Spinaches: The addition of salad greens is an excellent way to extend the vegetable garden harvest. Greens, like spinach, grow best when temperatures are cool. This means that seeds are most commonly planted so that the plant can be harvested in the spring and/or fall. In fact, warm weather can greatly impact the taste of these plants, causing them to become bitter or tough. Prolonged exposure to warm temperatures can even cause the plants to bolt or begin to flower and set seeds. Spinach lovers who have missed the ideal planting window may be left with questions like, “Can spinach be grown in summer” or “Are there any heat tolerant spinach varieties?” Read on to learn more.
Popular Spinach Varieties Here are some different spinach varieties to try in your garden as you plan for the next growing season: ‘Bloomsdale Longstanding’ – This is a popular medium-growth rate savoy spinach. It has the classic dark green, crinkly leaves and produces prolifically. Time to maturity is 48 days. ‘Regiment’ – Another savoy, this is a great variety for harvesting baby spinach. Be ready to pick in about 37 days. ‘Space’ – This hybrid variety has smooth leaves and grows fast. It bolts less readily than other smooth-leaved spinach types. It is a good spinach for freezing. ‘Red Kitten’ – A fast-growing spinach, this type has red veining and stems. It matures in just 28 days. ‘Indian Summer’ – Indian Summer is a smooth-leaved spinach. It matures in 40 to 45 days and is a good option for season-long production. With succession planting, you can get leaves spring, summer, and fall. ‘Double Take’ – This variety is slow to bolt and produces a very tasty leaf. It can be grown for baby leaves or mature leaves. ‘Crocodile’ – Crocodile is a good slow-growing variety for the warmer part of the year. It is also a compact plant if you have limited space.
For more information on how to grow spinaches click the following hyperlink to Gardening Know How's Spinaches link.
Description: (Tetragonia tetragonioides). Not the same species as common spinach, this variety takes the heat and keeps producing all summer. Was listed by Fearing Burr in 1863 in his book Field and Garden Vegetables of America. Not frost hardy. New Zealand spinach is a warm-season leafy green that grows best in hot weather, unlike traditional spinach. It requires 6-12 hours of sun, and prefers temperatures of 55-75 F. This plant grows as a perennial in warmer climates but is often treated as an annual in cooler regions.
Description: (Spinacia oleracea). A fine-flavored Italian spinach that has dark green, savoyed leaves. This productive variety is fairly early. While popular in its native Italy, it is rare and difficult to find in the U.S. Merlo Nero spinach is an Italian heirloom variety known for its dark green, savoyed leaves. It thrives in cooler weather and is quite hardy, making it suitable for early spring or late fall planting. This spinach variety prefers full sun but can tolerate partial shade, especially in warmer climates to avoid bolting.
Description: (Chenopodium capitatum). A classic plant making a comeback! Native to North America's moist mountain valleys and popular in Europe since the 1600s, this plant is a fascinating relative of spinach, with arrow-shaped leaves and a similar flavor and nutritional profile. Its most intriguing feature? Small, bright red berries! Young, underripe berries are mild and great for salads, while fully ripened deep crimson berries offer a juicy, sweet, watermelon-like flavor, perfect for snacking and desserts. Like spinach, its leaves are high in oxalates, so those with sensitivities should be cautious. The berries contain small seeds that are safe in moderation but may be toxic in large amounts. The leaves are rich in vitamins C and A! Strawberry spinach is a cool-weather annual that is easy to grow and can tolerate a range of conditions. It prefers full sun to partial shade and grows best in rich, well-drained soil. Make sure that the plant receives at least 8 hours of sunlight daily.
Description: (Basella rubra). Easily the most beautiful vining edible green you can grow! Red Malabar spinach is a splendid edible ornamental, and it is extremely heat tolerant, providing gobs of nutritious greens while others have succumbed to the heat. This heat-loving Asian vine has lovely red stems and delicious, succulent leaves that are great in salads, and stir-fries and perfect for smoothies. The vines produce tons of deep purple berries. The flavor is fairly bland, however the color is an extraordinary purple. Super high in anthocyanin, excellent as a natural dye for fabrics and foods. Red Malabar spinach grows best in rich soil and warm temperatures and can reach lengths of 10-20 feet if provided with adequate support such as a trellis or fence. Ample moisture delays flowering and keeps the leaves mild-tasting.
