![]() When cooking spinach, remember that the leaves greatly reduce in volume, so pick generous quantities. Spinach can also be whizzed into fruit smoothies. When using in slow-cooked dishes such as stews and curries, add right near the end to preserve the nutrients. Young spinach leaves are tender and tasty used raw in salads, while larger leaves are best cooked very lightly – briefly steamed, sautéed or simply wilted into a whole range of dishes, including pastas, risottos, soups and more. If plants have good roots, they should re-grow at least one more harvest. Wait until spinach plants are well established, after a couple of months, then harvest the whole crop of leaves at once, cutting just above the base. Take a few leaves from each plant along the row, making repeat pickings every few weeks until the plants eventually start to flower Spinach is easy to harvest as a cut and come again crop, in two ways: You can pick delicious baby spinach leaves in as little as a month and mature leaves in just two. Spinach can also be sown in growing bags.įor continuous harvests, sow batches of spinach seeds every few weeks – see our guide to successional sowing. Or sow in large containers filled with multi-purpose compost – these should be at least 30cm (1ft) wide and deep, so the compost doesn’t dry out too rapidly. Scatter seeds thinly in drills 2.5cm (1in) deep and 20cm (8in) apart. Delay sowing if temperatures are still hot in late summer, to improve germination rates, but don’t leave it too late as plants need to be well established before winter weather sets in Late summer to early autumn – sow hardy varieties for harvesting in autumn or early spring. In hot weather, germination can be poor and plants tend to bolt, although flat-leaved varieties may cope better than Savoy types Avoid sowing too early in cold conditions, or sow under fleece, as early plants tend to flower prematurely (bolt). Mid- to late spring – for harvesting in late spring and summer. ![]() Sow spinach seeds outdoors into prepared ground (see above) – they germinate best in cool weather at the following times: ![]() Malabar or Indian spinach ( Basella alba) – a succulent-leaved, tender climber that needs very warm temperaturesįor more veg-growing inspiration, visit any of the RHS gardens, as they all grow wide range of quick and easy salad crops and much more. Red mountain spinach or red orach ( Atriplex hortensis var. Tree spinach ( Chenopodium giganteum) – a tall plant with pink young leaves New Zealand spinach ( Tetragonia tetragonoides) – a tender plant that grows well in hot weather and full sun Various other crops have spinach in their common names, as they’re used in a similar way, but are often unrelated to annual spinach. ![]() It’s a type of spinach/leaf beet or chard and is grown in a similar way to spinach – also see chard for more details. You can also choose perpetual spinach, for longer-term harvests for up to a whole year – this is useful if space is limited, as plants crop for many months. Ten varieties of spinach have an RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM), which shows they performed well in trials – see our list of AGM fruit and veg for recommended varieties of spinach and many other crops. For overwintering, take care to choose a hardy variety – check seed packets for sowing times. Some are resistant to bolting or downy mildew. Some varieties produce particularly large leaves or have attractive red stems. Savoy types have large puckered leaves, while smooth-leaved types have flat, more upright leaves and are generally more robust. There are many delicious varieties of annual spinach (Spinacia oleracea), for fast-growing, productive, short-term crops, to sow repeatedly. Sow small batches regularly and harvest as a It needs full sun at other times of year. Spinach is also a useful crop for cooler, shady spots in early or late summer, out of midday heat. These compact plants (up to 20cm/8in tall) are handy if space is tight and they can be grown in containers too. Protect spinach from slugs and snails, especially in damp conditions. Sow in light shade in warmer weather to keep it cool, and water regularly. It does best in milder temperatures (ideally 15–20☌/60–70☏), as cold or hot, dry conditions can cause it to start flowering prematurely (bolting), putting an end to harvests. Spinach is quick to grow, but needs fertile soil that doesn’t dry out. Baby spinach leaves are particularly delicious raw, with a soft, succulent texture and mild flavour. The leaves are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, including iron, so are best eaten as fresh as possible for maximum goodness. Spinach produces large crops of tender, tasty leaves to enjoy in salads when young or cook lightly when larger. Malvern Autumn Show - 27-29 September 2024.RHS Flower Show Tatton Park - 17-21 July 2024.RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival - 2–7 July 2024.
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