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Annual Biennial

Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. cicla 'Perpetual Spinach'

spinach beet 'Perpetual Spinach'

An annual vegetable with large, dark green ribbed foliage and thick, edible stems. Looks and tastes like spinach but shows very good resistance to bolting, even in dry conditions. Sow March-August, and harvest all year round as a cut-and-come-again crop. Young leaves can be harvested for salads within around 8 weeks

Synonyms
Beta vulgaris subsp. cicla var. flavescens 'Perpetual Spinach'
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Size
Ultimate height
0.1–0.5 metres
Time to ultimate height
1–2 years
Ultimate spread
0.1–0.5 metres
Growing conditions
Clay
Loam
Moisture
Moist but well–drained
pH
Acid, Alkaline, Neutral
Colour & scent
StemFlowerFoliageFruit
Spring
Summer Green
Autumn Green
Winter Green
Position
  • Full sun
  • Partial shade
Aspect

East–facing or North–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure
Sheltered
Hardiness
H4
Botanical details
Family
Amaranthaceae
Native to the UK
No
Foliage
Deciduous
Habit
Bushy, Clump forming
Genus

Beta can be annual, biennial or perennial plants, often with rosettes of basal leaves and thick, fleshy roots. The genus includes a range of wild species, as well as cultivated food crops such as beetroot, chard and sugar beet

Name status

Accepted

How to grow

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

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds

Suggested planting locations and garden types
Pruning

No pruning required. Remove outer leaves when large enough

Pests

May be susceptible to birds, cutworms, lettuce root maggot, root aphid, root knot eelworm and slugs and snails

Diseases

May be susceptible to grey mould, lettuce downy mildew, mosaic virus and ring spot

Get involved

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