Strawberry spinach is not spinach that also produces actual strawberries (sorry to disappoint!) It is, however, a great addition to your vegetable patch – plus it’s very interesting and rewarding to grow. If you’ve been wondering how to grow strawberry spinach, we’ve got you covered! Have a read on, for all our best hints and tips.
How To Grow Strawberry Spinach
This little plant is about as easy to grow as it gets – despite the fact that it looks pretty exotic, it’s actually pretty easy going and perfectly suitable for an armchair gardener!
- This plant doesn’t really like to be moved, so it is best to sow it where you want it to grow in your garden.
- Dig a bed that is well draining and well weeded, so that there is no competition for your little seedlings.
- Strawberry spinach can survive in most soil types, but it needs to have full sun in order to thrive.
- Keep the area well watered, especially during periods of prolonged hot weather – but don’t drown the plants!
- Each plant can grow to around 60cm tall, so bear this in mind when planning your strawberry spinach bed, and make sure each plant has enough space.
- Unlike many plants, this one is pretty much pest resistant, making it an ideal choice if you tend to lose lots of plants to insect invaders.
Here’s a useful article, packed with information on how to grow this interesting plant.
Is Strawberry Spinach Easy To Grow?
You might not expect that such an exotic looking plant is easy to grow – but actually it is pretty simple to grow and easy to care for.
As long as you have a good full sun position for it (it can handle some light shade as well, but sun is its favourite) then it should thrive.
Moist soil is another must – your soil must be well draining and able to retain moisture so that your spinach doesn’t dry out.
You can easily grow your strawberry spinach in a greenhouse or a polytunnel, and if you live in a cold area then this may actually be advisable.
It is also perfectly possible to grow these plants in pots, if you have a small garden or you don’t want them taking over.
This plant is known to self seed, so if you don’t want to find it popping up all over the place then pots may be the best option!
Here’s a little video telling you about strawberry spinach’s amazing self-seeding ability:
How Big Do Strawberry Spinach Plants Get?
This is a medium sized plant, that rarely reaches over 2 feet tall at maturity. However, it can also spread this same amount, so make sure you give it space!
Like all spinach varieties, it is a “cut and come again” sort of plant – meaning that the more you remove the leaves, more will spring up in their place.
Once you have your fully grown strawberry spinach, chances are it won’t get too much bigger – but keep an eye on it just in case.
It will take a while for the plant to reach its full height; it’s not the fastest growing veg in the patch – it takes a few months.
Once it has reached its full size in the height of the growing season, it will take a little longer to produce those signature red berries.
In fact, this is one spinach that you won’t mind bolting, as the red berries only appear at this time.
Can You Eat The Fruit Of Strawberry Spinach?
You can eat the fruits of this unusual plant – but bear in mind that if you are expecting the taste and texture of an actual strawberry, you may be disappointed!
The “strawberries” are described as having a rather pulpy texture, not like the firm flesh of a strawberry.
The taste is pretty bland and insipid too – but how much fun is it to grow berries on a leafy plant?
You can add the berries to salads for a bit of added intrigue, or you can harvest lots and use them as a substitute in desserts.
Historically, the fruits of strawberry spinach have been used in paint and cosmetics, and in fact the whole plant can be made into a dye.
You’re much better off eating them, however, as the dye will not last, and although you CAN paint a picture with them, why would you?
What Can I Use Strawberry Spinach For?
Like all the best vegetables that we can grow, you can use the whole of the strawberry spinach plant, from the roots to the tips.
The leaves can be substituted into any recipe that calls for spinach; they have a similar flavour and will cook up well.
Young leaves can also be eaten raw, but you should take care to not consume too much as they can cause irritation.
The berries can be eaten straight off the plant, as you would with an actual strawberry – you only need to check for bugs and creepy crawlies!
You can also simmer the berries down to make jams and sauces – again, just as you would with a regular strawberry.
The roots of this plant are also edible; they have a texture similar to that of a parsnip – although they have a faint beetroot taste.
The roots are best used in longer cooking dishes, like soups or stews, as the extra cooking will soften them so that they are palatable.
In times gone by, the berries were also used as a natural dye – used on skin or as a primitive form of paint, these won’t stain forever but they can make pretty colours!
The whole plant is rich in vitamin C, vitamin A, and fibre – great nutrition for the entire body.
Final Words
Once you’ve got the hang of growing this intriguing plant, you will never look back. It’s attractive, nutritious, tasty – and super fun!
Just make sure you grow enough for the whole neighbourhood, because everyone is going to want a piece of the strawberry spinach action!
