Succession plant every 2-3 weeks for an ongoing supply. For growing baby spinach outdoors, prepare the ground by adding compost and mixing it in well in the top 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7cm) of soil. Summer spinach substitute. Medania: Thick round leaves and a heavy cropper. Choose a sunny or partly shaded position in a garden bed or pot. Heat tolerant - sow all year. Choose organic mulch like our Nutrarich straw mulch. broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chinese cabbage, kale and kohlrabi. Spinach can be sown directly into the garden and also grows well in in pots - self-watering Greensmart pots or ECOpots are good options. When growing spinach in a deep-dug or raised garden bed (soil loosened 20-24”--50-60 cm deep), plant spinach on 8” (20 cm) centers (seeds or seedlings 8” (20 cm) apart in every direction). Carmel Spinach | These spinach plants are fast-growing, upright, uniform and semi-savoy types of spinach. Sow in Spring. Thick, nutritious leaves eaten raw or cooked. Keep the soil damp but not wet until the seeds germinate, which may take more than 10 days. Thin out weaker spinach seedlings to give healthy plants plenty of room to grow, and harvest as soon as you see rosettes of 5-6 leaves. Be vigilant for aphids. may be an effective deterrent if you are growing in pots or raised garden beds. Slow-growing spinach varieties mature best under warm conditions, whereas faster-growing varieties mature best under cooler conditions. The ideal would be to grow spinach with another leafy crop such as lettuce or leeks. In many parts of Australia, including here in WA, we have to make the most of our short period of cooler weather! Growing hydroponic spinach versus soil or soilless grown with water culture methods like NFT or DWC requires less fertilizer, less water, and virtually nothing to replace other than seeds and starter plugs when you start a new crop. Spinach grows best in cooler weather and quickly runs to seed in warm weather. For baby spinach, sow in a 3-4” (7-10 cm) band on ¾” (2 cm) centers, 40-50 seeds per foot. Our Greensmart pots and Waterpot Ollas are great tools for keeping soils at the perfect moisture level without constant monitoring or work. Plant autumn and winter. Viroflay: A French heirloom variety with smooth dark leaves. Tender and tasty, Suitable for baby spinach. Plant seedlings out April-June but take care if you are transplanting to not disturb the delicate roots. Slow to bolt. Cover lightly with Yates Seed Raising Mix and water well. We want to bring you inspiration, music and a clear path forward on climate action! Watering Crushed eggshells sprinkled on the garden's surface can also make traversing the garden difficult for soft slugs and snails. Both are easy to grow in the right spot, although spinach will struggle in really hot spots. Choose a sunny or part shade spot in your garden with well drained soil. Suitable for baby spinach. Traditional spinach. Spinach likes lots of water. The EC should be maintained between 1.8 and 2.3 mS.cm-1. If aphids are found on your crop, hose them off to avoid viruses being spread to your spinach. Alternatives suitable for warm areas are Swiss Chard (Silverbeet) or NZ spinach. You will need to water more frequently since containers dry out faster. 1 Million Women is empowering women and girls around the world to lower their impact on the planet. Not recommended to grow in warm areas. They are from the same family of plants (chenopodiaceae) but have a different texture and taste. For ‘baby leaf’ production, sow seed 1 to 2cm deep in rows 10cm apart to achieve a final stand of about 40 plants per metre of row. Add Yates Blood & Bone before planting and fertilise regularly with Yates Thrive Soluble Plant Food. Click Here to see our full Seeds List and find out how to order organic, heirloom seeds from us. I've been growing baby spinach for many years now and I'm not sure why it's not more popular. Also, watch out for slugs and snails that love to munch on the leaves. Spinach grows best in a cool climate as in warm areas it is likely to bolt to seed. A difficult crop to grow. Spinach grows best in cooler weather and quickly runs to seed in warm weather. (click to donate). 30 min. Sow seeds around 1 cm deep directly to where you want them to grow, water gently, keep moist during the germination period then thin out as necessary. across in soil amended with compost to aid in water retention and place in full sun. Spinach, especially chard, can be grown with a tomato nutrient program without any significant yield losses. Young leaves and young seed pods are milder in taste and are eaten raw or lightly cooked with garlic and coriander. Sow thickly for baby leaves. Planting may be conducted all year but March to August will produce the best quality spinach. Plant seeds in spring, after the soil has warmed. Leafy groundcover also known as Botany Bay Spinach. It's perfect for adding some extra greens to your lunches or for munching