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Growing Spinach, also English spinach

(Spinacia oleracea)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
      P       P P      

(Best months for planting Spinach in USA - Zone 5a regions)

P = Plant direct in garden where they are to grow.


  • Easy to grow. Sow in garden. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed. Best planted at soil temperatures between 10°C and 25°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 20 - 30 cm apart
  • Harvest in 5-11 weeks.
  • Compatible with: Broad beans (fava), cabbage, cauliflower, celery, eggplant (aubergine), onion, peas, strawberry, santolina
  • Baby spinach
  • Young spinach

Your comments and tips

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07 Jun 11, (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
I've found spinach don't transplant very well - they tend to shoot to seed - so I just pull out the extras and leave them on the ground as mulch.
03 Apr 11, Liz Strauss (Australia - temperate climate)
I am starting a no dig veg garden in my not very sunny garden and am starting with spinach and potatoes. Wonder if kale in a good companion for either of these . I live on the shores of Lake Macquarie between Sydney and Newcastle.
14 Dec 10, Alana Smith (Australia - tropical climate)
I purchased what is meant to be English Spinache at the local markets, but the plants have a purple/black berry on them is this normal?
18 Jun 12, Michelle Cruse (Australia - temperate climate)
That sounds like a climbing spinach I have. It has thick rubbery leaves, climbs like a trellis and puts out those small black/purple berries. I have used the leaves in cooking and the chooks & ducks seem to love them as well.
05 Dec 10, Colin (Australia - temperate climate)
I've been told recently that the spinach we get in Australia, is not true spinach. The claim is that it is the tops of a (?) root vegetable and that the real (English) Spinach is much darker in the leaves and is not a root vegetable. Can you please enlighten me?
17 Feb 11, Daniel (Australia - temperate climate)
Sam is right. Real spinach is called "Spinacea Oleracea" while the commonly known Spinach in Australia is actually Silverbeet or "BETA VULGARIS" and is from the Beet family. Also real spinach is harvested much smaller than silverbeet so the spacing only needs to be 8cm and not 15-20cm as advised on this page which is the spacing for silverbeet. (Opinions seem to vary on this - some gardeners recommend 10 - 20cm)
10 Dec 10, Sam (Australia - arid climate)
This could be checked by looking at the scientific name: Spinacia oleracea is Spinach. What is the scientific name of the root vegetable? Plenty of Aussies call Silverbeet "Spinach", is that the issue?
15 Oct 10, Charmaine (Australia - arid climate)
Hi I was wondering if you need to stake up spinach. Mines laying flat on the ground. Thank you
29 Oct 10, Paul (Australia - temperate climate)
Charmaine, You do not need to stake up spinach. If it is laying flat it possibly means one of the following: if leaves are large - its time to pick your spinach before it bolts its not getting enough water its in poor quality soil is it a winter spinach rather than a summer spinach (check the back of the pack). Planting it at the wrong time may inhibit proper germination/growth. I also notice that you are located in an arid area - I use to live in Alice Springs and know how hard it is to grow some stuff in red dirt and hot conditions - hence the nature of suggestions above. Hope this helps. Paul
01 Jul 10, Lloyd (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
re heritage spinach are the leaves eatable when they go red heard they are not when coloured hope someone can help

Post a question, comment or tip about Spinach

I purchased what is meant to be English Spinache at the local markets, but the plants have a purple/black berry on them is this normal?

- Alana Smith


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