There are several different types of
Spinach. Summer and winter types are the true spinaches. They are both annuals and are picked in summer or winter and spring. New Zealand spinach is not really a spinach at all. It is a rambling half hardy plant with leaves similiar to spinach although milder in flavour. It's advantage over true spinach is that is does not run to seed in hot and dry conditions. Similiarly tolerant of dry conditions is Perpetual spinach, which is actually leaf beet but in culinary terms we treat it the same as other spinach. Another type of leaf beet is
Chard and again the leaves are cooked like spinach although the stems can be cooked like asparagus or chopped up into small pieces and boiled. If you have tried spinach before and been unsuccessful, it is worth giving the leaf beets a try as they are more tolerant of poorer soils and do not run to seed in dry conditions like real spinach.
Soil & Growing Position
All types benefit from well-manured soil, dug in the winter, with the addition of lime if the soil is acidic. Unfertile soil leads to bitter leaves. Add Growmore as usual 2 weeks before planting. The leaf beets are generally less fussy than the true spinaches and will tolerate poorer soils, in a sunny or lightly shaded position. Summer spinach is best grown in dappled shade to help it from bolting. If this is not readily available in your patch, consider growing between rows of taller plants, as this will provide some shade. Winter spinach and New Zealand need a sunny position. New Zealand spinach needs to be raised indoors and planted out in May as it frost sensitive.
Sowing from Seed
Sow annual spinaches very thinly at a 1" depth, in rows 12" apart. Sow summer spinach from March to the end of May every few weeks. Winter types are sown in August and again in September for harvesting October to April. The leaf beets should be sown 4" apart at a 1" depth in rows 15" apart, during April. Sow New Zealand spinach in late May, 3 seeds together at a depth of about three quarters of an inch, spaced at 24" apart.
Growing On & Young Plants
When large enough to handle, thin the annual types to 3" apart. Then after a few weeks, thin alternate plants which can be used in the kitchen. Leaf beets should be thinned to 12" apart when large enought to handle. Thin New Zealand spinach to one plant per station.
Crop Care
All types will benefit from watering if dry but annual types in particular need to be watered throughly during dry spells to stop them from running to seed. Applying a mulch is an effective way to conserve moisture or growing through weed control membrane. Bolting is unlikely in the leaf beets but do pinch off any flower heads if they appear. Hoe or hand weed regularly. Winter types will need frost protection from mid autumn onwards. Use cloches, frost fleece tunnels or straw. Slugs can be a nuisance so keep an out for the slimy blighters.
Harvesting
Summer types are ready from late May to the end of October. Winter types harvest from October to April and New Zealand spinach is ready bewteen June and September. A spring sowing of leaf beets will provide pickings from July through to the following June if the plants are protected with cloches or frost fleece tunnels over the winter.
Start picking as soon as the leaves are large enough to use and while they are still young and tender. The old leaves, particularly of the Winter and leaf beets are not pleasant! Pick the outer leaves first. Picking continously encourages new growth but do not strip the plants. Pick up to half a plant of the summer types and less on the winter varieties. Do not pull the leaves but pinch them off or cut near the base. For New Zealand spinach, pinch off just a few of the young leaves from the base at each picking and a single sowing should last you most of the summer.
