Spinach Bloomsdale Vegetable Seeds

Spinach Bloomsdale Vegetable Seeds

Botanical Name: Spinacia oleracea

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Bloomsdale Spinach is a classic savoy-leaf spinach producing thick, deeply crinkled dark green leaves with excellent flavour and texture. This traditional open-pollinated variety is valued for vigorous cool-season growth, productive leaf harvests and the characteristic heavily savoyed foliage associated with traditional spinach.

Young leaves can be harvested for tender baby spinach, while mature plants produce substantial leaves suitable for salads, steaming, sautéing, soups, curries, pasta dishes, pies and other cooked meals. Individual outer leaves can be picked progressively, or plants can be harvested whole once they reach the preferred size.

Cold tolerant and fast growing under suitable conditions, Bloomsdale is an excellent choice for home vegetable gardens, raised beds, containers and market gardens. It performs best through cool to mild weather and is particularly well suited to autumn, winter and spring production across much of Australia.

Key Attributes

Product Description

Bloomsdale Spinach is a traditional open-pollinated spinach variety known for its heavily savoyed, dark green leaves, productive growth and excellent eating quality.

Botanically classified as Spinacia oleracea, true spinach belongs to the Amaranthaceae family and is naturally adapted to cool growing conditions.

Bloomsdale develops compact, upright plants with thick leaves that are deeply crinkled or blistered. This characteristic is known as savoying and gives the variety its distinctive traditional spinach appearance.

The leaves are generally medium to dark green, substantial in texture and well suited to both fresh and cooked use.

Young foliage can be harvested early as baby spinach, when the leaves are particularly tender. Plants allowed to develop further produce larger leaves suitable for bunching, individual leaf harvesting and cooking.

Bloomsdale grows rapidly under favourable cool conditions. Harvest timing varies according to desired leaf size, season and growing conditions. Baby leaves may be harvested within several weeks, while larger mature foliage generally develops in approximately 30–50 days.

Like other true spinach varieties, Bloomsdale prefers cool to mild temperatures. Increasing heat and day length can encourage plants to bolt, producing flowering stems rather than continued leafy growth.

For this reason, autumn, winter and early spring are the principal growing periods across much of Australia.

Why Grow Bloomsdale Spinach?

• Classic traditional spinach variety.
• Open-pollinated rather than F1 hybrid.
• Produces heavily savoyed leaves.
• Attractive medium to dark green foliage.
• Thick, substantial leaf texture.
• Excellent traditional spinach flavour.
• Suitable for baby-leaf harvest.
• Excellent for mature leaf production.
• Outer leaves can be harvested progressively.
• Cold tolerant once established.
• Fast growing during favourable cool weather.
• Excellent autumn and winter vegetable.
• Suitable for successive sowings.
• Excellent for garden beds and raised beds.
• Can be grown in pots and containers.
• Suitable for home and market garden production.
• Approximately 80 seeds per gram.
• Excellent fresh or cooked.

Plant Details

Sowing Information

When to Sow Bloomsdale Spinach in Australia

These sowing periods are general guides. Local frost, elevation, seasonal temperatures, rainfall and water availability should also be considered.

How to Grow Bloomsdale Spinach from Seed

Bloomsdale Spinach is generally easiest to grow by direct sowing.

Choose a position receiving full sun during cool weather. In warmer conditions, some light afternoon shade can help extend leaf production.

Prepare fertile, well-drained soil containing adequate organic matter.

Remove weeds and break up large soil clods before sowing.

Sow the seeds approximately 1–1.5 cm deep and cover with fine soil.

Water gently after sowing.

Maintain consistent moisture during germination and seedling establishment.

Seed generally germinates within approximately 7–14 days when soil conditions are suitably cool.

Thin seedlings according to the intended harvest.

For mature plants, allow approximately 5–10 cm between plants.

For baby-leaf production, much closer spacing can be used.

Growing Bloomsdale Spinach in Australian Conditions

Bloomsdale is a true spinach and is naturally best adapted to cool-season conditions.

In cool climates, it can be grown for an extended period.

Temperate gardeners will generally obtain the best crops from late summer through autumn, winter and spring.

In subtropical regions such as South East Queensland, Bloomsdale is best treated primarily as an autumn and winter vegetable.

In tropical climates, the growing season is much shorter and should be concentrated into the coolest part of the year.

True spinach differs from warm-season substitutes such as Brazilian spinach, Okinawa spinach and some edible amaranths. Bloomsdale prefers cool soil and mild air temperatures rather than tropical summer heat.

Growing Bloomsdale for Baby Spinach

Bloomsdale can be harvested young for baby spinach.

Sow seeds more densely than for mature plants.

Maintain consistent moisture so seedlings grow rapidly without stress.

Begin harvesting once the leaves reach the desired baby-leaf size.

