Spinach for many harvests, sow early or late, space for long lived plants

True spinach, not leaf beet, is as delicious in salad as it is cooked. You enjoy most harvests when it's sown very early, or in late summer. See the results of using both sowing dates, and tips on picking to give a longer harvest season.
Called "The prince of vegetables" in 12th century Arabia.
More info in my books and on my website www.charlesdowding.co.uk/
Follow me on Instagram for garden updates and to see the beauty of no dig, charles_dowding
I have two online courses where you get access to hundreds of photos and exclusive videos please go to charlesdowding.co.uk/product-...

[@ienekevanhouten4559]

Dear sir, you are the antidote to the world’s madness. I can watch these for hours. Thank you.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Leneke, happy to help!

[@Fragrantbeard]

That's possibly the truest thing I've read in a year, and it especially resonates now. Now is the time for us all to honor and really sit with and appreciate nature, plants, and love and care, as best we can given the madness. Charles is certainly a beautiful way for us to go to church, if you know what I mean. Be well.

[@dawn6954]

My thoughts exactly!!! ❤❤❤

[@loistoogood7964]

I couldn't agree more!!

[@CyberVenus1984]

@@Fragrantbeard God Almighty first planted a garden. And indeed, it is the purest of human pleasures. Francis Bacon

[@sarahbell4344]

Did anyone else notice the white seed tray turned into a black one at the beginning 🤣 love Charles learning so so much 👍🏻😊

[@stevecook8187]

Yep I was thinking Charles using a polystyrene tray

[@MultiUSAPatriot]

These videos are extremely helpful and filled with information. They are also very calming to watch. I can't thank you enough for these!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nate, thankyou

[@TheeJoieDeVivreGarden]

I’ve binged watched your videos all morning, and they are so serene and thrilling! Happy to meet a fellow gardener with such a passion for growing! 🙏🏾

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hi, so nice to hear and thanks

[@samanthahoos9827]

Thank you for posting this video specifically about spinach. I grow it every year, but feel the need to watch this to remind myself.

[@spirittalks5681]

I want to thank you for your speaking whilst planting! You went straight to the point and kept it quite informative all of the way through! I’m subscribing !

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Ah thanks!

[@haydehabdolahian7691]

We are -13 c and 8 f today watching you make me so happy 😊can’t wait for better weather in 2 month so I can try planting lettuce and spinach 🥰

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Oh wow, good luck!

[@truegritcouture]

There is something very satisfying about watching you plant out seedlings! You have a well honed fluid movement 😊

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thankyou :)

[@racheltomlinson2257]

Your an amazing teacher. I am amazed at your knowledge. I learn so much from you. Bless you for sharing.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

thanks so much Rachel

[@plug1461]

I'm learning so much from you Charles. I keep a note book while watching your videos writing down the tips you give us. I'm so glad I found your channel. You have given me so much confidence thank you

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cool I am happy to read this and wish you success 🥬

[@brittcorley]

You have the most excellent, informative and thorough videos. I so appreciate your patience to wait through all the stages of plant development to compile all the clips into one single video. Very helpful!

[@jeanbartrum2773]

Its my first year of growing and no dig for everything ,just so glad you are here Charles guiding us through x

[@leonadubois249]

I tried my first no dig garden last year and the one neighbor called me a kook....but it did tremendously well!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hi Leona, it is funny how people react to new ideas, and well done for persevering

[@ClandestineMerkaba]

I hope you harvested right in their Luddite face every chance you got.

[@owl369]

Yea people can be ignorant and foolish when they see people doing sensible things like growing their own food and enjoying life outdoors!!!!! power to you!

[@cornenho]

I m in an allotment. When i started with no dig, they laugh at me, then they ignore me, now they adore me 😀 and my garden. Yeah it really works well... yeah it really does, they say...Nowadays the first neightbour iscoming and asking how can I start with compost gardening? Its an amazing process...

[@bobdexter9175]

Same here. Read the book, took over a rundown allotment and amid comments like “Spray the lot, cover with black plastic and come back in 12 months” started with double layer of cardboard and thick layer of compost/horse manure grew some potatoes followed by leeks, established a strawberry bed and resurrected a large bed of autumn raspberries. Three years have gone by, a lot of food has come my way and they’ve stopped scoffing. Comments are now “How do you get away with so little work and get so much stuff?” Only one other no-digger though in a 120 plot site. Still using cardboard a lot.

