(45 days) Open-pollinated. Selected for its cold hardiness. Recommended for late fall greenhouse crops, or overwintering under mulch. The most productive for late fall/early winter production in high tunnels with up to six times the leaf matter of competing varieties. Not as good springback recovery from hard winters as Winter Bloomsdale. Large medium-green semi-savoyed leaves. Betsy Bott of Bog Iron Farm and Forge in Blue Hill, Maine, says Giant Winter fulfills its name in the greenhouse. Cold-hardy. ②
Giant Winter Spinach
Giant Winter Spinach
(45 days) Open-pollinated. Selected for its cold hardiness. Recommended for late fall greenhouse crops, or overwintering under mulch. The most productive for late fall/early winter production in high tunnels with up to six times the leaf matter of competing varieties. Not as good springback recovery from hard winters as Winter Bloomsdale. Large medium-green semi-savoyed leaves. Betsy Bott of Bog Iron Farm and Forge in Blue Hill, Maine, says Giant Winter fulfills its name in the greenhouse. Cold-hardy. ②
Additional Information
Spinach
- 1,500–2,800 seeds/oz. ¼ oz packet sows 30–50 ft; 1 oz plants 120–200 ft.
- Days to maturity are from date of direct seeding.
Culture: Very hardy, spinach prefers cool temperatures. Planted as soon as the ground can be worked in spring to avoid early bolting. Minimum germination temperature 35°, optimal range 45–65°. Spinach seed will not germinate in soil temperatures above 85°. For fall crop try late July–Aug. sowing; to overwinter, sow late Aug.–Sept. Heavy nitrogen requirements, but avoid applying high-nitrogen fertilizers shortly before harvest to prevent high nitrate levels in the leaves.
Pick large leaves often for heavier production. Smooth-leaved spinach is easier to wash than the semi-savoyed type and is increasingly preferred. Heat, crowding and long day-length (over 14 hours) trigger premature bolting. To retard bolting, avoid hot-weather planting, use wider spacing and irrigate or use shade cloth.
The use of disease-resistant and hardy varieties, cold frames, row covers and hoophouses has made spinach into a nearly year-round crop. Growers should rely on Space or Oceanside for winter production.
See also New Zealand Spinach and Caucasian Mountain Spinach.
Diseases:
- BM: Blue Mold
- CLS: Cladosporium Leaf Spot
- CMV: Cucumber Mosaic Virus
- DM: Downy Mildew
Germination Testing
For the latest results of our germination tests, please see the germination page.
Our Seeds are Non-GMO
All of our seeds are non-GMO, and free of neonicotinoids and fungicides. Fedco is one of the original companies to sign the Safe Seed Pledge.