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Post by 4pygmies on Feb 22, 2008 13:39:01 GMT 1
Spinach is just about my OH's favourite green vegetable so I really should grow it. BUT I live in Norfolk which has very hot and dry summers (usually) and the soil is very sandy and free draining. Whenever I've tried to grow the stuff it has gone to seed very quickly. I've tried building a special moisture retaining bed, I've tried growing it in the shade of my Sweetcorn crop and I've tried the Bolthardy and the everlasting pseudo spinach varieties. Anyone got any brilliant ideas....?
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Post by debbiem on Feb 22, 2008 14:01:45 GMT 1
I'm a complete novice at spinach, in fact, growing veg in earnest is a whole new ball game all round. But in our local GC(the same day as I spotted the fateful Photinia) they have all the different kind of potatoes in sacks and baskets, lots of different sorts, with a description of whether they are resistant to this or that, what kind of crop they give, the quality of the flesh, etc etc.
Are there enough kinds of spinach available to find a kind that would like your soil maybe? That would be easier than constructing a special place. My D G Hessayon the Vegetable Expert's a bit old now so there are probably a lot more around now or I'd look in there....
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Post by debbiem on Feb 22, 2008 14:05:32 GMT 1
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Post by 4pygmies on Feb 22, 2008 14:10:47 GMT 1
Fascinating, thanks Debbie! If only my OH wasn't so fussy...I've tried Swiss Chard, but he didn't like it. I must try and get hold of some of the NZ spinach maybe. I wonder if Roan grows it.
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Post by madonplants on Feb 22, 2008 16:48:30 GMT 1
I used to grow perpetual spinach, which I know it's not true spinach, but try telling that to my old Sailfin Plec in my fish tank. It seemed easy, but I only grew it, as it is supposed to be better at not going to seed, than true spinach. I just sowed it in situ. and it just grew no probelms. I did have a clay soil each time though. No help, I suppose!!?  Keith |
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Post by 4pygmies on Feb 23, 2008 8:21:31 GMT 1
Not a lot but fascinating nonetheless Keith dear! ;D Um, what is sailfin plec? You've gone all technical and lost me! A fish I assume......how did it know it liked spinach, that's what I want to know! |
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Post by plotty on Feb 26, 2008 21:46:42 GMT 1
Hi 4pygmies and thanks for bringing your thread to my attention, Spinach is a cool season crop as you already know and is best sown in the Spring for an early Summer harvest or sown in July/August for and early Winter harvest, it does require a rich soil that has been prepared with the addition of well rotted manure or compost to help retain moisture and the soil needs to be kept moist at all times otherwise it will run to seed, once sown it should also be thinned out as early as possible as any form of stress that the plants endure will result in them also running to seed, there have been different varieties introduced that are more tolerant of the growing conditions here in the UK, I have also heard that New Zealand Spinach is a good variety to try, I hope that any of this gives you an idea of what to try and wish you success with it this season, regards Steve.
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Post by 4pygmies on Feb 26, 2008 22:05:15 GMT 1
Thanks very much for replying Steve. I do appreciate it. Hmm, I shall have to try two sowings then by the sound of it....and hope for a nice damp Spring and a reasonably good Autumn. Cheers!
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Post by goth on Feb 28, 2008 10:09:41 GMT 1
We grew spinach in an old large plastic storage container...you know, the ones you can buy at Wilkos?
I found that we had to pick it regularly as it was growing. When we left it, it went to seed very quickly. Our rocket did the same.
We sowed it a few times in order to get a steady crop.
Oh and water it well...every day.
Other than that, we had no problems.
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