Spinach Early Giant leaf is an organicaly grown, very productive variety with a high tolerance to cold weather but frost can be damaging. This very fast growing variety has large, very delicious flavoured and tender leaves. Pick the young leaves as salad. Can be deep-frozen. Not suited for sowing in warmer climates or summer sowing because this variety bolts easy. Harvesting can be done about 4 - 6 weeks after sowing.
Outdoor sowing under glass: January - March
Outdoor sowing: end of August - October
Sowing depth: 1 cm
Germination: 7 - 16 days
Germination temp.: 10 - 16°C
Sowing distance in rows: 20 cm
Plant distance: 2 - 10 cm
Plant position: sunny and sheltered
Days till harvest: 90 - 110
Direct sowing outdoors under glass is possible from January. Sow in a cold frame, under plastic, or in a polytunnel. Sow in winter to harvest in spring, or sow in early spring to harvest in summer.
Sow outdoors from January or from August in rows spaced 20 cm apart. It can also be sown broadcast. In that case, sow 20 - 25 seeds per ½ meter. Keep the seeds consistently moist and cover them with 1 cm of sowing soil. Row sowing is preferred, as it makes weeding and harvesting easier. Choose a sunny, sheltered location with well-draining soil. Spinach can grow in all soil types but does not tolerate very acidic soil. Provide your spinach with enough light, moisture, and a little fertilizer. Avoid overwatering to prevent the soil and roots of young plants from freezing.
Thin the seedlings as soon as they are large enough to handle, leaving 2 - 10 cm between plants. Harvest young leaves by picking them. Mature plants can be harvested entirely once fully grown. Cut the plants just above the roots and either remove the roots or work them into the soil as green manure. Protect young seedlings from slugs. Sow small amounts regularly to extend the harvest. To prevent diseases, crop rotation should be applied for spinach. This means that spinach and relatives from the amaranth family should not be sown on soil where spinach was grown in previous years (up to 4 years). Spinach can be frozen very well.
