Finding the correct Spinach varieties for your garden is the key to successes, I have personally gone through many failures to find out what works for me, but yet still I’m in search for the very best. (that’s what makes gardening so fun). Spinach is loved for its health benefits and versatility in cooking. It’s perfect for any garden size, whether small or large.
There are many spinach varieties to choose from. The Royal Horticultural Society has even awarded some for their excellence. For example, the Lazio variety and the vibrant Red Veined Spinach are bred for our weather. In this article, we’ll look at the best spinach breeds for growing in the UK.
Key Takeaways
- Best spinach varieties are affordable and accessible for all types of gardeners.
- Spinach offers a range of choices, from award-winning types to those suited for small spaces.
- Red Veined and Lazio varieties are specifically bred for UK conditions.
- Understanding the timing and conditions for planting is crucial for a successful harvest.
- Continuous sowing ensures a steady supply of fresh spinach throughout the growing season.
Introduction to Spinach Varieties
Spinach comes in many varieties, each perfect for different climates and growing conditions. Knowing the different types of spinach is key to a healthy harvest. The main types are savoy, semi-savoy, and flat-leafed spinach, each with its own texture and taste.
Savoy varieties have crinkly leaves, while smooth-leafed types have flat leaves that are easy to clean. Gardeners should think about factors like bolting resistance, harvest times, and sowing times. Spinach starts to flower when the day is long enough, between 10 to 14 hours.
This is important when choosing the best spinach varieties for your garden. It affects how well they grow and how much they produce. I always look for varieties that can handle different climates, making gardening easier.
The Royal Horticultural Society has given awards to some of the best spinach varieties. These awards are a great help for those growing their own spinach. Knowing what each type needs helps your garden grow well, full of healthy greens.
Understanding Different Spinach Types
Exploring the world of spinach, I find many types perfect for our gardens. The annual spinach, known as Spinacia oleracea, is loved by British gardeners. It’s versatile and grows quickly. Perennial options like New Zealand spinach offer unique tastes and longer growing seasons.
Perpetual Spinach is notable for its chard-like appearance and hardiness. It’s a reliable choice for many. Quick-growing varieties like Regiment spinach are ready in just 37 days. America spinach, with its dark green leaves, is ready in 43 days and tolerates heat and drought well.
Spinach comes in different flavours and appearances. Baby leaves and mature leaves have distinct tastes. For example, Gazelle spinach has small leaves ready in 26 days. Giant Nobel spinach has larger leaves, perfect for steaming and canning, and matures in 48 days.
Choosing the right spinach depends on your cooking preferences. Whether you like tender baby spinach or robust mature leaves, the right variety will please your taste buds.
Flamingo spinach has large leaves on crimson stems, ready in 25 to 40 days. It’s known for its disease resistance. Kolibri spinach is great for baby leaf production, ready in just 29 days. These choices show how selecting the right spinach can enhance your cooking.
Best Spinach Varieties for Your Garden
When picking the best spinach for my garden, I look at a few key things. I want varieties that resist bolting, are disease-resistant, and grow well in our UK weather. I also choose spinach that does well at different times of the year.
Factors to Consider When Choosing
Choosing the right spinach variety is important for a good harvest. Here are some top spinach breeds that stand out:
- Resistance to Bolting: Look for varieties that resist bolting in warm weather to extend your harvest season.
- Disease Resistance: Selecting varieties known for their resilience against common diseases ensures a healthier crop.
- Growth Speed: Varieties like ‘Baby’s Leaf’ reach harvest time in just 30 to 40 days, making them ideal for quick production.
