Spinach

Spinacia oleracea

English Winter Giant Spinach is a vigorous, cold-tolerant variety producing broad, deep green leaves with a tender texture and rich spinach flavour. Particularly well suited to baby leaf production, it provides generous harvests of nutritious greens throughout the cooler months.

Young leaves are mild, tender and succulent, making them excellent fresh in salads, sandwiches, wraps and mixed baby leaf blends. Larger leaves can be steamed, sautéed or added to soups, pasta, curries and egg dishes. Harvesting young provides the delicate texture prized in fresh salad spinach.

Winter Giant is renowned for its ability to thrive in cool conditions, producing large, vigorous leaves when many warm-season greens have slowed. It can be grown as a microgreen or allowed to develop into larger baby leaves for repeated harvests.

Approximately 60 seeds per gram

Microgreens & Baby Leaf Production: Year round Australia-wide

Tropics: Autumn to winter
Subtropics: Autumn to spring
Mild climates: Autumn to spring
Cold climates: Autumn, winter and spring

Planting / Sowing

For microgreens, sow seed densely over a moist growing medium and cover lightly with fine seed-raising mix. Spinach can be slower and less uniform to germinate than many microgreen varieties and performs best in cool conditions. Soaking seed for several hours before sowing may assist germination.

For baby leaf production, sow more thinly in trays, containers or garden beds. Harvest young leaves when approximately 8–15 cm tall, cutting above the growing point where possible to encourage further growth and repeated harvests.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Spinacia oleracea

Matador Spinach is a vigorous and productive variety producing smooth, broad, deep green leaves with a tender texture and rich spinach flavour. Particularly well suited to baby leaf production, it provides generous harvests of fresh greens for salads and everyday cooking.

Young leaves are mild, succulent and tender, making them excellent fresh in salads, sandwiches, wraps and mixed baby leaf blends. Larger leaves can be steamed, sautéed or added to soups, pasta, curries and egg dishes. Harvesting at the baby leaf stage provides beautifully soft leaves with excellent flavour.

Fast growing and reliable in cool conditions, Matador can be harvested young or allowed to develop into full-sized spinach. Regular picking of the outer leaves encourages continued production over an extended period.

Approximately 60 seeds per gram

Microgreens & Baby Leaf Production: Year round Australia-wide

Tropics: Autumn to winter
Subtropics: Autumn to spring
Mild climates: Autumn to spring
Cold climates: Autumn, winter and spring

Planting / Sowing

For microgreens, sow seed densely over a moist growing medium and cover lightly with fine seed-raising mix. Spinach can be slower and less uniform to germinate than many microgreens and performs best in cool conditions. Soaking seed for several hours before sowing may help encourage more even germination.

For baby leaf production, sow more thinly in trays, containers or garden beds. Harvest young leaves when approximately 8–15 cm tall, cutting above the growing point where possible to encourage further growth and repeated harvests.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Atriplex hortensis

Purple Orach, also known as Mountain Spinach, is an ancient leafy vegetable grown for its striking deep burgundy-purple foliage. The tender young leaves have a mild, spinach-like flavour and are delicious fresh in salads, harvested as baby leaves or microgreens, or lightly cooked like spinach. Heat tolerant and slower to bolt than true spinach, Purple Orach provides a colourful and productive harvest throughout the warmer months while adding ornamental appeal to the vegetable garden.

Approximately 80 seeds per packet

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: April to August
Subtropics: March to September
Mild climates: Autumn to spring
Cold climates: Spring to early autumn

Planting / Sowing

Sow seed directly or raise seedlings, covering with 5–10 mm of soil. Plant in fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or part shade, spacing plants 25–30 cm apart. Keep the soil evenly moist during establishment. Harvest young leaves regularly for salads and baby leaf production, or allow plants to mature for continual cut-and-come-again harvests.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Ornamental warm season annual edible plant, stems and leaves vibrant crimson. An eye-catching waist-high garden feature. Comes from the same family as spinach, and is native to Europe and Asia. Young tender leaves are a luminous ruby red and can be used in salads and young leafy mixes or for microgreens. Good late summer pollen source for beneficial insects. Tall flower spikes that can be used in fresh or dried flower arranging. Heat and wind tolerant and slow to bolt.

