Spinach is one of the fastest and easiest crops to grow and is a great way to fill in gaps between higher or slower-growing vegetables. Fresh baby spinach, full of vitamins and minerals, is delicious raw, but can be steamed or fryed on large leaves. Here, the horticultural team shares top tips on how to grow spinach.
For inspiration, browse spinach seeds.
Where to grow spinach
Spinach thrives in fertile, well-drained soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH. Before planting, incorporate plenty of organic matter to increase nutrients and improve drainage.
Spinach can be grown in partial shade under the sun. During the summer, hot and dry conditions can become bolted, so crops may benefit from a slight tint. Keeping the soil moist and rich throughout the warmest month prevents spinach from running. To prevent damage, make sure the leaves are protected from strong winds.
Can I grow spinach in a pot?
This unique oriental spinach has large pointed leaves
Image: Spinach ‘Mikado’ F1 Hybrid Seed from T&M
Growing spinach in containers or window boxes is a good option, especially if you are lacking in garden space or want to keep pests at bay. Containers are easy to fall into the best sunlight or get out of the burning sun. Select pots at least 20 cm deep to accommodate the roots and use a high-quality potting mix concentrated with compost.
Don’t forget to place the container in a sunny place and water it regularly. The soil is consistently moist, but does not inundate.
How and when to sow spinach seeds?
The impressive red veins are perfect for brightening this salad
Image: Spinach PV1390 ‘Red Vein’ Seeds from T&M
For summer crops, spinach seeds are sown every few weeks from February to June. Winter varieties can be sown in September and October, offering harvests until April. If you are sowing in the cool months of early spring or late autumn, consider using cloches or cold frames to protect young plants from frost.
Raise spinach seeds thinly and train them to a depth of about 1.5cm, leaving them at 30cm between each row. Once seedlings appear, thin them about 7.5 cm apart to grow the room of each plant. Inheritance inherits every few weeks gives you a continuous supply of fresh leaves.
How to take care of spinach
This outstanding variety is perfect for growing containers
Image: Spinach “Apollo” seeds from T&M
Spinach plants are relatively easy to care for:
Dry conditions allow the plant to fold and the leaves may taste bitter, allowing the soil to be kept moist consistently. Mult around the base retains moisture and controls weeds. Regularly remove weeds that appear to reduce competition for nutrients. Every few weeks, they raise nitrogen-rich fertilizers to promote lush growth. Beware of pests like slugs and snails, especially during wet seasons.
What is the best spinach variety to grow?
This traditional cooked spinach variety is juicy and very hardy
Image: Spinach “permanent” (spinach beet) T&M seeds
Some of the gardening team’s favorite spinach varieties can be tried at home.
Spinach “permanent” (spinach beet): This hardy biennial has excellent resistance to bolting in its first season, making it ideal for continuous harvesting. It is juicy, prolific, extremely hardy and suitable for autumn and winter crops. ‘patton’ F1 of spinach: This variety boasts excellent resistance to mold, is extremely difficult, suitable for winter production and summer picking in cold greenhouses. It forms a sturdy, upright plant with thick, dark green leaves that are resistant to bolting. Spinach “Red Veins”: This unique variety features striking red veins that run through dark green leaves, adding a visual appeal to your dish. Beyond its beauty, the “red veins” offer a robust flavor and is suitable for both baby leaves and mature leaf harvesting. The unique oriental variety of spinach “Mikado” F1: RHS Award-winning award-winning spinach, has an upright habit and produces large pointed, dark green leaves. “Mikado” is especially suitable for summer harvesting.
I hope this gives you plenty of ideas on how to make your own spinach successful. Did you know that Beetroot leaves are a delicious, nutritious alternative? Find advice on growing beetroot and chard on our dedicated hub page.
Lead image: “Monopa” spinach species from T&M
The Thompson & Morgan Horticultural team produces a wealth of content on gardening and food production. Since the first seed catalogue was released in 1855, Thompson & Morgan has grown into one of the UK’s largest mail-order seed and plant companies. Through publishing catalogs and running an award-winning website, Thompson & Morgan is able to provide home gardeners with the highest quality products that money can buy.
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