Early, Mid, and Late Season Varieties
Different spinach varieties do well at different times. Early-season options like ‘Amazon’ and ‘Lazio’ are great for spring. Mid-season choices like ‘Palco’ keep flavour good through summer. For late-season growth, ‘Perpetual Spinach’ keeps harvesting going into autumn and winter.
| Variety | Harvest Time (Days) | Seeds per Packet |
|---|---|---|
| A La Carte | 24 to 30 | 300 |
| America | 43 to 55 | N/A |
| Avon | 35 to 45 | 200 |
| Bloomsdale Long Standing | 35 to 50 | Various sizes available |
| Giant Noble | 35 | Various sizes available |
| Carmel | 40 to 55 | 200 |
| Double Choice | 35 to 40 | N/A |
| Gurneys Seed Goliath | 35 | N/A |
These spinach varieties offer a good yield and flexibility for my gardening plans. Whether I need a quick harvest or a steady supply, there’s a variety for every need.
Growing Spinach-YouTube
Watch my full guide on how to sow and grow spinach
Best Spinach for Growing in Containers UK
Container gardening is great for growing spinach, especially when space is limited. Choosing the right varieties makes a big difference. ‘Bloomsdale’, ‘Seaside’, and ‘Space’ are top picks for pots. They grow well, are slow to bolt, and resist diseases.
When planting, sow seeds an inch apart. Later, space them 2 to 3 inches apart for better growth. A pot with at least 30 cm diameter is ideal for keeping moisture and nutrients in.
Spinach loves 6 to 8 hours of full sun a day. It can also do well with 3 to 4 hours of partial shade. Baby leaves are ready in about 30 days, while mature leaves take 38 to 50 days. Sowing summer spinach from March to May gives a harvest until October. Winter spinach can be planted in August.
To grow spinach well, use a good potting mix and watch the moisture. Preventing downy mildew, bolting, and blight is key. Choosing disease-resistant varieties helps ensure a healthy harvest.
Top-Rated Spinach Varieties Available in the UK
As a gardener, I’ve found that picking the best spinach varieties makes a big difference. This list shows the top spinach options, perfect for a thriving garden.
Award-Winning Varieties
Some spinach varieties stand out for their great performance. They ensure a good harvest. Here are some top picks:
- Tetona F1 Hybrid: This variety is slow to bolt and fights downy mildew well. It’s great for spring and autumn, and it has the RHS Award of Garden Merit.
- F1 Amazon: It grows fast and resists mildew. This UK-bred spinach does well in spring and autumn. It also has the RHS AGM.
- F1 Mikado: It’s known for resisting bolt. This oriental spinach has dark green leaves with pink tips. It’s a favourite among gardeners.
Popular Spinach Options for Beginners
For new gardeners, some spinach varieties are easy to grow and give great results. Here’s a beginner-friendly option:
✅ At the time of writing this Perpetual Spinach is listed as “Amazons Choice” and “Best seller”
- Perpetual Spinach: It keeps producing leaves all season. Each pack has anywhere from 120 /500 seeds. TIP (so check the fine print to get the best deal) They’re ready to harvest in 8-10 weeks, making it perfect for beginners.
My experience with these spinach varieties shows their quality and taste. Choosing well-reviewed options means my garden grows delicious, healthy food.
| Variety | Characteristics | RHS Award |
|---|---|---|
| Tetona F1 Hybrid | Slow to bolt, downy mildew resistant | AGM |
| F1 Amazon | Fast-growing, mildew resistant | AGM |
| F1 Mikado | Bolt-resistant, pink-tipped leaves | AGM |
| Perpetual Spinach | Continuous harvests, easy to grow | None |
By choosing these top spinach varieties, I grow some of the best in the UK. They suit both experienced gardeners and newbies.
Health Benefits of Quality Spinach Choices
Adding spinach to my diet brings many health benefits. This green is full of vitamins and minerals. An 80g serving has just 20 kcal but is packed with nutrients.
It has 2.2g of protein, 136mg of calcium, and 1.68mg of iron. This makes it great for a balanced diet.
The best spinach is rich in antioxidants and protective polyphenols. These help keep our eyes healthy and fight diseases like heart disease and cancer. Spinach’s nitrates also improve blood flow and lower heart disease risk.
