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           P P    

(Best months for growing Spinach in USA - Zone 8a 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
  • Baby spinach
  • Young spinach

Green leaf crop. Spinach grows best in cooler weather and quickly runs to seed in warm weather. Can be sown in Fall/Autumn and overwintered if protected by mulch. Not recommended to grow in warm areas. Alternatives suitable for warm areas are Swiss Chard (Silverbeet) or NZ spinach.

Will not grow well in acid soil.

Succession sowing will provide a supply through the winter months.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating Spinach

Use young leaves in salad.
Steam and add to other vegetables.

Your comments and tips

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Hi, wondering if anyone can help me out. My spinach is being eaten like crazy and I can't seem to figure out what is eating it. Not only are all the leaves full of holes, but a lot of the leaves seem to have bites taken out of. It happens the moment new leaves start growing. Could this be a worm? And what can I do to prevent this? Whatever it is seems to only be targeting my spinach plants. I grow lettuce and tomatoes as well as cucumber, zucchini and bush beans and none of these plants have been eaten.

- Monique

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