STEP BY STEP

Sow spinach seeds direct to a depth of 1cm, or in trays of moist seed raising mix. Seeds will germinate in about 10-14 days. Space seeds or seedlings 10-15cm apart and rows 30cm apart. For baby leaves, sprinkle seeds thinly in a block.

Harvest individual leaves as you need them, removing the larger, outer ones first, or remove the entire plant if more is needed – spinach shrinks to a mere portion of itself when cooked. Repeat sow every fortnight for a constant supply. giant spinach with broad, thick leaves that can withstand cold winters.

For baby leaves, ‘‘Spinach Medley’’ is a blend of five varieties bred for harvest as baby leaf greens. ‘‘Baby Leaf’’ is ready to pick in six to eight weeks, which is a good option if you’re growing close to summer, and ‘‘Baby Boom’’ has small leaves which help stall bolting. If you live in a warm region and/or have problems with spinach bolting to seed, ‘‘Summer Supreme’’ has regular-sized leaves but has been bred to cope with warmer weather, or try growing perpetual spinach (Beta vulgaris), which is technically a type of silverbeet with smaller leaves and thinner stems but can be used in place of spinach. Or grow ko¯ kihi (Tetragonia tetragonoides), an underrated fleshy native groundcover that is unrelated to spinach but has earned itself the nickname New Zealand spinach because it turns vibrant green when steamed. It’s frost tender, so sow seed in spring for a summer harvest.