Spinach

The perfect plant to grow in cooler temperatures this leafy green is originally from central and Western Asia.

How to grow Spinach

There are a number of varieties of spinach which can be planted throughout the year creating a year round supply.  For spring planting of succulent tender young leaves plant in the Southern Hemisphere around August (February in Northern Hemisphere).  Make sure you are sowing seed in a warm sunny position.  You will need to space the plants at least 15cm apart and to a depth of about 2cm.  Try sowing every 2 weeks to have a supply throughout the entire summer. Perpetual Spinach is a variety that can be continually picked . New Zealand Spinach (Tetragonia Expansa)  is a good choice for early spring planting and will produce a crop that can survive even some of those hot dry summery days. Nutrients Spinach is a rich source of Iron, Vitamin A, C, K, E and minerals magnesium, manganese, iron and folate.  It also posses B vitamins riboflavin and B6, calcium, potassium and dietary fibre.  Spinach ha high oxalate and this can be reduced in the cooking preparation by steaming.  You can also change out the water a number of times to lower the oxalates.