Growing Spinach, also English spinach

Spinacia oleracea : Amaranthaceae / the amaranth family

Jan F M A M J J A S O N Dec
      P       P P      

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

  • P = Sow seed
  • 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 50°F and 77°F. (Show °C/cm)
  • Space plants: 8 - 12 inches apart
  • Harvest in 5-11 weeks.
  • Compatible with (can grow beside): Broad beans (fava), cabbage, cauliflower, celery, eggplant (aubergine), onion, peas, strawberry, santolina

Your comments and tips

10 Oct 09, Elia Rigali (Australia - temperate climate)
When the spinach germinate and at the small one leaf stage, its got little dots on the leaves all over. It looks like its marked by a tiny insect. What spray is reccomended. Thank You
15 Oct 09, sharon (Australia - sub-tropical climate)
My English spinach has gone to seed and im not sure what to do with it? Should i leave it or pull up? Does it regenerate after it has gone to seed?
21 Mar 10, sandy (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Hi Sharon, my spinach went to flower also, I pulled them out except for one plant just to see what would happen, I cut the flower off and pulled the rest of the leaves off and it grew back! not sure if that's what you are meant to do but it worked for me
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
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
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?
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?
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)
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?
Showing 21 - 30 of 114 comments

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