The leaves of true spinach are thin tender with a delicate sweet flavour. Some varieties are hardy and suitable for growing outdoors over the winter months with a protection of a cloche.
True spinach is easier to grow over the cooler months of autumn, winter and spring as the plants tend to run to seed prematurely in hot dry conditions. However it is possible to grow spinach over the summer months with a little forward planning and attention.
If the soil is kept moist and the plants are given shade on hot sunny summer days and are regularly picked they should produce tender leaves for several weeks before running to seed. To help prevent spinach running to seed prematurely grow summer crops next to shade giving plants such as tall peas, runner beans or climbing French beans. The shade cast by these plants will help to keep the summer temperatures lower and help prevent the soil from drying out.
Spinach grow well in containers and autumn sown spinach can easily be brought indoors into a greenhouse or cool conservatory before the first autumn frosts arrive to supply the kitchen with fresh juicy leaves over the winter and spring months.
Spinach is an easy vegetable to grow for newbie winter growers.