Atriplex hortensis

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Brassica rapa

Komatsuna, often known as Mustard Spinach, is a traditional Japanese leafy green prized for its tender light green leaves, crisp stems and mild nutty mustard flavour. Despite its common name, it is not a true spinach but is valued for its versatility, productivity and ability to thrive through the cooler months.

The smooth leaves feature gently serrated edges and remain tender even as plants mature. Young leaves are excellent in salads, while mature plants are ideal for stir-fries, soups, steaming and other cooked dishes. The mild flavour is less pungent than many mustard greens, making Komatsuna a popular choice for gardeners seeking a versatile and easy-to-use leafy vegetable.

Fast growing and highly productive, Komatsuna provides generous harvests in approximately 45–52 days and can be harvested as baby leaf, cut-and-come-again greens or mature plants.

Approximately 300 seeds per gram
Approximately 200 seeds per packet

When to Plant (Australia)

Microgreens & Baby Leaf Production: Year round Australia-wide

Tropics: April to August
Subtropics: March to September
Mild climates: February to October
Cold climates: Spring, autumn and winter

Planting / Sowing

Sow seed 5–10 mm deep directly into prepared garden beds, containers or rows. Space rows 50–75 cm apart and thin seedlings to 35–60 cm apart depending on the desired plant size. For baby leaf production, sow more densely and harvest young leaves regularly.

Grow in full sun to partial shade in fertile, moisture-retentive soil enriched with compost. Keep plants evenly watered and harvest outer leaves as required or cut whole plants at maturity. Regular picking encourages fresh growth and extends the harvest season.

Baby Leaf and Microgreens offer a simple and nutritious way to add fresh homegrown greens, vitamins and minerals to your daily diet.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Spinacia oleracea

Amsterdam Giant is a vigorous spinach producing large, dark green leaves with a tender texture and rich flavour. It grows well across a wide range of soils provided they are fertile, consistently moist and well drained, and is best grown through the cooler months rather than during the hottest part of the year.

Spinach originated in ancient Persia and spread through Asia and Europe before becoming an important cool-season leafy vegetable worldwide. The young leaves can be eaten raw, while larger leaves are excellent steamed, sautéed, wilted into curries and pasta, or added to soups, pies and egg dishes.

Spinach is nutrient-rich, providing vitamins A, C and K, folate, iron, calcium and fibre. It also contains carotenoids, flavonoids and other polyphenols with antioxidant activity, along with naturally occurring thylakoids that have been studied for their potential effects on satiety and appetite regulation.

Seed count: approximately 110 seeds per gram.

Approximately 200 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: April–July
Subtropics: March–August
Mild climates: February–September
Cold climates: February–May and August–October

Planting / Sowing

Sow directly approximately 1–2 cm deep into fertile, well-drained soil. Space plants approximately 10–15 cm apart with 25–30 cm between rows, or sow more densely for baby leaf production.

Keep consistently moist and grow in full sun during cool weather or partial shade as conditions warm. Harvest individual outer leaves for an extended crop or cut whole plants once they reach the desired size. Avoid sowing during hot weather as heat and increasing day length encourage plants to bolt.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Spinacia oleracea

Bloomsdale Long Standing is a classic spinach with large, glossy, thick dark green leaves that are deeply crinkled and carried on compact, upright plants. Heavy yielding and excellent quality, it has long been popular with both home gardeners and market growers.

An old American heirloom, Bloomsdale traces back to the 19th century and was further selected for slower bolting, giving rise to the Long Standing strain. It is more tolerant of both heat and cold than many spinach varieties and adapts to a wide range of soils when kept fertile and consistently moist.

The substantial leaves have a rich spinach flavour and can be harvested young for salads or allowed to mature for steaming, sautéing, soups, pies and other cooked dishes. Spinach is naturally rich in vitamins A, C and K, folate and carotenoids.

Seed count: approximately 80 seeds per gram.

Approximately 200 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: March–August
Subtropics: February–September
Mild climates: February–November
Cold climates: February–May and August–November

Planting / Sowing

Sow directly approximately 1–2 cm deep into fertile, well-drained soil. Space plants approximately 10–15 cm apart with 25–30 cm between rows, or sow more densely for baby leaf production.

Keep consistently moist and grow in full sun during cooler weather or partial shade as temperatures rise. Harvest individual outer leaves for continued production or cut whole plants once they reach the desired size. Its slower tendency to bolt allows a longer harvest window than many traditional spinach varieties.