[@denisebarreto2570]

I put my seeds 4 or 6 hrs in the water before planting! This week I planted. Corn,and spinach! Delicious salads, rice and "maminha"(Portuguese word for meat)

[@MsMinelly]

I love all your videos Charles, i wish i could be there with you and learn EVERYTHING. But Im satisfied to look at all these Great videoes. Im learning so much from you🙌 Thank you very much for all this valuble informasion 👏🤩

[@lloydlobo2053]

Very informative. The way you deliver the subject matter is just amazing. Thanks for sharing, Sir.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Lloyd

[@AmandasAllotment]

I totally agree Lloyd he explains things so well

[@TheMiddlesizedGarden]

Now I know why I've never managed to grow spinach. Sowed it too late!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

2018 is the year of spinach in the middle sized garden!

[@iwona4685]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig and hopefully 2019 is the year of spinach in my garden :) Thank you for your programs, I've learned so much!

[@Eurotool]

This man does wonders

[@tedbastwock3810]

The smaller spinach plants are the ones that were transplanted more deeply; I believe it's an exact correlation, but I'd have to rewind to be sure. Thanks again for another great video!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Ted that is well noticed, I shall have a look

[@wjames5645]

This variety of spinach excites me 😂😂😂 people think I’m mad , the mad compost man they call me down the allotments , we will see who’s mad, when I’m sat in the sun drinking fresh camomile and mint tea , while they are digging and weeding , never getting anywhere , 😃😃😃 it’s defiantly a form of spiritual gardening Charles , great vid many thanks James ,

[@wjames5645]

Definitely , not defiantly 🤣🤣

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks James and it's funny to hear this, how some folk look a gift horse in the mouth!

[@HelenRullesteg]

That's definitely something that doesn't cease to amaze me. Farmers or gardeners who have neighbours doing no-dig/no-till with great results, less erosion, soil run-off etc., but no, they dig their heels in and refuse to contemplate doing something differently.

[@jeffreywaddell8180]

Charles you are the garden goat! Really enjoy your videos.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

💚 thanks Jeffrey

[@ayesha625]

I wonder why some of those spinach plants weren't growing as full and large as the others. But I appreciate that you showed us, because as someone new to gardening, I always expect the plants to grow perfectly and get discouraged when they don't. But now I understand that we don't have much control over everything and it's expected that not everything will be perfect! Thank you for sharing. I also watched your video about growing salad greens in the winter, and that motivated me to get back into gardening. I just transplanted some spinach leaves, swiss chard (bright lights), kale, and buttercrunch lettuce the other day and I am so impatient! You're an inspiration! I can't wait for harvest :)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice feedback Ayesha :) and I suspect that gardening will help you become more patient. Not that impatience is bad, it shows how keen you are, and makes a good result more enjoyable.

[@ayesha625]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Thank you :)

[@johnpwright7832]

Such a soothing person. You have the ability to take me back to when I was a nipper watching ground force with my grandad x

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

😅

[@williamwhitney4391]

So far you have taught me so much, although I have done gardening since I was 12, starting with growing tomatoes. Now at 66, I am finally learning how to do a REAL garden. This year is the first year I have done raised beds to begin with and the first year I have had success with lettuce, thanks to you. I have very little compost, of which I am working on, but I have bought, so far, about 8 yards of very fine compost called Black gold at a very reasonable price. NO WEEDS--I love it. Your knowledge is absolutely fantastic, and I sincerely hope that you keep sharing it. As I have told you in the past, I keep sharing your site and videos on another site, which I belong to. I hope your subscriptions keep going up. Thank you so much, Charles.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I am so happy to hear that, and yes Bev/Bill my subscriber numbers are rising so thanks for your spreading the word.

[@Silvereagledude]

I like the idea of planting spinach seeds in clumps for more small leaves….I think I will do that this year

[@edelinabacani4552]

Hi Charles, Thank you for sharing your wisdom & gardening teachings. Last year was my first time growing vegetables & no dig gardening. Thanks to you, it has been a success & I am starting some more lettuce indoors & spinach tomorrow & it’s only the 2nd week of January here in Texas. Salute!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hello Edelina, I am happy to hear about your growing success, wonderful. A good early start too!

[@marcelemanuel1747]

The Bob Ross of gardening.

[@peggyhelblingsgardenwhatyo7920]

Great, as always Charles.

[@Bodders89]

Another great vid charles.

