SPINACH BABY LEAF Vegetable Seeds
Botanical Name: Spinacia oleracea
Description:
Spinach Baby Leaf is a fast-growing, versatile variety ideal for fresh salads, smoothies, and light cooking. It produces tender, dark green leaves with a smooth texture and mild flavour, perfect for harvesting young as baby greens. This hardy spinach is slower to bolt than many other varieties, making it a reliable choice across a wide range of seasons. Excellent disease resistance and quick maturity make it a favourite among home gardeners and market growers alike.
- Produces smooth, dark green baby leaves with delicate flavour.
- Quick to mature and suitable for continuous harvesting.
- Highly resistant to downy mildew and bolting.
- Ideal for salads, sautés, and sandwiches.
Plant Details:
- Plant Type: Hardy annual vegetable
- Leaf Size: Typically 8 – 12 cm when harvested young
Sowing Information:
- Germination: 7 – 14 days @ 10 – 25°C
- Depth: Sow 1 cm deep
- Position: Full sun to partial shade
- Sow Where: Direct into garden beds or large containers
- Soil Type: Moist, fertile, well-drained soil with pH 6 – 7
- Spacing: 6 cm between plants, 15 cm between rows
When to Sow Spinach Baby Leaf in New Zealand:
| NZ Region | Sowing Window | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| North Island – Upper (e.g. Auckland, Bay of Plenty) | March – September | Sow in cooler months. Provide shade if planting late in the season. |
| North Island – Lower (e.g. Wellington, Taranaki) | March – September | Grows well through autumn and spring. Regular moisture is key. |
| South Island – Northern (e.g. Nelson, Marlborough) | February – April August – October |
Ideal for early spring and autumn crops. Protect young plants from frost. |
| South Island – Central & Southern (e.g. Canterbury, Otago) | September – November February – April |
Best sown as soon as soil warms in spring. Suitable for cool-season growing. |
Growing Tips for New Zealand Gardeners:
- Harvest young leaves when 8–12 cm for best flavour and texture.
- Water regularly to maintain leaf tenderness and prevent bolting.
- Sow every 2–3 weeks for continuous baby leaf production.
- Use shade cloth in warmer regions to extend growing season.
Harvest:
40 days after sowing for baby leaf stage. Pick leaves individually or cut entire plants for a quick harvest.
