Giant Winter Spinach Seeds Vilmorin - Hardy to -10°C, Harvest to March

Giant Winter Spinach Seed Packet Vilmorin (Reference: 3567241) represents the very best in vegetable seed bred specifically for winter growing. This variety, selected by Vilmorin, French seed leader since 1743, offers the ideal solution for every gardener who wants to keep up a quality spinach crop even through the coldest months of the year.

Benefits and uses

Giant winter spinach is aimed particularly at experienced and beginner gardeners who want to broaden their autumn and winter harvests. This exceptional variety extends the period of fresh spinach production from September to March, guaranteeing self-sufficiency in nutritious green vegetables right through the cold season.

Market gardeners particularly value this variety for its ability to produce leaves of commercial size even at sub-zero temperatures. Restaurateurs and chefs can thus source fresh local spinach throughout the winter, cutting their reliance on imports.

For larger families, this productive variety ensures abundant harvests for a variety of dishes: gratins, quiches, soups, green smoothies, or eaten raw in salads when the shoots are young and tender.

Technical features and innovation

Cold hardiness is the main asset of this spinach variety. Able to withstand temperatures down to -10°C, it keeps growing even through hard winters. Its large, almost smooth dark green leaves have an ideal texture for eating, avoiding the bitterness often associated with summer varieties.

The exceptional leaf development of this variety produces leaves that can reach 15 to 20 cm in length, maximising the yield per plant. The slow growth typical of winter crops concentrates the nutrients, giving spinach that is richer in iron and in vitamins A, C and K.

This variety also shows excellent resistance to bolting, a frequent problem with spinach when the weather fluctuates. Vilmorin seeds enjoy a high germination rate of over 85%, guaranteeing an even emergence and a successful crop.

Sowing, use and care

Sowing giant winter spinach is best done from August to October for staggered harvests from October to March. Draw drills 2 cm deep, 25 to 30 cm apart. Sow in rows, then cover lightly and firm the soil well to ensure good contact between seed and earth.

Spinach likes a partly shaded position, which is particularly helpful during spells of morning frost. Keep the soil consistently moist without waterlogging it; regular but moderate watering encourages the best leaf development. Thinning to 8-10 cm between plants gives leaves of maximum size.

Winter upkeep comes down to a few passes with the hoe to aerate the soil and remove competing weeds. In a hard frost, a temporary covering with a frost fleece can be put in place. Harvest leaf by leaf, cutting at the base, so the plant can keep producing for several months.

Tips, pairings and expert advice

To get the most from your harvests, pair giant winter spinach with winter radishes or corn salad, which like the same growing conditions. This sensible rotation makes the best use of space in the plot during the cold season. Do also consider the organic fertilisers available from Multitanks to feed the soil before sowing.

A professional trick is to make successive sowings every 3 weeks from August to September, guaranteeing a continuous harvest. Young spinach shoots, picked at 4-5 cm tall, make excellent micro-greens for fine salads.

Avoid the classic mistake of sowing too thickly, which encourages fungal disease. Adequate spacing improves air circulation and reduces the risk of rot. Round out your set-up with the Gardena watering systems offered by Multitanks to maintain the right moisture with no effort.

In regions with very hard winters, using forcing tunnels or cold frames lets you extend the harvest period even further. Pairing this with McCulloch garden tools makes preparing the ground and keeping the plot in order that much easier.

Technical specifications