[@zetalivsanns5360]

This man is a pro. Thx for all theses videos

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad you like them

[@elijahfromamerica]

What a great master gardener and teacher ❤❤😊

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

So nice thanks

[@gavinbrinck]

Charles is crush as always. 3rd season gardener, and conceiving of getting some no dig beds working this time round ! thanks from WA, USA

[@ajb.822]

Hi from WI. I just thought I'd make this suggestion in case you're interested and haven't heard of them yet and since you're out in the western USA. Singing Frogs Farm is also a no-dig & no-till market garden farm in Sebastopol, CA. They have a lot of details on the science of it, lotta great info in their lectures/presentations here on KZbin & in an article I read online there were a few more nuggets not found in those, if I remember right. Anyways, I mainly wanted to suggest the vlog interview with them which Curtis Stone The Urban Farmer did with them on thr topic of their hedgerows specifically. So cool. In all of that, it's mostly all stuff which Charles has touched on at times I think but again, thought it may be of interest.

[@gavinbrinck]

@@ajb.822 amazing; tyvm!

[@LindaPenney]

Awesome update Charles

[@catherinemartina6469]

Thank you for posting this great information.

[@jimweights8908]

Thank you for sharing this - really helpful 👍

[@ciwee5607]

Fabulous talk in Hereford this week! Very inspired, roll on 14th Feb!

[@pbenson56fran]

Thank you very much. I love salads so I want organic veggies for my salad without the high cost.

[@marshwetland3808]

Better than organic. Organic is just a commercial designation. Home grown is miles better.

[@bernardchristensen4268]

Your methods are saving me lots of time and effort, love your books. Thanks

[@Ljblossom]

I have been gardening for over 30 years and before that at every chance as I moved around the globe. It is wonderful to have an experienced person explain things. Too many who are doing something for the first time or the second make videos but each of yours is backed by practice and yet, like all gardeners you are always trying new ideas and are not afraid to say so. Your manner is so very natural and relaxed. Now for a question, how to you keep Brussels sprouts from falling over?

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Wonderful to hear Linda. I find that when they are grown in no dig soil, which is firm while at the same time open to plant roots, the plants stand up, or lean, but without falling over. Sometimes if there is high wind, we put in a tree stake beside each one and tie it.

[@Ljblossom]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig thanks so much for the answer.

[@terry2346]

Bit early for us in Minnesota! :) Nice to look forward to though.

[@alisonburgess345]

Well I stuffed that up very precisely - i now expect only a few leaves before they flower! I'll plant out another lot later on.. Should have checked first - mind you, the plants LOOK great!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Enjoy your harvest, it will be tasty, just it won't go on for very long. Sow again in February

[@alisonburgess345]

@@CharlesDowding1nodig Gotcha - thank you!

[@NicksAllotmentDiary]

Very informative. Particularly interesting that they get away better in a no dig system. Take care. Nick

[@SibbyG]

Great video, very informative and a clear presentation. Thank you for sharing the knowledge in this video, i am now subscribed and look forward to other videos!

[@faithsrvtrip8768]

That is one very nice and well built greenhouse. Beautiful!

[@thanvuvn]

I love the way you growing them. Thanks for sharing it.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thankyou Than

[@bethbeautifulnature3433]

WOW....I WILL FOLLOW YOUR GOOD ADVISE TIPS FOR PLANTING....I LIKE THE WAY YOU TRANSPLANT

[@mellima4226]

They are so beautiful green .This will be my next project 🤩

[@petara6065]

Thanks for the lesson, it is, as always, helpful, to actually see you sowing and planting a particular plant. Last year was our first no dig garden year, and we had the best harvests ever! We only made the mistake to not cover our paths with cardboard, so we had a hard time fighting the weeds. Today we walked to a market in middle germany and saw endives, they were about 2,50 Euro (2,22 pounds)per endive, not organic grown!!. Thanks to your videos of the no dig method, we are lucky to have 12 endives , organic grown, in our polytunnel, ready to pick from! Your picking method is priceless, I had to become over 50 years old to learn this method! Thank you James!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

That is fantastic to hear Petara, and many are saying similar. A satisfying endive experience!

[@evephillips6701]

I love spinach great video😊

[@wellwellwell9962]

I’ve just started dabble with vegetable home gardening, and you are one of the experts I really watch for reference. Thanks 🙏🏼

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Happy to hear that Dinah and I wish you success

[@steveipswich]

Thanks for sharing I found this very helpful 🙂

[@assamfoodforestnursery4010]

Thanks for your valuable tips ...your vids teach us alot...love from India

[@saoudiwissal9203]

You're doing great and you are very organized

[@ellakrystina]

This is so helpful. Thank you so much!

