Growing Spinach, also English spinach

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05 Dec 10 Colin (Australia - temperate climate)
I've been told recently that the spinach we get in Australia, is not true spinach. The claim is that it is the tops of a (?) root vegetable and that the real (English) Spinach is much darker in the leaves and is not a root vegetable. Can you please enlighten me?
Reply
17 Feb 11 Daniel (Australia - temperate climate)
Sam is right. Real spinach is called "Spinacea Oleracea" while the commonly known Spinach in Australia is actually Silverbeet or "BETA VULGARIS" and is from the Beet family. Also real spinach is harvested much smaller than silverbeet so the spacing only needs to be 8cm and not 15-20cm as advised on this page which is the spacing for silverbeet. (Opinions seem to vary on this - some gardeners recommend 10 - 20cm)
10 Dec 10 Sam (Australia - arid climate)
This could be checked by looking at the scientific name: Spinacia oleracea is Spinach. What is the scientific name of the root vegetable? Plenty of Aussies call Silverbeet "Spinach", is that the issue?
Reply

Sam is right. Real spinach is called "Spinacea Oleracea" while the commonly known Spinach in Australia is actually Silverbeet or "BETA VULGARIS" and is from the Beet family. Also real spinach is harvested much smaller than silverbeet so the spacing only needs to be 8cm and not 15-20cm as advised on this page which is the spacing for silverbeet. (Opinions seem to vary on this - some gardeners recommend 10 - 20cm)

- Daniel

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