How to grow spinach

Spinach is one of the quickest and easiest crops to grow, and a great way to fill gaps between taller, or slower-growing vegetables. Full of vitamins and minerals, fresh baby spinach is delicious raw while larger leaves can be steamed or stir-fried. Here, our horticultural team shares top tips on how to grow spinach.

Browse our full range of spinach seeds for inspiration.

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 boost nutrients and improve drainage.

Spinach can be grown in full sun to partial shade. In mid-summer, your crop might benefit from a little shade, as hot, dry conditions can cause it to bolt. Keeping the soil moist and well-watered through the warmest months should prevent your spinach from running to seed. Ensure the leaves are sheltered from strong winds to prevent damage.

Can you grow spinach in pots?

Growing spinach in containers or window boxes is a good option, especially if you’re short on garden space or want to keep pests at bay. Containers are also easy to move around – either into the best sunlight or out of the scorching sun. Opt for pots that are at least 20cm deep to accommodate the roots and use a high-quality potting mix enriched with compost.

Position your containers in a sunny spot, and remember to water them regularly, keeping the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged.

How and when to sow spinach seeds

For summer crops, sow spinach seeds every few weeks from February to June. Winter varieties can be sown in September and October, providing harvests through to April. If you’re sowing in the cooler months of early spring or late autumn, consider using cloches or cold frames to protect young plants from frost.

Sow your spinach seeds thinly in drills about 1.5cm deep, and leave 30cm between each row. Once the seedlings emerge, thin them to about 7.5cm apart to give each plant room to grow. Successional sowing every few weeks ensures a continuous supply of fresh leaves.

How to care for spinach

Spinach plants are relatively easy to care for:

• Keep the soil consistently moist, as dry conditions can cause the plants to bolt making the leaves taste bitter.
• Mulch around the base to retain moisture and suppress weeds.
• Regularly remove any weeds that appear to reduce competition for nutrients.
• Feed with a nitrogen-rich fertiliser every couple of weeks to promote lush, leafy growth.
• Be vigilant for pests like slugs and snails, especially during wet periods.

What are the best spinach varieties to grow?

Here are some of our horticultural team’s favourite spinach varieties to try at home:

• Spinach ‘Perpetual’ (Spinach Beet): This hardy biennial has excellent resistance to bolting in the first season, making it ideal for continuous harvesting. It’s succulent, prolific, and very hardy, making it suitable for autumn and winter crops too.
• Spinach ‘Patton’ F1: This variety boasts excellent resistance to downy mildew and is super-hardy, making it suitable for winter production in a cold greenhouse as well as for summer picking. It forms sturdy, upright plants with thick, dark green leaves that are resistant to bolting.
• Spinach ‘Red Vein’: This unique variety features striking red veins running through its dark green leaves, adding visual appeal to your dishes. Beyond its beauty, ‘Red Vein’ offers a robust flavour and is suitable for both baby leaf and mature leaf harvests.
• Spinach ‘Mikado’ F1: Awarded an RHS Award of Garden Merit, this unique oriental variety has an upright habit and produces large, pointed, dark green leaves. ‘Mikado’ is particularly good for summer harvests as it has superb bolting resistance.

We hope this has given you plenty of ideas on how to successfully grow your own spinach. Did you know that beetroot leaves are a delicious and nutritious alternative? Find advice on growing beetroot and chard over at our dedicated hub page.

Lead Image: Spinach ‘Monnopa’ Seeds from T&M