[@himalayanexcursionnepal6236]

i m so inspiring from you.want to plant more n more species of greens.love from nepal

[@nutCrack5]

Great to see a working plot.

[@thomasmikita2358]

Very nice way of presenting. Kinda like being on a school class field trip with my kids in the past. 👍

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thank youThomas!

[@giftofgardeningandmore5368]

Thank you, very calming to watch your videos !!! I really love the no dig method !!!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Glad you enjoy it! it's a calming method 💚

[@hacgarimman9660]

I have the same Engelbert Strauss boots. Absolutely brilliant. Just like this video!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Haha thanks!

[@stevendowden2579]

really enjoyed your video and all your crops are 1st class well done

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

cheers Steven

[@Snapshotandsnippetsblog]

Had spinach in the garden since late September last year and was delighted at how much I got over the winter I will do some more seedlings now as per your advice Charles :) I do love spinach

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good to hear Amberjane: spinach was called the 'prince of vegetables' in medieval Arabia

[@Naschgarten]

Thank you for this amazing video. Best regards from germany :)

[@nickstraw3747]

And thanks for the timely reminder - along with all the other seeds to be sown soon.

[@Familygarden88]

Great stuff and so inspiring. I don’t get how come some people didn’t like it (Obviously, ppl has rights to express their own opinions!). It takes a lot of time and effort to plant > videos > post production.

[@tones933]

great work Charles

[@kidsbirthdaydresses4420]

Am soooo happy and comfortable... 🥰🥰🥰 Nice videos

[@NannaCarlstedt2]

Hi Charles and thanks for sharing your experiences! Thanks for your tips on the larger spinach: Successfully grew this bigger kind of spinach this season. They were thriving in compost from horse manure combined with some coconut coir, maybe 1/6, and perlite; in partly shade. They got bigger leaves than usual, otherwise the same consistency and taste. Gonna try them in fall again. Spinacia oleracea 'Matador'. Large dark green leaves. With the bigger leaves it felt I got "two-for-one"! Thanks again for the tips!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to see Nanna!

[@roxanasgo2634]

Hermosa huerta. Gracias por compartir el tutorial. Saludos desde Argentina

[@healthyrootsstrongwings538]

Great video! Going to the market for seedlings and seeds tomorrow so spinach it certainly is :) Thanks for the great teachings Charles. You are an inspiration and so pleasant to listen to. Untill the next time

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thankyou

[@mycedarridge]

Thank you for this! I'm actually struggling to grow spinach right now! This was quite helpful!! 💞

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You will succeed

[@whatdidyouthinkwouldhappen1203]

Love your videos, so helpful. I thought there were more videos but I only see a few. I was looking for one on growing radishes an leaving some for the seed pod. Thank you for your videos, the one on peas helped me last year and I am using the same method this year. :)

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Ida. I tried the radish seed pods trick, "rats' tails" to eat (!), was not too impressed

[@OldesouthFarm]

Love your videos and even though a ways from you all, have applied several of your tips and have done well...

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Lovely feedback thanks

[@fimble2]

Thank you very much for this spinach video and for all your other videos too. Having just taken on an allotment I’m really looking forward to applying lots of your ideas such as compost making, no-dig cultivation etc. I find your vids so informative and relaxing and inspiring. Thank you!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good to hear this Michael, thanks and I wish you success

[@allotmentuk1303]

I have said it before and I say it again I do like your videos that show the process from start to harvest Take care Mike B

[@normamead4511]

I will give it another try,thank you 🤞😸🐶💐

[@lisejensen9184]

Your videos are ideal Information for me here in Victoria, Canada. We are the exact same zone as you so your lessons are spot on. Thanks so much! Every year I get a few more things right.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Cheers Wellix that is good!

[@agnespeterse2529]

Thank you...I'm learning so much from you!!! And the way you share your information is very understandable...

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

I'm so glad, thanks Agnes

[@everafterbookchat]

Thanks so much! I don’t know how I missed this one. Hopefully I’m not too late.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

asap!! & thanks

[@susanreed5899]

Thank you sooo much very informative I have tied to plant main here in Florida am still struggling b but I will try in fall

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

You can do it

[@funkyprepper]

Found this very usefull, i have small Spinach seedlings ready to plant out. Now i know how big they get i have a an idea on spacing. Looks like there is no need to net too. Awesome. Thanks

[@punkdevito]

You live in good grow zone Charles. I live in zone 6 in the U.S. I have to wait till end of March early April to sow spinach outside.

