Your comments and tips

13 Jun 13, Micky (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)

Spinach is a rather tenacious plant and don't need much to prosper. They survived heavy frost in my garden this winter - and I live in Ermelo's weather zone where the winters are pretty nasty. You can really plant them any time of the year. The cultivars that grow best in winter are swiss chard and dash (baby spinach). Just keep your seedling protected by covering the ground with a thick layer of straw / dead grass after sowing and fertilize well. Water lightly every morning - over-doing the water will "drown" your seeds or expose them. Germination is about 2 - 4 weeks during the cold months so just be patient.

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13 May 12, anne pestidge (Australia - temperate climate)

What is the difference between spinach & silverbeet I would like to know Thank you Anne

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16 Oct 12, Glenda (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

silver beet is actually Swiss Chard - we jut call it silver beet in Australia. There are various varieties and it grows with a long leaf and thick stem in a high clump for each plant. Spinach is a quite different species, it grows flatish to the ground, has a thin green stem and smooth leaves that are even long oval or an arrowhead shape, usually called English spinach. Silver beet will grow year round - spinach is a winter plant and doesn't like the heat. hope this helps

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16 Mar 12, vuyokazi ralanti (South Africa - Summer rainfall climate)

can i plant spinach on dry land?, what is the required temperature for the spinach to grow on its best?

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28 Feb 12, carol (Australia - temperate climate)

I am a novice gardner. I planted several musclman spinach plants about 4 weeks ago but they are very spindly & seem to be going to seed already. Should I be pruning the plants &/or picking the leaves for eating now. the picture on the label shows very thick leafy bushy plants. Any advice welcome. Also, should I prune the large leaves on an aubergine plant so the flowers are able to get more sun ?

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17 Apr 13, Andrew S (Australia - temperate climate)

A late reply..but better late than never.. Looking at your date of posting..I think it was a bit too hot for spinach in February, so they bolted. They are more an autumn, winter, spring plant. I had far better success during then after I planted them in late spring one year. On the aubergine, I wouldn't prune it. The leaves will help protect the fruit from too much sun when they form as they do burn easily on a very hot sunny day.

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09 Oct 11, Donna (Australia - temperate climate)

I have a few mature (about 6 months old) spinach plants in my garden that have grown quite large. The leaves have started to get curly. What causes this? Now that the plants are larger they are a bit crowded, could this be the cause? Is it because summer is coming on and they are getting more sun? Not enough fertiliser/food???? Please help.

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03 Jul 11, Pru (Australia - cool/mountain climate)

Liz, the white butterflies are cabbage moths, their larvae will eat the spinach. I cover my spinach with a light net so the moths cant land on them. Works a treat.

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28 May 11, Jacob (Australia - temperate climate)

Hi, about three weeks ago I planted three different types of Spinach "direct where they are to grow". I planted three or four seeds in each hole. Some of them have germinated but around 50% haven't. Would I be better off waiting or digging up the soil and planting new ones. Also, I am using open pollinated, or heirloom, seeds. Would this have something to do with the germination speed. Someone told me that when sowing open pollinated varieties to pour warm water over the area where they were planted. Help on this would be greatly appreciated, thank you :)

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23 Apr 11, Liz Strauss (Australia - temperate climate)

I planted spinach seedlings from garden centre in my newly created no dig garden last week. they seem to be settling in ok except the outer leaves are yellow. I'm hoping this is just a settling in thing or should I be doing something about it now. Also discovered a little white /pale yellow butterfly visiting vegetables. I looked under leaves and have been squashing tiny white single eggs. How do I deter these butterflies or moths.

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