Spinach ‘Géant d’hiver’: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you sow 'Géant d'hiver' spinach outdoors?
Sow 'Géant d'hiver' spinach directly where it will grow, mainly in late summer or early autumn for a cool-season crop. Adapt the dates to your climate and seed packet: an early sowing may provide autumn leaves, while a later one will mainly be picked in spring. Wait until intense summer heat has passed, but avoid sowing so late that the plants remain tiny when winter arrives.
Choose sun or light shade and fertile soil that stays moist while draining well. Remove weeds and prepare a fine surface. Add mature compost if needed; deep digging is not an essential step. Make rows about 25 to 30 cm apart. Sow thinly at the depth recommended by your supplier, generally around 1 to 2 cm for this variety, then cover and firm gently.
Water with a fine spray to maintain moisture during germination without forming a hard surface crust or leaving standing water. Once the seedlings are established, thin them gradually to about 10 cm apart, allowing more room for large rosettes. Healthy young leaves removed during thinning can be used in salads.
Check for slugs and damage to seedlings. Fleece can help during early cold spells, but cannot replace plants that have established properly before winter. Growth slows sharply in cold weather: the variety name does not guarantee uninterrupted picking through frost.
How to care for this plant
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Thin seedlings
If your spinach seedlings are crowded, thin initially to about 7–8 cm apart. For full-sized leaves, make more room later by harvesting alternate plants. Thinning is usually unnecessary for baby-leaf crops.
How do you harvest 'Géant d'hiver' spinach?
