Spinach produces large crops of tender, tasty leaves to enjoy in salads when young or cook lightly when larger. The leaves are packed with antioxidants, vitamins and minerals, including iron, so are best eaten as fresh as possible for maximum goodness. Baby spinach leaves are particularly delicious raw, with a soft, succulent texture and mild flavour. Spinach is quick to grow, but needs fertile soil that doesn’t dry out. It does best in milder temperatures (ideally 15–20°C/60–70°F), as cold or hot, dry conditions can cause it to start flowering prematurely (bolting), putting an end to harvests. Sow in light shade in warmer weather to keep it cool, and water regularly. Protect spinach from slugs and snails, especially in damp conditions.
The global market recorded growth in the consumption of spinach, which increased by 5.4% to 32M tons in 2020. The total consumption volume increased at an average annual rate of +4.6% over the period from 2012 to 2020.
| Product Name | Spinach |
| Origin | Spain & UK |
| Family | Amaranthaceae |
| Binomial name | Spinacia oleracea |
Reliable choices for winter-harvest spinach include 'Auroch', 'Sunangel', 'Hammerhead', 'Kolibri', and 'Space', which can be seeded in late summer through late fall for winter harvest. Seeding earlier will produce earlier harvests that will continue to grow and remain harvestable over the course of the winter.
Success in growing spinach in summer will vary depending upon climate. Those with cool summer temperatures may have moderate luck. Growers attempting to grow during the hotter months of the year; however, should look for summer spinach varieties. These cultivars may be labeled as “slow bolt” or heat tolerant spinach.