vegetable · leafy green

Spinach

Dark, iron-rich leaves in five to eight weeks. Spinach likes it cool and bolts the moment summer properly arrives, so plant it either side of the heat.

Spinach seedling
Seedling
Mature Spinach
Ready to pick
Thrives
10–18°C
Water
High
Difficulty
Beginner
Ready in
35–55  days
Spacing
20cm apart
Containers
Yes

How to plant it

  • Plant 20cm apart in full sun and well-fed soil. Mix in compost or a general fertiliser first.
  • Feed with nitrogen fortnightly. Spinach is all leaf and it is hungry.
  • Pick leaves off the plant as they reach the size you want, from about five weeks. It keeps producing.
  • Keep it moist and watch for slugs, which go for the young leaves first.
  • Stagger your planting a fortnight apart for a steady supply rather than one big flush.