Description: (Spinacia oleracea). A productive and delicious spinach variety that is a beloved staple in Japan, where the variety originated. The distinctive arrow-shaped leaves are a familiar sight in Japanese markets. It is commonly grown in Inazawa City in Aichi Prefecture, on the Nobi Plain, where it is believed that a western variety of spinach was crossed with a local native type many generations ago. Jiromaru spinach prefers full sun to partial shade and grows best in well-drained, fertile soil enriched with organic matter. This spinach is ideal for small spaces and container gardening. Provide ample moisture and protect the plant from summer heat, as that can cause plants to bolt.
Description: (Spinacia oleracea). Average 45-60 days to maturity. Perhaps the sweetest spinach we have tasted, thanks to its exceptionally low oxalic acid content. This round-leaved variety can be grown as baby greens or to maturity. The small spoon-shaped leaves are tender and sweet, amazing for raw preparations; the long, 8-inch mature leaves are perfect for cooking. Less oxalic acid may also makes it easier for your body to absorb calcium and iron from Monnopa than from varieties with higher oxalic acid. British seed company Thompson & Morgan released this wonderfully sweet spinach in 1982.
Amaranth Seeds, Chinese Multicolor Spinach:
Description: (Amaranthus tricolor). A heat- and drought-tolerant green with spectacular splashes of color! This leafy “spinach” amaranth is popular in Asia and is eaten raw, stir-fried, or steamed. This is by far the most tender and sweetest amaranth for edible greens, making for a vibrant and delicious salad. The young leaves are a perfect spinach substitute; the intricately colored leaves are juicy and succulent. This is the go-to “green” for midsummer when all others have bolted. Chinese Multicolor Spinach amaranth is a warm-season green that likes hot, sunny conditions. This fast-growing, heat-tolerant plant prefers full sun exposure and well-drained, fertile soil. While it can tolerate poorer soil conditions, providing ample nutrients and maintaining consistent moisture will enhance its growth and yield. This variety of amaranth is drought-resistant to a degree but benefits from regular watering, especially during dry spells.
Swiss Chard Seeds, Perpetual Spinach:
Description: (Beta vulgaris var. cicla). While this variety belongs to the same species as chard and beets, it has distinctive differences. The taste is more like a true spinach than an ordinary chard, and the leaves look like spinach too—flatter and more pointed than chard, with slimmer stems. Very longstanding in the garden, yielding from late spring through autumn if planted early. Seldom bolts during its first year. Perpetual Spinach chard is heat-tolerant and slow to bolt, making it a great choice for continual harvesting throughout the growing season. This variety grows best in well-drained, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.0. It can grow in full sun or partial shade, which makes it a good fit for different garden locations. Regular watering is important to keep the soil consistently moist, particularly during dry periods.
Description: Also known as Lagos Spinach, this celosia is a super heat-tolerant and tasty green popular in many African countries, particularly Nigeria and Ghana. The leaves are a popular ingredient in soups and stews. Plants can be pinched back to remain tidy; left unpruned, the plants can reach over 6 feet tall. The tasty, nutritious leaves are high in protein. When cooked, this versatile and rugged leafy green is the perfect addition to your permaculture landscape or any garden needing a heat- and drought-tolerant leafy green for summer. Thanks to our friend Solomon Amuzu for introducing this amazing selection. (greens should be consumed cooked and not raw) Start indoors 3-4 weeks before transplanting out after last frost, or sow seeds in place after frost. Cover lightly in fine, moist soil, and keep warm until germination. Grow plants in full sun.