This may occur approximately 20–30 days after sowing under favourable conditions.

Use clean scissors and cut leaves above the basal growing point if regrowth is desired.

Baby Bloomsdale leaves have the same characteristic savoy texture as the mature plant, although the crinkling becomes more pronounced as the leaves develop.

Growing Bloomsdale to Full Size

For mature spinach, provide more space between plants.

Thin seedlings to approximately 5–10 cm apart or wider where particularly large individual plants are desired.

Established plants develop substantial rosettes of thick dark green foliage.

Harvest individual outer leaves once they reach useful size.

Leave the smaller central leaves to continue developing.

Alternatively, whole plants can be harvested at the base.

What Is Savoy Spinach?

Savoy spinach is distinguished by its crinkled or blistered leaf surface.

Bloomsdale is a classic example of a heavily savoyed spinach.

Compared with smooth-leaf spinach, the foliage has:

• Deeper surface texture
• More pronounced crinkling
• A traditional spinach appearance
• Thick, substantial mature leaves

This texture does not change the way the leaves are fundamentally used in the kitchen.

Savoy spinach can be eaten fresh when young or cooked when mature.

Because the leaves are deeply textured, wash them thoroughly after harvesting to remove any soil that may collect within the folds.

Soil Preparation

Spinach grows best in fertile soil that retains moisture while draining freely.

Before sowing, incorporate well-decomposed compost or another suitable organic soil amendment where required.

Spinach prefers soil that is not strongly acidic.

The soil should be:

• Fertile
• Moisture retentive
• Well drained
• Rich in organic matter
• Loose enough for healthy root development

Avoid planting in permanently waterlogged soil.

Watering Bloomsdale Spinach

Consistent moisture supports rapid development of tender leaves.

Do not repeatedly allow the plants to wilt.

The most important watering stages include:

• Seed germination
• Seedling establishment
• Rapid leaf growth
• After substantial harvesting
• Periods of dry or windy weather

Water the root zone thoroughly but avoid maintaining permanently saturated soil.

Mulching around established plants can help conserve moisture and moderate soil temperature.

Feeding Spinach

Spinach is grown primarily for its foliage and performs best in fertile soil.

Incorporate compost before planting where necessary.

A suitable balanced vegetable fertiliser may be applied according to soil conditions and product directions.

Adequate nitrogen supports leafy growth, although excessive fertiliser should be avoided.

Maintain reliable moisture whenever plants are growing rapidly.

Successive Sowing

Because spinach is relatively fast growing and can bolt as seasonal conditions become warmer, successive sowing is an effective way to maintain a continuous harvest.

Sow small batches approximately every 1–3 weeks during suitable weather.

For intensive baby-leaf production, even shorter intervals can be useful.

Successive sowing allows younger plants to replace older crops as they mature or begin flowering.

Harvesting Bloomsdale Spinach

Bloomsdale can be harvested at several stages.

Baby leaf: Harvest tender young leaves once they reach the desired size.

Individual mature leaves: Pick the largest outer leaves while leaving younger central foliage intact.

Whole plant: Cut the entire plant near the base once it reaches the preferred size.

Harvesting individual outer leaves can extend production from each plant.

Use clean scissors or a sharp knife where required.

Harvest during the cooler part of the day for the best leaf quality.

Cut-and-Come-Again Harvesting

Bloomsdale can provide repeated harvests when the central growing point is left intact.

Remove mature outer leaves first.

Avoid cutting through the crown.

Maintain adequate moisture and fertility following harvest.

New leaves will continue developing while growing conditions remain favourable.

Eventually, increasing temperature or day length will cause the plants to transition towards flowering.

At that stage, replace older plants with a fresh successive sowing where seasonal conditions permit.

Why Does Spinach Bolt?

Bolting occurs when spinach shifts from producing leaves to producing flowering stems and seed.

This is a normal part of the plant’s life cycle.

Spinach bolting is strongly influenced by:

• Increasing day length
• Warm temperatures
• Plant maturity
• Moisture stress
• Other environmental stress

Once a plant bolts, the central stem elongates rapidly and leaf quality declines.

Leaves generally become smaller, tougher and less desirable.

The best way to reduce bolting is to grow Bloomsdale during cool weather, maintain consistent moisture and make successive sowings.

Growing Spinach in Warm Weather

Bloomsdale has traditionally been valued as a relatively dependable spinach, but it remains a true cool-season crop.

Extended hot weather is not ideal.

When temperatures begin rising:

• Provide light afternoon shade.
• Maintain consistent soil moisture.
• Mulch to keep the root zone cooler.
• Harvest leaves regularly.
• Concentrate on baby-leaf production.
• Expect plants eventually to bolt as conditions become unsuitable.

Avoid sowing into very hot soil because spinach germination can become slow and erratic.

Growing Bloomsdale Spinach in Pots

Bloomsdale grows well in containers.

