About
Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. cicla 'Perpetual Spinach' is a biennial plant known for its substantial, dark green, ribbed leaves and robust, edible stems. This variety resembles spinach in both appearance and flavor, but it is particularly resilient against bolting, even under dry conditions. Seeds can be sown from March to August, and it can be harvested continuously throughout the year as a cut-and-come-again crop. You can start collecting young leaves for salads in approximately 8 weeks after planting.
About the genus
Beta comprises annual, biennial, or perennial plants characterized by rosettes of basal foliage and robust, fleshy roots. This genus encompasses various wild species alongside cultivated varieties like beetroot, chard, and sugar beet.
Growing conditions
- Sunlight
- Full sun, Partial shade
- Soil type
- Clay, Loam
- Soil pH
- Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
- Soil moisture
- Moist but well-drained
- Aspect
- East-facing, North-facing, South-facing, West-facing
- Exposure
- Sheltered
- UK hardiness
- H4
Plant details
- Plant type
- Annual Biennial
- Habit
- Bushy, Clump forming
- Foliage
- Deciduous
- Height
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Spread
- 0.1-0.5 metres
- Time to full height
- 1-2 years
Care notes
- Cultivation
- Grow in fertile soil in full sun or partial shade. Add compost or well-rotted manure in the autumn and keep watered in dry conditions. See spinach cultivation for further advice
- Pruning
- No pruning required. Remove outer leaves when large enough
- Propagation
- Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds
- Pest resistance
- May be susceptible to birds, cutworms, lettuce root maggot, root aphid, root knot eelworm and slugs and snails
- Disease resistance
- May be susceptible to grey mould, lettuce downy mildew, mosaic virus and ring spot