on while out in the garden. Feed your spinach plants with plenty of nitrogen. Hot or dry conditions can make it bolt (run to seed) which reduces production of usable leaves considerably. Summer spinach substitute - sow in Spring. Hardy spinach with broad, thick leaves that are lightly crumpled. Will climb a trellis or become a ground cover. ... An average household in the United Kingdom makes 15–16 purchases of spinach a year, compared to Australia's 8–10 bags a year. In cool climates, you can give plants a two-week head start indoors. One of the best winter varieties. Always harvest full leaves with a bit of stem. Mulch around your seedlings to help keep the soil moist and cool. Great silverbeet or lettuce substitute. English spinach and silverbeet belong to the plant family Chenopodiaceae. Sow: Autumn, winter, spring and summer (anytime outside of extreme conditions) From $1.25 Italian Sauteed Mushrooms and Spinach 105 reviews . Spinach is a cool-weather vegetable related to beets and Swiss chard. Plant autumn and winter. Sow seeds in seedling flats or propagation pots if you'd like to grow strong seedlings to plant out in a few weeks or use succession planting (stagger planting out each seedling) to extend your harvest. Water regularly. Sow seeds direct, planting them in clumps of 2-3 seeds. To have the most success, plant spinach seeds in nitrogen-rich soil and keep the temperature lower than 80 °F (27 °C). Growing your own vegetables at home is one of the most enjoyable ways to reduce your carbon footprint. Spinach- Bloomsdale Long Standing. Summer spinach substitute. Seedlings will emerge within 14-21 days. Growing Spinach in Containers: If space is tight or rabbits are many, you can easily grow spinach in containers. Spinach grows quickly, and baby spinach leaves can be ready to harvest in around 40 days. Pick spinach leaves continually throughout the growing season - harvest as much as you need as this encourages new growth. Use garden shears or scissors for tougher leaves. Spinach is an edible flowering plant that has been used as a major food ingredient since ancient times. Spinacia oleracea, 25 seeds. Fast growing, more cold & heat tolerant than traditional spinach. Grow in full to part sun in soil that is rich in nitrogen. Space/thin your spinach plants out for good air circulation and remove any sick leaves as soon as you see them. Even a relatively small 10- to 12-inch pot or a window box will do. Growing spinach in pots doesn’t need special care. Ornamental as well as productive - eat leaves and young stems raw or cooked. Spinach like cooler weather: 10-25 degrees Celcius is ideal. This crowded seedlings after germination. Most spinach is a cool weather crop and will go to seed as soon as the weather warms up. Plant late summer to winter. Plant autumn and winter. Plant as you would in the garden. Sow successive crops every 10 days for a continuous supply. Mulch around your seedlings to help keep the soil moist and cool. Your plants will keep producing leaves for several weeks and by succession planting you can have a continual supply. If you’re growing to harvest baby spinach, you can seed a bit closer together and more aggressively, even broadcast seeding with 1/4″ of soil added over the top afterwards. VG05068 Baby Leaf Salad Crops Baby leaf salads are an excellent convenience food. Victoria Park WA 6100. This variety is a warm weather spinach - plant in Spring. Home-grown baby spinach has a sweeter, nuttier flavour and a crunchier texture. Cut off spinach leaves early if you want baby spinach. They also like broccoli, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chinese cabbage, kale and kohlrabi. It's important to keep plants well watered because they will bolt to seed if they dry out. There are some Summer spinach varieties suited to warmer climates outlined in our Variety Guide below. Sow seeds around 1 cm deep directly to where you want them to grow, water gently, keep moist during the germination period then thin out as necessary. Turn the soil over before planting so the taproot has a clear path for strong growth, and add well rotted compost. Remove any sick or damaged leaves as soon as you see them. Spinach plants grow well near celery, eggplant, strawberries and radish. Its high antioxidant content is great for brain function, reducing inflammation and even helping to fight cancer. Tender with a taste similar to traditional English spinach. Being grown in cool, moist conditions, spinach can be susceptible to fungal infections such as downy mildew (blue mould) and fusarium wilt. Heat also causes the plants to bolt (go to seed) quickly, ruining the flavor of the crop. I usually grow mine in containers. Large, glossy, crumpled leaves with large yield. Succulent-like leaves with spinach flavour. In Australia these products are marketed as either packaged fresh cut, minimally processed or fresh product and the baby leaf category is growing rapidly. Plant your container grown spinach in pots that are 