Butterflay spinach: Sowing, planting and harvest calendar
How do you sow 'Butterflay' spinach outdoors?
Sow 'Butterflay' spinach directly in place during a cool season. Spring or late summer and early autumn may suit, according to your packet and climate. Avoid strong heat and drought, which encourage bolting. Late sowing needs enough time to establish before cold weather. An autumn crop may provide leaves before winter or mainly the following spring, depending on the date.
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.
Watch for slugs and damage to seedlings. Suitable fleece can help during a short cold spell; check the crop underneath. Do not let young plants run short of water or regard stated resistance as protection from every disease.
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 'Butterflay' spinach?