[@bluefriend1723]

Its Dec and already I'm desperate to get out there planting ! Thank you for such an informative video.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Exactly! and thanks

[@Foodielaura]

So excited to have some seeds to plant early as I'm itching to get started on 2018 crops

[@AmandasAllotment]

Foodie Laura same here. Iv already started onions from seed, early peppers in a propegator and some cauliflower...spinich is next on the list.

[@florenceligne540]

Thank you for your brilliant videos Charles, my husband loves spinach and now I'll have no excuse for not bringing home loads of spinach leaves for him to eat.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Florence that is great news (for him) and I am sure you will enjoy growing it.

[@florenceligne540]

Cheers @@CharlesDowding1nodig from South Western France

[@LondonTreeSurgeons-Camden]

Great information as always and on a much under rated crop. Thanks as always.

[@AmandasAllotment]

Trees woods & forest gardens - agroforestry arboriculture yes its definately underated. I hadnt even thought about my spinach for this year so im glad of the reminder and will be sowing some very shortly

[@LondonTreeSurgeons-Camden]

We grew it successfully years ago, a great crop for all seasons, Charles has inspired us both to try it again..

[@AmandasAllotment]

Trees woods & forest gardens - agroforestry arboriculture i will be too, have just subbed to your channel and will hopefully see how yours turns out :)

[@LondonTreeSurgeons-Camden]

Many thanks, just checked out your channel and subbed, take care.

[@AmandasAllotment]

Trees woods & forest gardens - agroforestry arboriculture thx you too

[@barbsnyder480]

Thank you!

[@VincentGonzalezVeg]

Do you think you would sell a box set of your advice and evidence by growth? this is incredible and has been a big help for many of us, the production and narration are things people have enjoyed from a PBS Thank you for helping people out with these videos, and happy gardening!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Vincent. An issue with selling say flash drives of videos is that others could copy them. (Not you!). I am creating an online course about growing vegetables, releasing January, from my website.

[@theolderigetthefasteriwas3381]

Very informative, as always. My parents attended your talk at the Bleddfa centre last week and will be practising no dig in their veg garden this year as a result.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thanks Charles and that is nice to hear

[@julianachandler2975]

I’ve never been able to grow spinach, now I see why. Looking forward to doing it the right way!

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Excellent :)

[@SK-yb7bx]

Spinach plant I didn't even sow grew over the winter in my greenhouse on stony and sandy soil ground, it was growing in to a monster. Hardy plants, indeed.

[@Bobsmith-ot6si]

Thank you x

[@____Ann____]

Well... This afternoon I was rewatching you How to grow series. I was going to ask whether you were planning an episode about spinach. And here you are.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Thoughts are powerful!

[@owl369]

Excellent Video. I wish I had watched it before I planted out my spinach seed last night! I will definitely try this next time! I have a huge slug problem in my garden but they generally leave the spinach alone oddly.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Good luck!!

[@dawnmana5876]

Your techniques have allowed me to make use of my steep landscape that's too steep to get a tiller on.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Nice to hear Dawn 😀

[@rnatodna]

Charles in charge, of our day and our night!

[@shinettepietryga6971]

Thankyou so much

[@norme1850]

Man, I have had spinach growing all over my backyard like weeds. I don't even have to water them at all and big patches just start sprouting up all over.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Ideal! :)

[@danieljones7105]

Very good

[@andrewyek]

Charles, You shld do a video on seedlings in nursery pot. how is too big or too late to be xplanted. Especially how is the root and leaves is good for xplant ? Sometime i xplanted but the potting mix will just fall apart when i pushed plug out; while some were already obviously root bound. Also tell us how to xplant if the root bound is obvious or serious.. just plug it in or have to break the root or can cut the root off so that it can grow outward ? what to do ? or is it worth xplanting ? Pls do a video on it.. not much such info. I often encounter this issue... Thx.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Hi Andrew, that's interesting because there are a few different issues such as compost quality, how firmly it was pushed into the container, and growing conditions, as well as the more obvious one of plant age. Since mine are pretty consistent, I might struggle to find the difficult/different ones! I shall have a think.

[@isapjempol2439]

wow! those spinach are different with spinach in my country, indonesia. i think i can try planting it. hope that could grow in tropical climate.

[@CharlesDowding1nodig]

Yes Isap you have Malabar spinach I believe, This one likes cooler conditions :)

[@dedesmith613]

Save yourself back bending pain and add wooden legs to your raised gardens making them higher off the ground waist height saves you all of that back bending as you mature.square boxes on legs. Works great.