Folks I just looked at the spinach entries in Plantfiles. There are 120 cultivars but only 6 have photos. Five of them are mine and I don't even like spinach. Grab your cameras and lets see and hear about the wonderful cultivars you are growing.
Spinach
Farmerdill,
I DO like spinach, and I'd just rather you sent me yours, than read or hear about the wonderful cultivars being grown!
I pretty well stick with tried and try Bloomsdale Long Standing. I've tried others but they didn't do as well and we didn't like them as well either. I've had BLS not bolt until almost mid July. Other years it bolted in early June. It all seems to depend on the climate of that year.
I might try some Nobel this season.
I couldn't think of the name last night but that is one we have tried. It was ok tasting and did take a lot of heat if I remember correctly.
I have grown "Viroflay", from Seeds of Change" It's a wonderful variety, tasty, tender, and makes HUGE plants, so you get a lot for each seed planted. Very prolific. My plan is to grow it again this year and take pictures. Thanks for the reminder, Farmerdill.
I'll try to take some after the ground thaws, around July.
Looks nice Farmerdill, mine didn't make it they got eaten.
I've raised some "salad" spinach like Razzle Dazzle.
Razzle Dazzle - http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/113384/ - no evidence that anyone on Daves has ever grown it.
Viroflay - http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/113035/ - No grower comments
Space - http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/77411/ - This one is surprising because I have seen comments about it on the forum, but there is absolutely nothing in Plantfiles.
Does home grown spinach have a bitter taste? I would like to grow some this year. Any suggestions for a zone 4-5 climate.
The savoyed types taste better to me than the smooth leaf types. Never noticed bitterness in any of them. But remember spinach is not one of my favorite Vegetables.
This is Skookum, which has been my best performer. I have grown Bloomsdale off and on over the years but it has problems here.
I mentioned some newer spinach cultivars in this article: http://davesgarden.com/guides/articles/view/481/
I'm growing Tyee for the first time this year, if the ground ever thaws. Home grown spinach is delicious and not bitter at all, until it starts to bolt in hot weather.
Thank-you: Farmerdill and Tilton.
I think I will plant some spinach this year. DM
I have a very small yard, so my veggie garden is also small. I am trying to find plants that have some ornamental qualities so that they can be planted in my flower beds to save space in the veggie garden. I found some climbing spinach (Malabar spinach). Very pretty red stems and dark green leaves. Says it is edible and that the young leaves taste good in salads. Anyone ever tried this type?
I have not grown it, but it is a plant that has lots of comments and photos in plantfiles. http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/1318/ It is a vine and not kin to spinach altho those who grow it state that it is a good hot weather substitute for spinach and also that it is quite ornamental. Another substitute for spinach is vegetable amaranth.
There are a lot of very ornamental amaranths.
Farmerdill, I am growing a couple of varieties of spinach this year and will add some pics. Thanks for the headsup. We seem to focus on our favorites and forget that our gardens include many things.
Farmerdill,
I love spinach, especially the smooth-leaved kind. However, I've not had any luck in growing it, yet I persist. When/if I am successful, I'll be sure to put it in the PF.
Karen