Maturity: approximately 39–50 days.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Basella alba var. rubra

Ceylon Red Stem Spinach, also known as Malabar Spinach or Indian Running Spinach, is a vigorous tropical vine grown for its attractive red stems and abundant, glossy green leaves. Unlike true spinach, this heat-loving perennial thrives through the hottest months of the year, making it an excellent summer substitute when traditional leafy greens struggle.

The tender young leaves are delicious fresh in salads, while larger leaves and shoots can be lightly cooked, added to stir-fries or used in soups and stews. As the leaves mature they develop a characteristic mucilaginous texture, traditionally valued for naturally thickening soups and broths. Rich in vitamins A and C, iron, calcium and chlorophyll, Malabar Spinach is both highly nutritious and productive.

Plants can be trained up trellises, fences and arches or allowed to trail across the ground as a living mulch. In tropical and subtropical climates it behaves as a hardy perennial, while in cooler regions it is commonly grown as a warm-season annual.

Approximately 36 seeds per gram
Approximately 40 seeds per packet

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: Year round
Subtropics: September to March
Mild climates: October to February
Cold climates: Spring and summer after frost

Planting / Sowing

Sow seed 10 mm deep directly into prepared soil or seedling trays once temperatures are consistently warm. Space plants 10–30 cm apart along a trellis or support structure, with rows approximately 100 cm apart.

Grow in full sun to partial shade in fertile, moisture-retentive soil enriched with compost. Water regularly during hot weather and provide support for climbing plants. Harvest leaves and young shoots continuously from around 70 days after sowing, encouraging fresh growth throughout the season.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Basella alba

Ceylon Spinach, also known as Malabar Spinach or Indian Running Spinach, is a vigorous tropical vine grown for its glossy, succulent leaves and exceptional heat tolerance. Unlike true spinach, this productive leafy green thrives throughout the hottest months of the year, making it an ideal summer substitute when traditional salad greens and spinach struggle.

The tender young leaves are delicious fresh in salads, while mature leaves and shoots are excellent in stir-fries, soups, curries and steamed vegetable dishes. Rich in chlorophyll and highly nutritious, Ceylon Spinach provides a continuous supply of leafy greens throughout the growing season. As the leaves mature they develop a slightly thickening quality that is particularly valued in soups and stews.

This versatile plant can be trained up trellises, fences and arches or allowed to trail across the ground as an attractive edible groundcover. In tropical and subtropical climates it behaves as a hardy perennial, while in cooler regions it is commonly grown as a warm-season annual.

Approximately 36 seeds per gram
Approximately 40 seeds per packet

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: Year round
Subtropics: September to March
Mild climates: October to February
Cold climates: Spring and summer after frost

Planting / Sowing

Sow seed 10 mm deep directly into prepared garden beds or seedling trays once temperatures are consistently warm. Space plants 10–30 cm apart along a trellis or support structure, with rows approximately 100 cm apart.

Grow in full sun to partial shade in fertile, moisture-retentive soil enriched with compost. Water regularly during hot weather and provide support for climbing plants. Harvest leaves and young shoots continuously from around 70 days after sowing to encourage ongoing production.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Amaranthus blitum

A reliable, fast growing leafy green traditionally grown as a vegetable rather than an ornamental. Valued for its tender, mild flavoured leaves, Amaranthus blitum is well suited to regular cut and come again harvest and is commonly used as a spinach substitute, either fresh when young or lightly cooked. Plants form a lower, more spreading habit than ornamental amaranths and cope well with heat once established. Easy to grow in warm conditions, it is a productive, practical choice for kitchen gardens focused on yield and versatility rather than show.

450 seeds per packet

Planting / Sowing
Sow directly into well drained soil in full sun once the weather has warmed. In warm areas, sow from early spring. In cooler areas, wait until late spring after frost risk has passed. Sow seed shallowly and keep moist until germination. Thin or space plants 20 to 30 cm apart for leaf harvest, or closer for ongoing cut and come again picking. Young leaves can be harvested as microgreens in 7 to 10 days, or as salad greens from around 16 to 25 days.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Amaranthus tricolor

Chinese Tricolor is a striking leaf amaranth grown for its intensely coloured foliage. Young leaves develop vivid fuchsia, pink and red tones, while mature foliage combines these colours with green, creating an ornamental plant that is equally useful in the kitchen.

