Winter Spinach 'Bella'

Where to Plant
Plant Spinach 'Bella' in a sunny or lightly shaded position with fertile, moisture-retentive but well-drained soil. Spinach thrives in the cooler conditions of autumn and winter, making it ideal for vegetable gardens, raised beds and containers. It can also be grown in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame for additional protection through colder weather. Before planting, remove weeds and work in well-rotted garden compost to improve the soil and help it retain moisture.

Planting
Space plants around 15–20cm apart, with approximately 25–30cm between rows. Plant each plug at the same depth it was growing previously, gently firm the soil around the roots and water thoroughly. Giving plants enough room improves airflow and allows plenty of healthy leaves to develop for repeated picking.

Watering & Feeding
Keep the soil evenly moist while plants establish and continue watering during dry spells. Spinach has relatively shallow roots and can quickly become stressed if the soil dries out, which can slow growth and encourage plants to bolt. Water at the base where possible and avoid leaving plants sitting in waterlogged soil during cold weather.

Spinach growing in fertile soil usually needs little additional feeding. Well-rotted compost incorporated before planting will provide a good start. If growth becomes slow or pale, apply a balanced liquid vegetable feed, following the manufacturer's instructions, to encourage healthy leafy growth. Container-grown plants may need feeding more regularly because nutrients in the compost are gradually used up or washed out with watering.

Growing Under Cover
'Bella' can be grown in an unheated greenhouse or cold frame to provide additional shelter through autumn and winter. Ventilate on mild days to maintain good airflow and prevent excessive humidity around the leaves, closing cold frames or greenhouse vents again before temperatures fall later in the day.

Winter Care
'Bella' is hardy and well suited to cooler growing conditions, but growth will naturally slow as temperatures and light levels fall. Established plants generally need little attention through winter beyond keeping the soil from becoming waterlogged. In particularly cold or exposed conditions, horticultural fleece can provide young plants with some additional protection during severe frost.

Harvesting the Leaves
Once plants are well established, pick the larger outer leaves first and leave the smaller central leaves to continue growing. Regular harvesting encourages fresh new growth and allows you to take repeated pickings from the same plants. Young leaves are ideal for salads, while larger leaves are excellent for cooking.

Pests & Problems
Slugs and snails can damage young plants and tender leaves, particularly during mild, damp weather, so check around plants regularly. Aphids may also appear on the foliage and can often be dealt with before populations build up by checking plants frequently.

Spinach can be affected by downy mildew, particularly in cool, damp and crowded conditions. Leave enough space between plants for good airflow, avoid repeatedly wetting the foliage when watering and remove badly affected or decaying leaves promptly.

Good Companions
Spinach 'Bella' grows well alongside other cool-season vegetables such as lettuce, radishes, spring onions and beetroot. Its compact, leafy growth makes it useful for filling spaces in vegetable gardens and raised beds without taking up too much room.

Make the Most of Your Growing Space
'Bella' can be grown in vegetable gardens, raised beds, containers, cold frames and unheated greenhouses. When growing under cover, leave enough space between plants for good airflow, as cool, damp and crowded conditions can encourage fungal problems.

Keep the Harvest Coming
Harvest the larger outer leaves first, leaving the younger leaves in the centre of the plant to continue growing. Regular picking in this way allows you to take repeated harvests from the same plants rather than removing the whole plant at once.

Crop Rotation
Spinach doesn't require a strict crop rotation, but it's still sensible to avoid repeatedly growing spinach or closely related crops in exactly the same soil. Moving crops around where practical can help reduce the build-up of soil-borne pests and diseases.

Top Tip:
Pick 'Bella' little and often, taking only the leaves you need. Keeping the centre of the plant intact encourages fresh new growth and helps you get more from each plant through the cooler months.

Pick the Outer Leaves First
Harvest the larger outer leaves as you need them, leaving the younger centre leaves to continue growing.

Harvest Little and Often
Regular picking encourages fresh new growth and extends the cropping season.

Pick Young or Mature
Harvest young leaves for fresh salads or allow them to grow larger for steaming, stir-fries and soups.

Harvest in Cool Conditions
Pick early in the morning or during the evening to keep leaves at their freshest.

Flavour
Fresh, mild and earthy with tender leaves that become richer in flavour as they mature.

Best Enjoyed
Use young leaves raw in salads or cook larger leaves by steaming, wilting, stir-frying or adding to soups, pasta dishes and curries.

Storage
Store freshly picked leaves in the fridge and use within a few days for the best flavour and texture.

Freezing
Spinach freezes well. Blanch the leaves briefly, cool in iced water, drain thoroughly and freeze in portions for later use.

Top Tip
Pick leaves regularly rather than harvesting the whole plant at once to encourage a longer season of fresh growth.

Plug Plants
Supplied as healthy young plants with well-developed roots, plug plants are ready to be planted straight into their final growing position or potted on if preferred. Water well on arrival and keep the compost evenly moist while they establish.

Garden Ready Plants
Our Garden Ready plants have been professionally grown on, making them larger, stronger and ready to plant straight into the garden. They establish quickly, giving you a valuable head start towards your harvest.

9cm Potted Plants
Supplied in individual 9cm nursery pots, these well-established plants are ready to plant straight into vegetable gardens, raised beds or allotments. Simply plant, water thoroughly and keep the soil consistently moist while they settle in.

Upon Arrival
Remove your plants from their packaging as soon as they arrive and give them a thorough watering. If you can't plant them immediately, keep them in a cool, sheltered spot out of direct sunlight and drying winds, ensuring the compost remains moist until you're ready to plant.