How to Grow Spinach in the UK

Spinach is a rewarding crop for both novice newbies and experienced gardeners. It’s delicious in all sorts of dishes, including salads, soups, sandwiches and smoothies, as well as a sensational savoury pie from Greece called spanakopita. And its fab flavour is matched by the fact that it’s packed full of vitamins, iron, magnesium and antioxidants.

So how do you grow spinach, and how do you harvest spinach? It’s ‘sow’ easy! This guide will walk you through everything you need to know to cultivate healthy spinach plants in your garden or allotment.

Before we get to the ins and outs of how to grow spinach in the UK, this gourmet green has a great story. It’s thought to have originated in ancient Persia about 2,000 years ago before making its way to India and China where it was known as the Persian vegetable, and was introduced into the Iberian Peninsula in the twelfth century.

Somewhere around the 1300s it arrived in England where it was mentioned as spinnedge and spynoches in the first known English cookbook from 1390 called the Forme of Cury. And the word spinach comes from the Persian aspānāḵ which eventually morphed into the Old French espinache, and finally, spinach!

Choosing the right variety is crucial for a successful harvest in the UK’s climate. Varieties like Giant Winter, Apollo, Amazon, and Medania are well-suited to cooler temperatures, they give good yields, and they can be eaten as baby leaf or mature crops.

While almost 30 million tonnes are grown every year around the world, with China accounting for around 90% followed in very small numbers by the USA, Japan and Turkey, it can also be hugely rewarding to grow spinach at home! You can grow spinach in containers, but the best method is to plant it in the garden. Let’s dig further into how to grow a spinach plant.

Spinach thrives in cool weather, making early spring and late summer the ideal times to plant in the UK. For a spring harvest, sow seeds from late February to early May as soon as the soil is workable. For an autumn crop, plant seeds from around the middle of July to early September. Planting during these periods allows spinach to grow in cooler temperatures, which helps prevent bolting (a natural process that occurs when a plant produces seeds and a flowering stem before it’s fully mature, redirecting its energy away from leaves and roots). It also helps to ensure a healthy, bountiful harvest.

How do you plant spinach? Actually, it’s pretty easy. The first step on the journey of how to grow a spinach plant is to choose the right planting site and prepare the soil.

Choose a spot that receives partial shade to full sun with well-drained, fertile soil. Ensure the soil is rich in organic matter and has a neutral to slightly alkaline pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Next, clear the area of large stones, weeds and debris, and work in compost or well-rotted manure to enhance the soil’s fertility.

Sow your spinach seeds thinly at a depth of about 1.5 cm (0.6 inches), spacing them approximately 10-15 cm (4 – 6 inches) apart in rows. Space the rows about 30 cm (12 inches) apart to allow for growth and good air circulation, which helps reduce the risk of disease. Cover the seeds lightly with soil, press down gently, and water thoroughly to settle the soil. Applying mulch can help conserve moisture and suppress weed growth, giving your spinach the best start possible.

So that has answered the question ‘how do you plant spinach’. Let’s now look at how you care for your plants.

Once you’ve planted your spinach, there’s not much for you to do. It’s a pretty thirsty plant so regular watering is essential and one top tip is to water them in the morning so they can drink all day. If possible, avoid watering them at night because the moisture can attract slugs and snails as well as fungal diseases like downy mildew. Mulching can help retain moisture and suppress weeds, making cultivation care more manageable.

Protecting your spinach from common pests like slugs, snails, and aphids is important to ensure a healthy crop. Organic methods such as handpicking pests or using barriers like nets can be effective.

How do you harvest spinach? It’s usually ready between six and eight weeks after sowing. It’s a good idea to harvest spinach leaves when they’re young and tender for the best flavour, and pick them regularly to encourage new growth.

Pick the Outer Leaves First
To encourage continuous growth, harvest the outer leaves first by pinching them off at the base. This allows the inner leaves to continue developing for future pickings.

Harvest in the Morning
For the freshest taste and highest nutrient content, pick your spinach leaves in the early morning when they’re crisp and full of moisture.

Avoid Damaging the Plant
Use sharp scissors or a knife to cut the leaves cleanly. This helps prevent damage to the plant, reducing the risk of disease.

Harvest Regularly
Frequent harvesting stimulates the plant to produce more leaves. Try to pick leaves regularly to keep the plant productive throughout the growing season.

Watch for Bolting
In warmer weather, spinach can bolt quickly. If you notice the plant starting to flower, harvest all the remaining leaves quickly, as they can become bitter once bolting begins.

By following these tips, you’ll maximise your spinach harvest and enjoy fresh, nutritious leaves straight from your garden.

So, we’ve explored each step of how to grow spinach in the UK. Along the way, we’ve answered questions, including how do you plant spinach as well as giving you some tips on its upkeep and care. We hope you’ve found it veggie useful!