When can I sow spinach in the UK?

March to May for spring crops; August to September for autumn and winter. Skip June and early July — spinach bolts in long summer days and heat. A late-July sowing of a bolt-resistant cultivar can sometimes work in the cool north. For continuous picking, sow every 3 weeks in spring and again in autumn.

Why is my spinach bolting (going to seed)?

Heat (above 25°C), long summer days, drought, or simply the natural lifecycle. True spinach bolts as days lengthen towards mid-summer no matter what — that's why UK summer is the wrong time for it. Once a plant bolts, pull it; the leaves get bitter. For summer leaf, grow chard instead.

What's the difference between spinach and chard?

Spinacia oleracea (true spinach) is the classic baby-leaf or hearting type — quick-growing, tender, but bolts fast. Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla (chard, Swiss chard, perpetual spinach) is a different species despite the name — bigger leaves, thicker midribs, much slower to bolt. Use chard for UK summer; true spinach for spring and autumn.

How do I stop slugs eating my spinach?

Apply nematodes (Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita) to warm moist soil two weeks before sowing — they kill slugs from the inside. Beer traps near the bed catch a useful number. Hand-pick at dusk on damp evenings. Copper rings around seedlings work in the early stages. Pellets approved for organic use (ferric phosphate) for severe pressure.

Can I grow spinach in containers in the UK?

Yes — a 30 cm pot grows 6–8 cut-and-come-again plants. Use peat-free compost; water daily in warm weather; position in part-shade in summer to delay bolting. Container spinach is the easiest way to grow it in summer because you can move it to cool conditions.

When can I pick spinach?

From about 6 weeks after sowing for baby leaves; 8–10 weeks for full-size leaves. Pick outer leaves regularly; the centre keeps producing for several weeks before the plant bolts. Plants give 4–8 weeks of cropping before they need replacing. Winter-sown varieties pick from October through to March in southern England.

Spinach — Grow

Spinach

Spinacia oleracea

vegetable☀️ part-sun🪴 loam📏 small🌡️ RHS H5

📋Quick Facts

Height

0.3-0.3m

Spread

0.1-0.2m

Water

💧💧 Average watering

Hardiness

Zone 2-11

About

Sow spinach seed direct from March to May for spring crops and from August to September for autumn and winter. True spinach is hardy (RHS H4) but bolts fast in heat and long days — UK summer is exactly when you can't grow it, so skip June and July outdoor sowings. Sow thinly in moist, fertile soil; thin to 15 cm apart for full-size plants. Pick outer leaves continuously from 6 weeks after sowing. Slugs are the dominant problem on damp ground — apply nematodes and check at dusk. For a summer crop, grow chard or perpetual spinach instead — both are Beta vulgaris relatives that don't bolt the way true spinach does. Winter-hardy varieties (Medania, Giant Winter) overwinter outdoors in southern England.

Top tip

Prefers cool, moist conditions; sow regularly and pick leaves small before plants run to seed.

Also known as: Spinach, Spinat, Spinacio, Épinard, Spinacia oleracea, Espinaca, Espinafre, Spinazie

How to grow spinach

1
Sow direct
March to May for spring crops; August to September for autumn and winter. Avoid June and early July — spinach bolts in heat. 2 cm deep drill, sow thinly, cover lightly.
2
Thin to 15 cm
When seedlings are 5 cm tall, thin to 15 cm apart for full-size plants. Closer (5 cm) for cut-and-come-again baby leaves. Eat the thinnings.
3
Water regularly
Spinach bolts in dry conditions as well as in heat. Water deeply twice a week; mulch with grass clippings to hold moisture.
4
Protect from slugs
Spinach is among the slug favourites. Apply nematodes (Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita) to warm moist soil two weeks before sowing. Beer traps, hand-picking at dusk, copper rings around seedlings.
5
Pick outer leaves continuously
From 6 weeks after sowing. Pick the outer leaves at the base of the plant; the centre keeps producing. Don't strip a plant — leave 4–6 leaves to power further growth.
6
Sow winter varieties for over-wintering
For winter cropping, sow Medania or Giant Winter in August–September. They overwinter outdoors in southern England (cloche-protected further north) and give an early spring pick before bolting.
7
Consider chard for summer
If you want spinach-like leaves through the UK summer, grow chard (also called Swiss chard or perpetual spinach) instead — same family, but doesn't bolt.

Common questions

Pest Resilience

2/5 — Somewhat vulnerable

Slugs are the main enemy; downy mildew and leaf spot in wet weather.

Companion Planting

Grows well with

Pea Radish Wild strawberry

Visual Characteristics

🍳

Culinary

Culinary Use

Salads, sautéed, soups, quiche, smoothies, pasta, curries, spanakopita

The spinach year in your garden

Dispatching imaginary bots to check your garden out...

What to do now

How to Propagate

🌰Seed

Easy

Hardiness Zones

H1a (tender)H7 (very hardy)

H1a

H1b

H1c

RHS H5

USDA 6–7 equivalent

Spinach

Spinach

📋Quick Facts

About

How to grow spinach

Common questions

Pest Resilience

Companion Planting

Visual Characteristics

The spinach year in your garden

How to Propagate

Hardiness Zones

Names in Other Languages(7)