Spinach alternatives?

[MissE]

I grow kale and chard. Not only are they attractive plants to have in the garden, they produce all summer long and taste great. I love arugula too, but it is also prone to bolting, though not as bad as spinach.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

You have to grow it as a cold weather crop. It's so easy once you have the right temp.

I’ve tried for several years and I can’t get it to germinate. I’m tried starting it in both spring and fall my cabbage, lettuce and peas do great but no luck with the spinach. I think my biggest problem is cutworms.

I tried that last year. Not a single seed sprouted.

I rarely get good spinach here either. My stepdad told me spinach grows where it wants to. I think he was right.

I'm going to have to buy some chard at the store to see if I want to grow it. I like kale for smoothies and a friend says kale-potato soup is fantastic.

My favorite "other spinach" is lambsquarter. Love that "weed."

I wish I could eat lambs quarters. They are a weed here. I’m allergic though.

 

[Sally PB]

I wish I could eat lambs quarters. They are a weed here. I’m allergic though.

Sorry to hear that! It's the first "crop" I harvest.

But not this year. I've already gotten some volunteer cilantro and cut some green onions off my Egyptian Walking Onions. A friend about an hour south of me has gotten asparagus.

 

[FiFi-FaFa-FooFoo]

I’ve tried for several years and I can’t get it to germinate. I’m tried starting it in both spring and fall my cabbage, lettuce and peas do great but no luck with the spinach. I think my biggest problem is cutworms.


I wish I could eat lambs quarters. They are a weed here. I’m allergic though.

Try Noble Giant. I throw it in my garden. Literally throw the seeds, do nothing except water it occassionally.

 

[Artichoke Lover]

Try Noble Giant. I throw it in my garden. Literally throw the seeds, do nothing except water it occassionally.

Tried that variety too. I’ve tried at least 6.

 

[chickinlittles]

There are many Asian greens that are great spinach like crops I grow a lot of different kinds of greens. Mustard crosses are great spinach substitutes and are very good , tatsoi is very much like spinach and easy to grow . I get all my greens seeds from Kitazawa seed company in oakland. The seeds have the best germinatin rate of any company I’ve used. If you go to their website and sign up for their catalog then you can mail order seeds. You won’t be dissapointed. They have varieties not found anywhere else and tons to choose from. Good luck! Happy gardening!

 

[TheAlrightyGina]

You could try orach. It's pretty cool.

 

[rosemarythyme]

There are many Asian greens that are great spinach like crops I grow a lot of different kinds of greens. Mustard crosses are great spinach substitutes and are very good , tatsoi is very much like spinach and easy to grow . I get all my greens seeds from Kitazawa seed company in oakland. The seeds have the best germinatin rate of any company I’ve used. If you go to their website and sign up for their catalog then you can mail order seeds. You won’t be dissapointed. They have varieties not found anywhere else and tons to choose from. Good luck! Happy gardening!

I tried tatsoi last fall/winter (planted too late, so didn't get a lot) - very good and rather succulent, not a really distinct flavor, just "green."

 

[CRmuscovy]

I see this thread was a year ago, but maybe I can revive it because I have a question about spinach. I have a LOT of Brazilian spinach (Alternanthera sissoo) or Samba lettuce. I love it, it is easy to grow, and flourishes where I live. My chickens and ducks love it, too. I have read it is not good to give spinach to ducks. Is that true, and is Brazilian spinach a real spinach?

 

[oldhenlikesdogs]

Never heard of it. After a quick Google search it sure sounds interesting.