Did you know that there are many different types of spinach available? It’s true! And choosing the right one for you often depends on the weather where you live. Common spinach plant varieties come in either savory, semi-savory, or flat-leafed types, and there are various cultivars of each flavor profile.
In this article, we’ll help you find the best spinach plant for your garden, depending on your climate. Consider whether you want to grow the plant indoors or out, and what type of sunlight is available, and let’s get growing.
USDA Hardiness Zones
First and foremost, let’s look at hardiness zones.
North America is split into a total of 13 hardiness zones, and these zones determine which plants are best for your area. Each zone is divided in 10-degree increments based on the average winter temperature in the area. Gardeners in North America use this as an essential guide to which plants will thrive in their location.
Knowing your hardiness zone can be the difference between your garden’s failure or success. Your zone determines which plants can grow well in your space, as well as the planting schedule you need to follow when sowing seeds and harvesting plants. If you’re unsure, you can find your USDA hardiness zone by entering your zip code at Garden.org.
Heat-Tolerant Spinach Plant Varieties for Zones 9-13
Growing spinach in hot climates is an uphill battle. Most types aren’t great for hotter areas, or regions outside of USDA zones 3-9. This is because the plant will bolt quickly and the seeds won’t germinate in hot soil temperatures above 85 degrees. Bolting makes regular spinach bitter, but there are a few heat-tolerant varieties to choose from to counteract this issue. These are the best spinach plant options for people who live in:
- Zones 9-11: The warmer, southern half of the United States and southern coastal areas.
- Zones 12-13: Higher hot weather zones that include Hawaii and Puerto Rico.
Spinach plant varieties with savory leaves tend to be more heat tolerant and disease resistant. Look for types that are described as “long-standing”, or are said to bolt slowly in hot weather. You’ll also want to use a shade cloth to protect your plants. Alternatively, plant them in containers and move them inside during the hottest part of the day for the best results. Frequent watering and mulching are also required in hotter locations.
New Zealand Spinach
USDA hardiness zone: 2-11b
New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia expansa) is most gardeners’ go-to when it comes to a hardy, disease-resistant variety. It’s not a true spinach, but it tastes similar and is an excellent source of vitamin C. The plant grows up to a foot tall in a wide range of USDA zones, does great when planted in containers, and is much more forgiving of hot temperatures.
Expect this variety to tolerate temperatures up to 95 degrees and thrive throughout the summer months.
For best results, start the seeds inside around two weeks before the last frost. Then, transplant the spinach during the summer when traditional varieties don’t grow.
Malabar Spinach
USDA hardiness zone: 1-12
Like the New Zealand type, Malabar spinach (Basella rubra) is a great alternative to try out. It grows in a wide range of zones and is very forgiving of the heat and heavy rainfalls. This plant will also tolerate temperatures up to 95 degrees F. Technically, this spinach plant is a succulent: it holds water in its leaves and stems for later use.
It’s a fast-growing vining variety with red stems, and its mild flavor tastes great raw in a salad. When cooking, it tastes like true spinach, only less bitter. Grow the vines over an arch or doorway, and harvest the plant repeatedly through the summer and fall.
Escalade
USDA hardiness zone: 3-9
A slow-growing and slow-to-bolt variety, Escalade spinach has emerald green textured leaves and a mild flavor. It’s mildew-resistant for the West coast, and perfect for gardeners on the East coast who want a variety to last the entire growing season.
Escalade can tolerate higher temperatures and sunlight better than most other organic blends, and while you can grow this variety during the fall and spring, summer is the best season for it.
Palco
USDA hardiness zone: 6-9, but some options work up to zone 11
A quick from seed variety, Palco is adaptable to planting in either warm or cool seasons. This variety is great for the Northwest’s conditions, and it offers the highest protein count out of any spinach plant on this list. The leaves are packed with vitamins and minerals, and can help boost your eyesight, lower cholesterol, and fight off cancer-causing radicals. It’s heat tolerant, mildew resistant, and humidity tolerant.
Average Weather Spinach for Zones 4-9
Growing spinach in average, cool-weather conditions typically takes place in the spring and fall. These varieties do best in mild temperatures between 35 and 75 degrees F: neither too hot or too cold. Mature plants can withstand temperatures that drop into the teens, which makes it great for zones with colder fall nights.
You can also plant the following average weather varieties for overwintering if you live in the warmer zones (8 or above).
When growing in zones 6-9, the trick is to make your spinach plant last longer. When the days begin to lengthen, the plant may attempt to bolt. As a result, look for a slow-to-bolt variety if planting in the spring.
Regiment Spinach
USDA hardiness zone: 6-9
A substantial and robust option, Regiment spinach offers thick, broad semi-savoyed leaves. It’s more tolerant of colder soil, which makes it germinate well (this tends to require colder temperatures) and early spring harvests. You can also sow the seeds later in summer for a fall harvest, however, it’s most productive in cool spring conditions. This spinach plant is full of nutrients, grows quickly, and offers decent bolting resistance
Teton
USDA hardiness zone: 6-9
Another hybrid variety, Teton spinach is productive during the spring and yield a large amount of dark green, smooth leaves. It’s a great source of vitamins C, A, and B-complex with a mild flavor, and is both slow to bolt and mildew resistant. Grow Teton in a sunny location with partial shade, planting as soon as the danger of frost is over.
The best part about this variety is that it freezes very well. This makes this variety perfect for harvesting, storing, and adding to your meals throughout the winter. You can harvest the entire plant at once (as long as the outer leaves are at least six inches tall) or cut away the leaves throughout the summer as needed. Then sow seeds again during late summer for a fall harvest.
