Spinacia oleracea Spinach

Planting position: Full sun. Spacing of 30cm between plants.
Requires regular watering (less during germination period). Well-draining, compost-enriched loamy soil and layers of grass clippings mulching. Added 2:3:2 to preparing beds, at a rate of 65g.m ² and side-dressings of nitrogen fertiliser, fortnightly, to developing plants.
Propagate from seed sown in situ.
Harvesting is done from 2months after sowing with a sideways, downward-breaking motion. Leave 4 stalks in the middle for re-growth or alternatively cut the whole plant off 3cm above ground level.
Pests, diseases and their cures: Leaf spot - spray the leaves with mancozeb. Leaf miner - control with dimethoate.

The Spinach vegetable produces the edible rosettes of leaves, which is eaten when steamed, boiled, in salads or used in soups.