Description: (Spinacia oleracea). This is the giant of the spinach clan. Plants spread to 25 inches! The tender leaves are great for canning, steaming, or salads; it’s a great choice for those who want both quantity and quality. Introduced in 1926. Giant Noble spinach grows best in cool weather. It prefers full sun to partial shade and grows well in fertile, well-drained soil. Regular watering is important to keep the soil moist, which helps prevent the plants from bolting. This spinach variety is cold-hardy and can tolerate light frosts, making it suitable for extended growing seasons in USDA zones 4-9.
Komatsuna Seeds, Spinach Mustard "Old Tokyo":
Description: (Brassica rapa var. perviridis). The old and traditional Komatsuna strain from Tokyo, Japan, makes a perfect spinach substitute. It might be hard to believe that Komatsuna is actually a mustard! The leaves combine the best qualities of spinach and mustard, with a mild and sweet flavor reminiscent of spinach but with the powerful nutrition of a mustard! The leaves are very high in vitamins A and C, and it is a good source of vitamin K, folate, and minerals such as calcium and iron. Komatsuna thrives in cool weather of 55-70 F and can be grown in spring or fall. It prefers well-drained, fertile soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Water consistently to keep the soil moist but not waterlogged. Mulching helps retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
Spinach Seeds, Bloomsdale Long Standing:
Description: (Spinacia oleracea). The old standard since 1925, which does better in hot weather than most other varieties. The plant has glossy, deep green, delicious leaves. Very popular with fine chefs. Bloomsdale Long Standing spinach grows best in full sun to partial shade and well-drained, fertile soil with consistent moisture. To prevent bolting and make sure the leaves are tender, water regularly and provide some shade in warmer temperatures. Long summer days or hot conditions cause plants to bolt.
Spinach Seeds, Monstrueux De Viroflay:
Description: (Spinacia oleracea). This variety produces big leaves that grow up to 10 inches long. They are smooth and deep green in color. Very fast-growing plants that are popular for fall planting. A gourmet French heirloom that was developed before 1866. Monstrueux de Viroflay spinach is well-suited for cool-season growing. It grows best in rich, well-drained soil with ample moisture. Long summer days or hot conditions cause plants to bolt.
Spinach Seeds, Gigante d' Inverno:
Description: (Spinacia oleracea). This European heirloom produces large, broad, deep green leaves well into the fall and winter months in many areas. This flavorful variety comes to us from Italy, and its name translates to “Giant of Winter” in English. Gigante d'Inverno spinach is well-suited for fall and winter gardening due to its exceptional cold tolerance, making it a favorite for winter greens. It prefers full sun to partial shade and grows best in rich, well-drained soil. Long summer days or hot conditions can cause plants to bolt.
Description: (Gynura procumbens) A super heat tolerant green that is native to China, Southeast Asia and Africa. A nutritious source of edible greens when all else are destroyed by summer heat. The plants take full sun to partial shade; must have adequate water; perennial under frost-free conditions. Delicious when used in salads; equally good as a potherb, in stir fry or tempura. (Do not overcook.) There is some evidence that this unusual herb can lower serum cholesterol levels. Semi upright, takes an attractive, edible ground cover where the growing season is long enough. Be sure to take cuttings in fall to overwinter in frost-free location for next year’s crop. Please consider these terms before ordering live plants: Most plants will be 3"-7" in height. Please make sure you are ready for your order in your zone as these young, tender plants generally have no resistance to cold. No orders ship outside the US.
Swiss Chard Seeds, Japanese Mountain Spinach:
Description: (Beta vulgaris) This wonderful Swiss chard variety from the mountains of Japan is one of our favorites due to its resistance to heat and flavorful rich leaves. It has the hardiness of Swiss chard in perfect balance with the tender sweetness of spinach. It is very easy to grow in warm and hot weather. Its edible stems and leaves can be used as a substitute for spinach, either boiled or raw in salads. Japanese Mountain Spinach chard is a heat-tolerant leafy green that offers an excellent alternative to traditional spinach, especially in warmer climates where spinach may usually struggle. Keep the plants well watered, and side dress with compost for best leaf production.
