Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)

Family: Chenopodiaceae | Edibility: Edible (3/5)

Spinacia oleracea is a ANNUAL growing to 0.3 m (1ft) at a fast rate. See above for USDA hardiness. It is hardy to UK zone 5 and is not frost tender. It is in leaf all year, in flower from June to September. The species is dioecious (individual flowers are either male or female, but only one sex is to be found on any one plant so both male and female plants must be grown if seed is required). and is pollinated by Wind.

Edible Parts & Harvest Seasons

Edible Parts: Nuts/Seeds, Leaves

Harvest Seasons: Early Summer, Fall, Late Summer, Spring

Flavor & Culinary Uses

Leaves - raw or cooked. Tender young leaves can be added to salads, older leaves are used as greens or added to soups etc. — Leaves - raw or cooked.; Tender young leaves can be added to salads, older leaves are used as greens or added to soups etc.; The leaves contain oxalic acid (6 - 8% in young leaves, 23 - 27% in the cotyledons), see the notes above on toxicity.; A nutritional analysis of the leaves is available.

Habitat & North American Range

Not known in the wild. (Zone 4, Zone 5, Zone 6, Zone 7, Zone 8)