Spinach
Spinacia oleracea

Family: Amaranthaceae

What it is like

An annual leafy vegetable. It grows 60-90 cm high and spreads 30-45 cm wide. The broad leaves are produced in a clump on short stalks. The leaves at the base are large and leaves on the stalk are smaller. Plants are separately male and female. (So both types are needed if seed is to be produced.) Flowers are greenish in spikes.

There are 3 Spinacia species. They are native to central Asia. Also put in the family Chenopodiaceae.

Where it is found

It is a temperate plant. It does not suit the tropical lowlands and grows best where the temperature varies between 10°C and 20°C or above 2000 m altitude. The kind with very prickly seeds is frost resistant. Plants need a deep well drained soil. It is a cool season, short day plant. In Nepal it grows to about 1400 m altitude. It suits hardiness zones 6-9.

Countries/locations it is found in

Afghanistan, Africa, Andorra, Armenia, Asia, Australia, Austria, Balkans, Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Britain, Bulgaria, Caucasus, Central America, Central Asia, China, Costa Rica, Croatia, Cuba, Dominican Republic, East Africa, East Timor, Ecuador, Ethiopia, Europe, Fiji, France, Georgia, Germany, Haiti, Himalayas, India, Indochina, Iran, Iraq, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Korea, Laos, Macedonia, Malawi, Malaysia, Mali, Mediterranean, Middle East, Nauru, Nepal, North America, Northeastern India, Pacific, Pakistan, Papua New Guinea, Peru, Philippines, Saudi Arabia, SE Asia, Serbia, Singapore, Slovenia, South Africa, Southern Africa, South America, Spain, Switzerland, Tajikistan, Tasmania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Türkiye, Turkmenistan, Uruguay, USA, Uzbekistan, Vietnam, West Africa, West Indies, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Leaves are cooked in a small amount of water. They are also used in soups and salads. Young leaves are eaten raw and older leaves are cooked. The leaves are used for sarma in Turkey. They are rolled around a filling of rice or minced meat. The sprouted seeds can be used in salads. CAUTION: Spinach can contain oxalates which affects calcium absorption.

It is a commercially cultivated vegetable. Not often seen in Papua New Guinea.

Edible parts

Leaves, seeds sprouts, vegetable

How it is grown

It is normally sown directly by seeds. Plants need to be 25 cm apart.

The older leaves are picked off. They can be harvested starting at 8 weeks.

Its other names

Local names

Bapxoi, Bathai, Bo cai, Dumpabachhali, Espinaca, Epinard, Gobre palungo, Horen-so, Isfanaj, Isfanak, Matturbachhali, Mithapalanga, Palak shak, Palak, Palaksag, Palang, Palanga, Palangsag, Palong shak, Palungo sag, Pinnis, Sigeumchi, Sipinichi, špinača, Spinach soppu, Spinaksoppu, Valayati sag, Vasaylebachhali

Synonyms

Spinacia glabra Mill. Spinacia inermis Moench; Spinacia spinosa Moench;