT WINTERGiant Winter, as its name suggests, is a winter variety with large dark green leaves of good flavour. It can be very hardy and stands for a long time when ready. |
Site, Soil and Preparation
A moisture retentive very fertile soil in a sheltered shady spot is needed. The soil needs to be rich in nitrogen so dig in plenty of well rotted manure or compost.
Indoor Sowing
Spinach is grown direct outdoors.
Outdoor Sowing
Sow seeds direct outdoors at about 20mm (3/4in) deep and 25mm (1in) apart in rows spaced at 300mm (1ft). Repeated sowings will provide a continous crop.
Thinning
As the seedlings develop 2 true leaves thin them out to 75-150mm (3-6in) apart.
Transplanting
Spinach grown direct outdoors do not need transplanting.
Care
Keep weed free and water regularly to keep the soil moist. Spinach tend to bolt if they are left to dry out.
Harvest
Can be grown as a cut and come again crop or whole plants can be cut or lifted. Start picking leaves as soon as they are 50mm (2in) long.