Spinach is one of the easiest leafy greens to grow, thriving in small spaces and rewarding gardeners with rapid growth and minimal fuss. Both winter and summer varieties are available, allowing you to sow seeds for a continuous crop throughout the year. Young spinach leaves can be eaten raw in salads, while mature leaves add flavour and nutrition to soups, curries, and stir-fries.
While shop-bought spinach is widely available, freshly picked leaves taste far better and are packed with vitamins, minerals, iron, and fibre. Whether you’re interested in baby spinach for salads or larger leaves for cooking, growing spinach at home is a simple and rewarding way to add this highly nutritious vegetable to your diet.
Want to know how to grow spinach and enjoy your own supply? Read on for a complete guide to growing spinach in the UK, including when to plant spinach, how to harvest spinach, and when to pick spinach for the best results.
While growing spinach is easy, the biggest challenge is deciding on the right variety. Spinach can be broadly classified into annual and perennial varieties. If you are looking to grow spinach, here are some types to consider:
Spinach can be sown directly into the soil where it will grow, making it a very straightforward crop to get started with. For summer harvests, it’s best to sow seeds in a slightly sheltered spot, perhaps among taller plants, to protect them from the strongest sun. Winter varieties, on the other hand, prefer an open and sunny location, as they tend to grow more slowly.
To enjoy a steady summer harvest, sow spinach seed from March through to June. For winter cropping, sow from late summer into early autumn, usually in August or September. Keep in mind that winter varieties will produce fewer leaves, but they’ll still provide a welcome supply of fresh greens during the colder months.
When growing spinach in the UK, it is preferred to be sown directly; transplanting often makes them more prone to bolting.
Dig plenty of organic compost into the soil bed. Make a drill approximately an inch deep and sow thinly along it. Later, you can thin out the seedlings.
At cooler times and locations, you may want to protect the spinach plants by placing them under horticulture cloches or fleece.
Spinach can also be sown in containers.
Both types of spinach like plenty of watering and nitrogen-rich soil. Ensure the soil is always moist. You must water during the early morning to ensure the plants get enough moisture throughout the day. Dry weather conditions can lead to wilting of leaves in young seedlings and bolting in older plants, while overwatering can attract pests like slugs, snails or downy mildew.
Spinach is prone to bolting, which makes the leaves unpalatable. If the temperature is very high during summer, it will lead to early flowering.
If you’re wondering when to pick spinach, baby leaves are usually ready about 30 days after sowing. For larger, mature plants, you’ll need to wait around 6–7 weeks before harvesting.
To enjoy a steady supply, sow seeds at regular intervals and harvest little and often. Summer varieties can be picked frequently, and removing alternate plants will also give the remaining spinach more room to grow.
Spinach grows best in cooler conditions. It prefers spring, autumn, or mild summer days, and in hot weather it tends to bolt and go to seed. If needed, provide some protection to extend your harvests.
When cooking spinach, remember that the leaves shrink significantly, so pick more than you think you’ll need. Fresh spinach is highly nutritious and tastes wonderful raw, but the leaves don’t store well, so it's best to pick them as you need them.
Are you interested in growing spinach in your allotment? Allotment Online offers expert guides, crop-specific tips, and a vibrant community of growers to help you succeed. Growing spinach is easy, but if you need some help, you can always reach out to our community.
Join today to share your experience or seek assistance from fellow gardeners.
Got a question or success story? We’d love to hear it! Sign up and become part of the community!
Are you looking for tips on growing pumpkins, strawberries or aubergines? Head to our Grow Your Own page, and we’ll answer more specific growing-related questions.