The young leaves are mild and tender and can be harvested for salads, microgreens and garnishes, while larger leaves can be steamed, sautéed or cooked much like spinach. Fast growing and heat tolerant, it is particularly valuable as a warm-season alternative to true spinach.

Amaranthus tricolor has a long history as a leafy vegetable throughout South and Southeast Asia, where numerous colourful forms are grown for their nutritious leaves and tender stems. It is also known as Chinese spinach, although botanically it is an amaranth rather than a true spinach.

Approximately 450 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: September–April
Subtropics: September–March
Mild climates: October–February
Cold climates: November–January, after frost risk has passed

Planting / Sowing

Sow directly into well-drained soil in full sun once the weather has warmed. Sow seed shallowly and keep moist until germination. Thin or space plants approximately 20–30 cm apart for mature leaf production, or sow more densely for microgreens and cut-and-come-again harvesting.

Young leaves can be harvested as microgreens in approximately 7–10 days or as salad greens from around 16–25 days.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Also known

Also known as salad mallow and malu khia. Green leaved bush to 1m used young as lettuce substitute in warmer areas or cooked like spinach. Popular in Mid-East and Asian countries. Sow spring summer.

Spinacia oleracea

English Spinach, also known as Winter Giant, is a cool-season annual grown for its broad, tender green leaves. It is well suited to autumn, winter and early spring sowing, when cooler conditions help produce lush growth and reduce the risk of plants bolting to seed. The leaves can be harvested young for salads or allowed to mature for steaming, sautéing, soups, pies and other cooked dishes. Spinach grows in a wide range of soils but performs best in fertile ground that is kept consistently moist.

Approximately 60 seeds per gram
Approximately 70 seeds per packet

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: April to August
Subtropics: March to September
Mild climates: Autumn to spring
Cold climates: Spring to early autumn

Planting / Sowing

Direct sow seed 10 mm deep in fertile, well-drained soil. Space plants 10–30 cm apart, depending on whether they will be harvested as baby leaf or grown to full size, with rows 30–40 cm apart. Keep the soil evenly moist, particularly during establishment. Harvest individual outer leaves as required or cut whole plants when mature. Avoid sowing during the hottest part of the year, as warm weather can cause plants to bolt quickly.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Spinacia oleracea

English Spinach, also known as Winter Giant, is a cool-season annual grown for its broad, tender green leaves. It is well suited to autumn, winter and early spring sowing, when cooler conditions help produce lush growth and reduce the risk of plants bolting to seed. The leaves can be harvested young for salads or allowed to mature for steaming, sautéing, soups, pies and other cooked dishes. Spinach grows in a wide range of soils but performs best in fertile ground that is kept consistently moist.

Approximately 60 seeds per gram
Approximately 70 seeds per packet

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: April to August
Subtropics: March to September
Mild climates: Autumn to spring
Cold climates: Spring to early autumn

Planting / Sowing

Direct sow seed 10 mm deep in fertile, well-drained soil. Space plants 10–30 cm apart, depending on whether they will be harvested as baby leaf or grown to full size, with rows 30–40 cm apart. Keep the soil evenly moist, particularly during establishment. Harvest individual outer leaves as required or cut whole plants when mature. Avoid sowing during the hottest part of the year, as warm weather can cause plants to bolt quickly.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Brassica carinata

Ethiopian Spinach is a remarkably resilient leafy vegetable native to the Ethiopian highlands and cultivated across East Africa for thousands of years. Also known as Ethiopian Kale and Abyssinian Mustard, it is a multipurpose Brassica grown for its nutritious leaves, edible seeds and oil.

Plants produce abundant, slightly serrated green leaves with a pleasantly robust brassica flavour. Young leaves are tender enough to use fresh, while mature leaves are traditionally cooked and are excellent steamed, sautéed or added to soups, stews and curries. Regular picking encourages fresh growth and allows multiple harvests from the same plant.

Brassica carinata is particularly associated with Ethiopian food culture, where leafy greens are an important component of traditional dishes. The seeds are also oil-rich and have historically been pressed for cooking and other household uses. More recently, Ethiopian mustard has attracted interest internationally as an industrial oil and biofuel crop.

