With a dwarf and trailing habit this is unrelated to ordinary spinach and makes a pleasant and interesting alternative. First mentioned by Captain Cook, it was immediately picked, cooked, and pickled to help fight scurvy, and taken with the crew of the Endeavour. You can sow this from May to August and pick repeatedly until the first frosts, both the leaves and tips can be eaten raw or cooked. Price for 20 seeds.

SPINACH AMAZON F1 ~ British bred AGM winning variety that exudes quality and flavour 50 seeds SOW: from February (with protection) through to April and again in August and September. Sow in situ or in pots for transplanting. GROW: Space plants about 15cm apart. Amazon can be harvested at any time between 4 and 12 weeks when the leaves reach the size you prefer. Pick the leaves carefully as the stems and roots are easily damaged, alternatively pull up the whole plant and replace with a later transplant. EAT: As soon as possible after harvesting! Small leaves are delightful in salads. Medium leaves can be wilted and used as a bed for fish or meat dishes or included in quiche. Large leaves are also well flavoured.

A flavoursome semi-savoy type with slightly crinkled leaves that is suitable for spring summer and autumn.  Newly available, Banjo is quick growing, upright, highly resistant to mildew and really quite bolt resistant too.  An excellent choice.

Price for 50 seeds. 

This is quite quick, ready to harvest the delicious glossy, dark green, crinkly leaves after 6-7 weeks. Prolific and reliable, this is also a good choice if you are growing in containers. Price for 50 seeds

Clarinet F1 is a flavoursome British bred variety that’s fast growing with exceptional resistance to bolting, it’s tasty too: not that we are blowing any trumpets here (it is called Clarinet after all), but it is great and over a long season too.  Can be grown from spring onwards with October-December sowing under glass. 50 Seeds.

SOW: from March to September, and then under glass in October to December (seed depth 15mm). 

TOP TIP

In hotter weather sow spinach in pots in cool shade as heat can lower germination: we find that full shade or indoors on a north window sill are good places to try.

GROW & EAT: in colder weather grow under cloches or glass at all other times plant in the open.  They like a rich soil with plenty of added compost.  Space plants from 15 to 40cm apart (it depends on how large you want them) & harvest when the leaves reach the size you prefer, we normally start about 6 weeks from planting out. Pick the leaves or pull up the whole plant & replace with a later transplant or leave larger gaps between remaining plants. Enjoy in salads or cooked.

As suggested by the name this is a fantastic winter variety with large dark green leaves but don’t be put off by the giant bit. Sow any time between July and December for harvesting between October and March. Price for 50 seeds

Greta F1 – with lightly wrinkled leaves that grow into large rosettes and on into plants with a slightly erect habit.  Greta delivers flavour at every stage from salad size right through to larger when cooked, steamed, stir-fried or used in smoothies.  Spring and Autumn sowing, stands well in colder weather which takes your harvest through into mid-winter.

Price for 50 seeds

SOW: autumn sow for winter leaves or sow in spring, Greta stands well in colder weather.  Seed depth 10-15mm either in situ or 2-3 seeds per pot for transplanting.

GROW: for salad leaves grow close together and pick alternate whole plants to leave a wider spacing for remaining plants to grow larger.  Space transplants 15-20cm apart planting each pot of seedlings as an intact bunch – this spacing gives the bunch room to grow.  Best planted as a bunch as roots are easily damaged.

EAT: tasty Greta in salads adds a delicious dose of nutrients (spinach is considered a super food).  Steaming helps conserve nutrients when cooking.  

Pointy leaves with a gentle serration, smooth and dark green are the features of mature Harp.  Easy picking from the upright plants.  You can close space these for picking when younger with more rounded leaves which are perfect for popping straight into a salad.  Great flavour at all stages.

Price for 50 seeds.

Helios F1 – named after the ancient Greek god of the sun it is no surprise that this is a super summer spinach: bolt resistant with lovely flavoured oval leaves that don’t easily bruise…perfect for salads or for cooking, happy days

Price for 50 seeds

Sow March to September, allow about 3 weeks for baby leaves and 6-7 weeks for mature leaves.