Frozen spinach is available in the supermarket all year round. The fresh leafy vegetables also have a long season, because the large selection of varieties offers the right choice for every season. The harvest dates extend from spring to autumn.
When is the season for leaf spinach?
The leaf spinach season extends from spring to autumn, with spring spinach from May to June, summer spinach to August, autumn spinach from September to December and winter spinach from February to April. The harvest depends on the variety planted and varies between tender and more robust leaves.
Harvest times
When you can harvest spinach depends on the variety planted. The early varieties are characterized by particularly tender leaves that are eaten raw in salads. Later varieties taste a little more bitter and have a tart and spicy note. Their leaves are more robust and can therefore be stored longer. They are mainly used as an ingredient for hot dishes.
Spinach season at a glance:
- Spring spinach: after sowing in March to April, the harvest takes place between May and June
- Summer spinach: sow from April to June and harvest until August
- Autumn spinach: comes into the bed between July and September and is ready to harvest from September to December
- Winter spinach: can be sown until the end of September and is in season from February to April
Spring and summer spinach
In spring, early varieties can be sown directly outdoors and harvested after a short time. Here the conditions are optimal so that the plants do not shoot. The ideal solution is to sow in rows at a depth of two centimeters with a distance of three to five centimeters between the individual seeds. The seeds germinate at temperatures of ten to twelve degrees in deep, loosened and not too sandy soil. The plants cannot tolerate direct sunlight and heat. They like a location in light shade.
Autumn and winter spinach
The autumn spinach season extends over the months of September and October, with the leafy vegetable producing yields well into winter in mild regions. Winter varieties are sown in the bed at the end of the autumn season. With good winter protection made from garden fleece (€34.00 at Amazon) or brushwood, the seeds will survive until the next spring.
The harvest takes place from the end of February, when the fresh leaves emerge from the ground. Sunny areas promote growth. An ideal variety for moist locations is 'Matador', while 'Monnopa', 'Mazurka' and 'Vital' are considered resistant to mildew.
Harvest correctly
Spinach plants grown this year are ready to harvest after six to eight weeks. Harvesting occurs earlier in greenhouses and cold frames than outdoors. The harvest window shrinks as the season moves into the summer months. The spinach harvest ends when the plants start to sprout at the latest.
Time
Pick the leafy vegetables on bright days in the evening, because then the nitrate content is low. Leave the roots in the soil because they release saponins and promote the growth of subsequent crops.
Tip
Just pluck individual leaves from the plants and leave the heart alone. In this way, spinach grows continuously and can be harvested up to four times.