Indian Summer
USDA hardiness zone: 6-9
Indian Summer is a well-known and beloved spinach variety for a variety of reasons. It’s easy to grow, extremely slow to bolt in the heat, disease tolerant, and is partially hardy. Plus, this type offers a high yield throughout the spring, summer, and fall. Indian Summer has flat, semi-savoy leaves.
You can directly sow the seeds outside when the frost has passed or plant them indoors and transplant them outside when temperatures rise. However, expect to perform a moderate amount of maintenance to keep this plant growing happily.
Tyee
USDA hardiness zone: 6-9
The semi-savory type of spinach called Tyee is hardy. It’s resistant to mildew, bolt resistant, and grows vigorously in either hot or cold climates. This type of spinach offers a great flavor for salads and cooked in a range of dishes. Although it can survive partial shade, full-sun areas are preferred.
For the best results, plant Tyee in your outdoor garden during later winter or before early spring when daytime temperatures consistently reach 40 degrees. You can also grow this type all year round if you live in an area with mild winters.
Corvair
USDA hardiness zone: 6-9
Another fast-growing hybrid plant with exceptional bolting and disease resistance, Corvair offers attractive, dark green oval leaves with a smooth texture. Expect the plants to grow completely upright, which keeps them resistant from mildew and pest issues. Plant this variety in the spring or fall for the best results.
Renegade
USDA hardiness zone: 3-9
Renegade spinach grows a bit slower than other varieties, but excels when it comes to leaf handling. They’ll never crack or feel brittle, and the plant is resistant to diseases, bolting, and viruses. This variety is great for growing in all seasons, depending on your location. Sow the seeds from spring or late summer to early fall, or sow every 7 days for a year-round harvest.
Orach
USDA hardiness zone: 4-8
If bolting is an issue in your region, orach spinach (Atriplex hortensis) is a great option to try. It’s typically grown in Europe and the United States’ northern plains, and even the seeds are edible. They’re a great source of vitamin A, perfect for adding into homemade bread, and are sometimes used to make blue dye. Keep the plant well irrigated for the best flavor and try planting orach in containers too.
Winter Spinach Varieties or Varieties for Zones 1-3
Since spinach is a natural cool weather vegetable, it handles cold climates quite well and makes a perfect winter garden addition. It can be planted anywhere from mid-September through February, and in zones 1 and 1, will grow best in a container, cold-frame, or greenhouse. Basically something that offers full sun and protection from frost.
Young plants may bolt with temperatures under 40 degrees F, so look for a slow bolting variety, while mature spinach plants can handle temperature as low as 20 degrees F without a problem.
Giant Winter Spinach
USDA hardiness zone: 5-10
A remarkable frost-tolerant variety, this type is perfect for winter gardening and can withstand harsh Northwest weather. The cold-hardy leaves are large and semi-savoyed, and it’s highly recommended for planting during the late fall, over winter with some mulch, or in a winter greenhouse.
Hotter temperatures can make plant bolt quickly, so sow the seeds in late August if you want an overwinter crop or in July or early August for a fall crop.
Bloomsdale Longstanding
USDA hardiness zone: 3-9
A favorite among gardeners since the early 1900s, Bloomsdale Longstanding is perfect for withstanding cold temperatures in areas with mild winters. It has dark green, savoyed leaves that curl slightly, and you can expect a decent yield each harvest. Try planting a crop in the spring and again during late summer. You can also plant a crop in the fall for early spring harvest, or grow this variety in a cold frame or greenhouse.
Verdil
USDA hardiness zone: 3-9
Ideal for overwintering, Verdil is excellent for early spring or fall crops as well. However, don’t expect to grow this type in the summer. This variety does much better with freezing mud than with the heat. It’s medium green in color and great for either steaming, or raw in salads. Sow the seeds directly when temperatures reach over 55 degrees F, and try growing this variety in a greenhouse for sweeter leaves.
Space
USDA hardiness zone: 2-10
Space is a great option for winter harvests, as the seeds can be sown in September for overwintering. It’s cold hardy, so expect it to survive in mild winter locations (even most of Maine) or greenhouses. This variety offers smooth leaves that taste great either boiled or raw, and it’s very nutritious. Space is easy to grow during three seasons: spring, summer, and fall. It’s heat tolerant, slow to bolt, and mildew resistant. Plus, this blend freezes well in airtight plastic bags.
Reflect
USDA hardiness zone: 2-11
Like Space, Reflect is planted during the late fall for a winter harvest. It’s also considered a three-season spinach plant, which makes it great for a wide range of temperatures and hardiness zones. The medium green colored leaves are round or oval, and will bolt slightly faster than Tyee. It’s mildew resistant, and best grown over winter with protection from frost, such as row covers or cold frames. Harvest this type by cutting the plant just above the roots, using shears.
Kolibri
USDA hardiness zone: 3-10
An Asian spinach plant blend, Kolibri is a great semi-savoy variety for overwintering with the help of a cold frame, cover, or greenhouse. You can sow the seeds every 7 days to grow it all year. Some gardeners also opt to crop the plant all season long, as it grows quickly. It’s highly mildew resistant, and there are purple varieties available as well that tend to grow better in cold climates.
A Final Thought
Spinach is a healthy veggie you can add to a wide range of dishes. It’s high in nutrients and grows throughout the year, depending on where you live. The best part about spinach plants is that they’re easy to grow no matter what climate you’re in.
