🌿 A reliable green for the plot
Perpetual spinach is one of those crops that quietly earns its place on the allotment. It’s not a true spinach, but a type of chard that produces tender, spinach-like leaves over a long season.
In a no-dig bed, it really comes into its own — minimal effort, steady harvests, and very forgiving.
📸 The no-dig bed in action
🌱 Why grow perpetual spinach?
- Long cropping season (spring through autumn)
- Cut-and-come-again harvesting
- More bolt-resistant than true spinach
- Tolerates a range of conditions
- Great for small spaces and kitchen gardens
It’s one of the easiest leafy greens to keep going steadily without fuss.
🌿 Growing in a no-dig bed
Perpetual spinach is particularly well suited to no-dig methods.
Bed setup:
- Base layer: existing soil (undisturbed)
- Top layer: compost
- Optional: light mulch to retain moisture
Because you’re not disturbing the soil structure, moisture is retained better and roots establish quickly.
🌱 Sowing & spacing
- Sow directly into the bed from March onwards
- Space rows about 30 cm apart
- Thin plants to 20–25 cm spacing
Alternatively, start in modules and plant out once established.
💧 Care & maintenance
- Keep well watered in dry spells
- Add occasional compost mulch to keep nutrients topped up
- Remove older leaves to encourage fresh growth
No digging, no heavy feeding — just steady, simple growing.
✂️ Harvesting
Start picking once leaves are a good size:
- Take outer leaves first
- Leave the centre to keep producing
- Harvest regularly to encourage new growth
This crop will keep giving for months if you keep picking.
🍽️ From plot to pot
Perpetual spinach is incredibly versatile:
- Stir-fries
- Soups
- Pasta dishes
- Or even homemade noodles (as seen in Shirley’s post 👀)
🌱 Grow it yourself
If you’re after something productive, low effort, and reliable — this is hard to beat, especially in a no-dig setup.