![]() Red mountain spinach or red orach ( Atriplex hortensis var. Tree spinach ( Chenopodium giganteum) – a tall plant with pink young leaves New Zealand spinach ( Tetragonia tetragonoides) – a tender plant that grows well in hot weather and full sun Various other crops have spinach in their common names, as they’re used in a similar way, but are often unrelated to annual spinach. It’s a type of spinach/leaf beet or chard and is grown in a similar way to spinach – also see chard for more details. You can also choose perpetual spinach, for longer-term harvests for up to a whole year – this is useful if space is limited, as plants crop for many months. Ten varieties of spinach have an RHS Award of Garden Merit (AGM), which shows they performed well in trials – see our list of AGM fruit and veg for recommended varieties of spinach and many other crops. For overwintering, take care to choose a hardy variety – check seed packets for sowing times. ![]() Some are resistant to bolting or downy mildew. Some varieties produce particularly large leaves or have attractive red stems. Savoy types have large puckered leaves, while smooth-leaved types have flat, more upright leaves and are generally more robust. There are many delicious varieties of annual spinach (Spinacia oleracea), for fast-growing, productive, short-term crops, to sow repeatedly. For early spring harvests, sow a hardy variety in late summer or early autumn and protect plants with cloches or fleece before the first frost. Sow small batches regularly and harvest as a cut and come again crop – you should get several pickings from each sowing, but do bear in mind this is a short-term crop that will eventually flower, as which point it should be removed. It needs full sun at other times of year. Spinach is also a useful crop for cooler, shady spots in early or late summer, out of midday heat. These compact plants (up to 20cm/8in tall) are handy if space is tight and they can be grown in containers too. Protect spinach from slugs and snails, especially in damp conditions. Sow in light shade in warmer weather to keep it cool, and water regularly. It does best in milder temperatures (ideally 15–20☌/60–70☏), as cold or hot, dry conditions can cause it to start flowering prematurely (bolting), putting an end to harvests. Spinach is quick to grow, but needs fertile soil that doesn’t dry out. Baby spinach leaves are particularly delicious raw, with a soft, succulent texture and mild flavour. The leaves are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, including iron, so are best eaten as fresh as possible for maximum goodness. Spinach produces large crops of tender, tasty leaves to enjoy in salads when young or cook lightly when larger. RHS Garden Rosemoor Flower Show - Dates TBC.RHS Botanical Art and Photography Show - TBC July 2024.RHS Flower Show Tatton Park - 17-21 July 2024.RHS Hampton Court Palace Garden Festival - 2–7 July 2024.RHS Garden Wisley Flower Show - 5–10 September 2023.
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