6-12 inches (15-30 cm.) Sow another crop in late summer/early autumn. There are a number of different varieties to look out for at your local nursery or through online seed companies. Leaf vegetable; High yielding variety . Silverbeet and spinach will both thrive in a partially sunny spot (about 3 to 4 hours sun per day), protected from wind. Serve raw in salad with baby spinach and other baby vegetables. Pick leaves when young just 3 inches or so long. Johnny's Spinach Planting Program is designed to illustrate which spinach varieties to plant, grow, and harvest in sequence, allowing you to extend your spinach harvest across the seasons. Grow plenty of nectar-producing flowers to attract aphid predators including ladybirds, lacewings and hover-flies. English spinach growing with strawberries in a Greensmart pot. Compact grower. It is sown directly into a well-prepared level bed. A relative of chard with long-lasting, tasty, shiny green leaves. Fighting climate change through our everyday lives. This "spinach" is actually in the chard family. I've found I can get away with planting them fairly close together in a container if I feed and water them well. This spinach plant takes less time to turn into seeds therefore fast in bolting. Hardy, nutritious, heavy yielding spinach with extra large, glossy, dark green, lightly crumpled leaves. Edible green oval leaves and stems eaten raw or cooked. After the first season, look for volunteer seedlings and move them to where you want them to grow. High protein, bitter leaves. Biodegradable propagation pots or newspaper pots are great options to minimise disturbances to the seedlings if you're planning on planting them into a garden bed. When growing spinach, the trick lies in making it last as long as possible, especially in the spring, when lengthening days shorten its life. Top Spinach Recipes. Our pH soil test kits can be used to check your soil if you're unsure. If you want baby spinach, begin harvesting when your plants are around 2 inches (5.1 cm) long. Your spinach will enjoy full-sun to part-shade, but it's best to provide some shade while the weather is still hot. When the weather starts warming up in Spring, water to keep the soil cool in the middle of the day. Can be sown in Fall/Autumn and overwintered if protected by mulch. Give them liquid, nitrogen-rich, organic fertilisers like our No Frills HydroFish or Potassium Humate organic fertilisers every 2 weeks or so. Choose organic mulch like our Nutrarich straw mulch. Care. After you have tasted your home-grown baby spinach, you'll never be tempted by chlorine washed, plastic packaged spinach gain. Your spinach will enjoy full-sun to part-shade, but it’s best to provide some shade while the weather is still hot. Lazio: Rounded, dark, smooth leaves. Traditional spinach flavour. Plant autumn and winter. May is the perfect time to start growing spinach for the cooler months if you haven't started growing some already! Stay in touch and get fabulous info to grow your own, eco product reviews, tips to reduce our impact on the Earth, feature plants, seasonal recipes, discount codes and more! Plant the seeds in late winter or early spring for an early crop or in late summer or early fall for a fall or winter crop. Growers often tend to add too much nitrogen to spinach and baby spinach. A fast-growing plant, it yields many leaves in a short time in the mild weather of spring and fall. You can typically pinch off the leaves at the stems using your fingernail. Plant in partial to full sun. Spinach likes fertile soil with a pH level of 6.5 to 7.5, which is a bit more alkaline than many other crops prefer, so check the pH level and adjust it if needed. Vigorous climber - grow up a trellis. Good yield and slow to bolt. Our nutrient-rich Bioactive Cocopeat potting mix is a great option, or use our Nutrarich mature compost to boost your soil if you don't have time to make your own. Keep the soil moist - you may need to water daily even in Winter on days where there is no rain. Biodegradable propagation pots or newspaper pots are great options to minimise disturbances to the seedlings if you're planning on planting them into a garden bed. Once the seedlings start to grow their true leaves, thin them to be around 15-20 cm apart and eat your thinnings! Good looking and good for you, these two tasty treats are vegie patch winners! Our Garden Plannercan produce a personalised calendar of when to sow, plant and harvest for your area. Spinach grows and tastes best in cool weather. Fast-growing Asian vine with deep red stems and spinach-tasting leaves. Some of the smaller varieties of spinach, such as ‘Baby’s Leaf Hybrid’ and ‘Melody,’ are particularly suited to container growing. Thin it to at least 3″ apart and harvest as the plant reaches 5-6″ in height. For growing healthy green spinach, you have to provide nitrogen. All blog comments are checked prior to publishing, Bokashi One Composting System - Starter Kit, May Plant Feature: Growing Spinach In Australia. In temperate zones – Melbourne through to Sydney and to Adelaide, plant spinach from March through to July. Spinach does not like acidity - add lime, crushed egg shells or wood ash to raise the pH if you're worried. Try ‘Tom Thumb’ and ‘Sweetie Baby Romaine.’ Onion. Good drainage is essential so the roots don’t rot. Can you cut 1 Tonne of carbon pollution out of your life. Viking: Dark green leaves, quick maturing with a superb taste. Hear from the incredible climate negotiator Christiana Figueres and former President of Ireland Mary Robinson, then have your soul nourished with live performances from Missy Higgins and Paul Kelly plus so much more! Care and Feeding of Spinach. Sow direct where they are to grow. For the price of a cuppa, you can help us inspire millions more! It is a wild edible green that can grow up to 30 cm in height and its leaves can have a width of 15 cm to 30 cm. This type of spinach has attractive and dark green leaves. Monthly Newsletter Filled with Useful and Practical Info, 284 Albany Highway Hector: High yielding with resistance to bolting and tolerance to mildew. Alternatives suitable for warm areas are Swiss Chard (Silverbeet) or NZ spinach. Enrich with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser . Summer spinach substitute. Spinach grows well in the shade of other plants which can help keep them cool when the weather starts warming up. Buttery, nutritious leaves. Spinach is a quick, easy, cool weather crop that is packed full of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients. Spinach likes rich soil. Sow seeds March-May by sprinkling them over the soil, covering with a thin layer of compost or soil and watering well. In hot weather, seeds are slow to germinate and may not germinate at all. Prepare your soil with compost, well-rotted manure and any other inputs. Can be sown in Fall/Autumn and overwintered if protected by mulch. JOSH BYRNE: This is Ceylon Spinach or Malabar Greens, an easy to grow vine from tropical Asia and Africa. Try a recipe for spinach pie, spinach dip, spinach salad or spinach and ricotta cannelloni. Tickets are limited so get in quick! Grows rapidly in warm weather. It's easy to grow and you can harvest the leaves as you need them so you'll always have fresh salad greens at hand. Grow … In Perth it grows as a warm season annual as it will do pretty much anywhere in Australia. In the cooler zones – Hobart, the hills areas of southern Australia plant spinach from April through to October. Sow seeds around 1 cm deep directly to where you want them to grow, water gently, keep moist during the germination period then thin out as necessary. Spinach is rarely transplanted. The seeds of spinach start to grow as tiny fruits, with just a 10 mm radius. If viral diseases are common in your garden, use exclusion netting to protect young spinach plants from aphids. The Sub tropical and Tropical areas are not suited to growing English spinach as it tends to bolt very early. Not recommended to grow in warm areas. Sweet, lime-green leaves. ... Baby Spinach (54) See all 5 collections. Planting. There are lots of different varieties of spinach - we'll tell you all about them and how to grow healthy, thriving spinach in this article. Click and Collect or Australia-Wide shipping available for online orders. Your spinach will enjoy full-sun to part-shade, but it's best to provide some shade while the weather is still hot. Perennial in tropical climates. Summer spinach substitute. Join us on Saturday 5 December (Friday 4 December if you're in the US or UK). Spinach like cooler weather: 10-25 degrees Celcius is ideal. If you love what we do, please support our work by donating a couple of dollars. Firm down, water gently and keep moist through the germination period. In Western Australia, the ter… Spinach like cooler weather: 10-25 degrees Celcius is ideal. Slow growth and yellowing leaves indicate malnutrition. This green, leafy vegetable is full of minerals, vitamins, pigments and phytonutrients including iron, potassium, zinc, magnesium, calcium and vitamins A, B and C. The important nutrients in spinach can help many vital functions of the body by boosting eye health, regulating blood pressure, strengthening muscles, helping to prevent heart disease, protecting the skin and aiding the digestive system. By doing so your household can connect to what's in season, reduce food waste and avoid food miles. Fertilizing. Baby Japanese spinach growing with a Waterpot Olla to maintain perfect soil moisture. Spinach is a generic term for certain vegetables and may refer to plants from five different families including English or common spinach (Spinacia oleracea), silverbeet or Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris), French spinach or orach (Atriplex hortensis), New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia expansa), Chinese spinach (Amaranthus gangeticus), water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) and Indian spinach (Basella rubra).