Spinach helps with weight control too. Its phytochemicals make us feel full. This is good for managing portion sizes. It also helps with stress and depression by lowering cortisol and boosting mood.
Spinach is full of nutrients like vitamin K, vitamins A, C, and K, iron, and potassium. It’s a food that’s both tasty and good for you.
| Nutrient | Per 80g (Raw) |
|---|---|
| Calories | 20 kcal |
| Protein | 2.2g |
| Fat | 0.6g |
| Carbohydrates | 1.3g |
| Fibre | 2.2g |
| Calcium | 136mg |
| Iron | 1.68mg |
| Folate | 91mcg |
| Vitamin C | 21mg |
Choosing quality spinach ensures I get the most nutritional benefits. It’s great in salads, smoothies, or cooked dishes. It’s a fantastic addition to any meal.
Growing Conditions for Spinach in the UK
Creating the perfect growing conditions can really boost your spinach growing experience. Spinach does well all year in the UK, especially with the right types. It loves fertile, moist soil that keeps water but doesn’t get too soggy. The best temperature for germination is around 15°C.
For the best results, sow spinach seeds about 1.5cm deep in rows 40cm apart. This helps them grow well and prevents diseases like downy mildew in damp weather. Make sure to thin out the seedlings to about 30cm apart to let them breathe.
Spinach is ready to pick in 6-10 weeks. Summer types are best from May to October, while winter ones are from October to April. Picking the outer leaves first helps the plant keep producing more.
Protecting spinach from slugs and snails early on is key. The UK’s cool, wet climate is perfect for sowing in spring and autumn. This way, you can enjoy spinach for longer. ‘Medania’ and ‘Apollo’ are great varieties for their high yields and resistance to bolting.
Spinach needs consistent watering to avoid tasting bitter. It prefers soil that holds moisture well. In warmer months, make sure it gets enough water to prevent it from going to seed. If growing in pots, water more often and use a nitrogen-based feed to keep nutrients up.
Following the right planting times and protecting your plants will make your spinach garden both fruitful and fun!
Conclusion
In summary, the best spinach varieties for the UK can grow well in different conditions. This gives gardeners many options, whether they’re new or experienced. Choosing the right spinach based on taste and climate is key to a good harvest.
Exploring UK spinach varieties shows that knowing their needs is crucial. Sowing spinach early in spring or autumn allows for fresh greens all year. This way, gardeners can enjoy their harvest more often.
I suggest trying different spinach types to improve your gardening. You’ll get tasty, healthy leaves and learn what grows best in your garden. With proper care, growing your own spinach at home can be incredibly rewarding.
📢 Don’t Stop there!
Discover loads more Information about growing Spinach, Visit the Spinach HOME PAGE
✅ Follow My YouTube Channel for guidance along the season or just pop in and say Hi 🙂
🎁 Product links from Amazon please see our Privacy Policy for more details
Back To Home Page
Want More Information?
Here are some other guides from the Web to give you a complete understanding of growing cabbage from different sources.
- Independent guide to different spinach varieties in the UK
- Best types of spinach to grow in your garden – Plantura
- Spinach
- All about spinach: profile, hardiness & care – Plantura
- Spinach Varieties, Types of Spinach, Varieties of Spinach
- 40 Different Types of Spinach For Your Garden
- Popular Spinach Varieties: Growing Different Types Of Spinach
- 37 of the Best Spinach Cultivars | Gardener’s Path
- Growing Spinach
- Growing Spinach in Containers: A Seed to Harvest Guide
- How to Grow Spinach in Containers – Urban Turnip
- Growing Spinach – How to Grow Spinach – Allotment & Gardens
- ‘Perpetual’ Spinach Plants
- Perpetual Spinach Seeds
- Top 10 health benefits of spinach
- Health Benefits of Spinach
- How to grow spinach
- Expert advice on how, where and when to grow Spinach – GardenFocused.co.uk
- Growing Spinach, A Cool-Season Vegetable
- Growing spinach: our best tips – Plantura
