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 P P P P

(Best months for growing Spinach in South Africa - Summer rainfall 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 10°C and 25°C. (Show °F/in)
  • Space plants: 20 - 30 cm 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

Post a comment or question Display Newest first | Oldest first, Show comments for South Africa | for all countries
01 May 21, lebo (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
what is the best pesticide/insecticides for tomato spinach green pepper and cabbage?
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06 May 21, Anonymous (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Look up some organic sprays - chilli, garlic soap combos.
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10 Feb 19, Sandy (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
How successful is English spinach grown in Winter rainfall areas in South Africa . Any advice ? Thank you
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28 Oct 17, Owen (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
I have tried a Neem Oil, Bicarb & sunlight dishsoap mixture for some time - it really seems to help.
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12 May 17, Roelene (South Africa - Semi-arid climate)
Wich tipe / tipes of herbs can we use to keep insects out of my vegetable gardens?
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14 May 17, Darren (Australia - temperate climate)
What type of insects are you wanting to keep out? Remember, not all insects are harmful to your veggie patch. Mint, dill, and sage are all good at repelling the cabbage moth from your brassicas. Basil, chamomile, and lavender repel flies and mosquitoes. There are many other examples.
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19 Jan 16, pardon (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
How efficient is it to direct-seed spinach at a commercial production level?
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01 Jan 16, S. Haley (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
which fertilizer could I use for the spinach I planted in clay soil and how to find the seed on the plant.
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02 Jan 16, RayS (Australia - cool/mountain climate)
Leafy greens like humus rich soil. Add some well-composted chicken manure and mulch around the plants. As for seeds, it depends on what you mean by spinach. Here in Australia some people call silverbeet (Beta vulgaris) spinach while others use the word spinach when referring to true spinach (Spinacia oleracea). For the former, seed is found on seed stalks that the plant sends up after it has been through a winter. The seeds are rough and corky and when dry can be easily stripped from the stalks between fingers and thumb. For the latter, it is similar but you need to be very careful. Older varieties have very thorny seeds so do not attempt stripping them from the stalks without a sturdy pair of gloves. True spinach has male and female plants so you will need at least one of each for seed. More is better.
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19 Oct 15, Monique (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)
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.
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Showing 1 - 10 of 22 comments
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Ocala, FL is not 9b, it is 9a. You need a better detailed map. If you live all the way up in Ocala and try to use a 9b grow time, you put yourself the risk of a ruined crop due to frost. Also, I am in right below you in southern Marion county and still considered as zone 9a. Good luck!

- C.M.

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