One of the great strengths of Ethiopian Spinach is its resilience. Adapted to the Ethiopian highlands, it tolerates relatively dry conditions and poorer soils once established, although fertile soil and regular moisture will produce the most abundant tender foliage. Plants can reach approximately 1.5 m tall and produce masses of small yellow flowers that are attractive to bees and other pollinating insects.

Usually grown as an annual, Ethiopian Spinach may persist longer under favourable conditions. Its combination of vigorous growth, repeated harvests and tolerance of challenging conditions makes it an interesting addition to both productive and resilient food gardens.

Approximately 200 seeds per packet

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: Autumn to winter
Subtropics: Autumn to spring
Mild climates: Autumn to spring
Cold climates: Spring to autumn

Planting / Sowing

Sow approximately 5–10 mm deep directly into prepared soil or raise in trays for transplanting. Keep consistently moist while seeds germinate and seedlings establish.

Space plants approximately 30–45 cm apart for leafy production, allowing additional room if plants are to reach their full size or be grown for seed.

Grow in full sun in fertile, well-drained soil. Although established plants have useful drought tolerance, regular watering encourages faster growth and more tender leaves.

Begin harvesting individual young leaves once plants are well established, leaving the central growing point intact. Regular harvesting encourages continued production over a long season.

If saving seed, Ethiopian Spinach is Brassica carinata, a distinct species from most common kales and mustards. Seed savers should nevertheless isolate it from other flowering B. carinata varieties to maintain the strain true to type.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety.

Not Available for WA

Spinacia oleracea

Galilee is a heat-tolerant spinach variety originating from northern Israel, producing bright green, small triangular leaves with excellent flavour. Compared to many traditional spinach varieties, it performs well in warmer conditions, extending the harvest season before bolting. The tender leaves are ideal for fresh salads when young or can be cooked in soups, stir-fries, pasta dishes and quiches. Its vigorous growth and improved tolerance to heat make it a reliable choice for Australian gardens.

Approximately 60 seeds per gram
Approximately 140 seeds per packet

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: April to August
Subtropics: March to September
Mild climates: Autumn to spring
Cold climates: Spring to early autumn

Planting / Sowing

Direct sow seed 10 mm deep into fertile, well-drained soil in full sun or partial shade. Space plants 10–20 cm apart for mature plants, or sow more densely for baby leaf harvests, with rows 30–40 cm apart. Keep the soil consistently moist throughout the growing season. Harvest young leaves regularly to encourage continued production and enjoy the best flavour before plants begin to flower.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Spinacia oleracea

Giant Nobel, also known as Giant American, is a classic heirloom spinach introduced in 1926 and prized for its exceptionally large, smooth, dark green leaves. The thick, fleshy, triangular leaves are tender and flavoursome, producing generous harvests for both fresh eating and cooking.

A vigorous and productive variety, Giant Nobel is slow to bolt, allowing it to continue producing quality leaves well into spring when many other spinach varieties begin to run to seed. Young leaves are excellent in salads, while mature leaves are ideal for steaming, sautéing, soups, pies and other cooked dishes.

Best grown through the cooler months, plants can be harvested progressively by picking the outer leaves as required while leaving the centre to continue growing.

Seed count: approximately 110 seeds per gram.

Approximately 70 seeds per packet.

When to Plant (Australia)

Tropics: March–August
Subtropics: February–September
Mild climates: February–November
Cold climates: February–May and August–November

Planting / Sowing

Sow directly approximately 1–2 cm deep into fertile, well-drained soil. Space plants approximately 10–15 cm apart with 25–30 cm between rows, or sow more densely for baby leaf production.

Keep consistently moist and grow in full sun during cooler weather or partial shade as temperatures rise. Harvest individual outer leaves for continued production or cut whole plants once they reach the desired size.

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.

Also known as quail grass, soko, celosia, feather cockscomb. A pretty leafy green vegetable featuring attractive spikes of feathery fuschia flowers and a hint of purple through the leaf, traditionally grown in Africa and Mexico. Easy to grow in most climates and is drought and pest tolerant. Leaves, young stems and flower buds are all edible cooked. They have a soft texture and mild spinach taste. Flowers can be cut and dried for arranging. Will self-sow. Cut back after flowering to stimulate new growth. Annual in cold areas, perennial in warmer/tropical regions.

Celosia argentea

Due to quarantine restrictions, TAS has an 800g limit per each seed variety and WA has a 10,000 seeds limit per variety.