Choose a pot or trough with good drainage.

Fill with fertile, high-quality potting mix.

For mature plants, provide sufficient spacing for individual rosettes to develop.

For baby spinach, seed can be sown more densely.

Position containers in full sun during cool weather.

As conditions warm, some afternoon shade can help prolong production.

Container-grown spinach requires regular watering because potting mix can dry more rapidly than garden soil.

Growing Bloomsdale Spinach in Raised Beds

Raised beds provide excellent conditions for spinach where the soil is fertile and kept consistently moist.

Prepare the bed with compost or other suitable organic matter.

Direct sow seed into rows or broad bands.

For mature plants, thin seedlings after establishment.

Baby-leaf crops can remain much more densely planted.

Raised beds can dry rapidly during windy or sunny weather, so monitor soil moisture carefully.

Using Bloomsdale Spinach in the Kitchen

Bloomsdale is a versatile traditional spinach suitable for fresh or cooked dishes.

Young leaves can be eaten raw.

Larger mature leaves are excellent cooked.

Use Bloomsdale Spinach for:

• Fresh salads
• Baby spinach mixes
• Sautéed spinach
• Steamed vegetables
• Soups
• Curries
• Pasta dishes
• Risotto
• Quiches
• Spinach pies
• Frittatas and omelettes
• Stir-fries
• Vegetable bakes
• Dips and fillings
• Mixed cooked greens

Mature leaves reduce substantially in volume when cooked, so harvest more foliage than the final cooked quantity required.

Washing Savoy Spinach

Bloomsdale’s deeply crinkled leaves require particularly careful washing.

Soil can collect in the folds and around the base of the leaves.

After harvesting:

• Remove damaged foliage.
• Place leaves in a large container of clean cold water.
• Agitate gently to loosen soil.
• Lift the leaves from the water rather than pouring the water over them.
• Repeat with fresh water where required.
• Drain or dry thoroughly before storage or use.

Avoid crushing the leaves during washing.

Storing Fresh Spinach

Bloomsdale is best used soon after harvest.

If storage is necessary, cool the leaves promptly.

Remove excess surface moisture before refrigeration.

Store in a suitable refrigerated container or bag that limits dehydration while allowing the leaves to remain fresh.

Do not leave harvested spinach exposed to warm conditions for extended periods.

Cold Tolerance

Bloomsdale is particularly well suited to cool conditions.

Established spinach can tolerate light frost and low temperatures considerably better than summer heat.

Cold weather slows growth but does not necessarily damage established plants.

In cool climates, protective row covers can extend the growing season and help protect young foliage during severe weather.

Common Spinach Pests

Potential pests include:

• Aphids
• Leaf miners
• Slugs and snails
• Various leaf-feeding insects

Inspect young plants regularly.

Slugs and snails can cause substantial damage to tender seedlings and foliage.

Leaf miners may create pale tunnels within leaves.

Remove badly damaged leaves where appropriate and use locally suitable pest-management practices where required.

Common Spinach Diseases

Spinach can be affected by several diseases, particularly under cool, damp conditions.

Potential problems include:

• Downy mildew
• Damping off in young seedlings
• Various leaf spots
• Root problems in poorly drained soil

Provide suitable spacing and airflow.

Avoid permanently waterlogged soil.

Rotate spinach with unrelated crops where practical.

Crop Rotation

Spinach belongs to the Amaranthaceae family.

Where possible, avoid repeatedly growing spinach in the same garden bed.

Rotating leafy crops with unrelated vegetable families can help reduce the build-up of some soil-borne problems.

Maintain good garden hygiene and remove deteriorating crop residues following harvest.

Saving Bloomsdale Spinach Seed

Bloomsdale is an open-pollinated variety and can be grown through to seed production.

Allow selected healthy plants to bolt naturally rather than harvesting them completely.

Spinach plants produce separate male and female flower structures, and pollen is primarily carried by wind.

Female plants develop seed clusters after successful pollination.

Allow the seed to mature and dry on the plant as far as weather conditions permit.

Harvest the drying seed-bearing stems before substantial seed is lost.

Finish drying in a sheltered, well-ventilated location where necessary.

Rub or thresh the dried material to release the seed.

Separate as much plant debris as practical.

Store completely dry seed in a labelled container in cool, dry conditions.

Where maintaining varietal purity is important, provide adequate isolation from other flowering spinach varieties.

Bloomsdale Spinach vs Baby Spinach

Bloomsdale is a spinach variety, while the term baby spinach refers primarily to the stage at which spinach leaves are harvested.

Bloomsdale can therefore be grown and harvested as baby spinach.

Baby Bloomsdale:

• Harvested while leaves are young.
• More tender texture.
• Suitable for fresh salads.
• Smaller leaf size.

Mature Bloomsdale:

• Larger, thicker leaves.
• More heavily savoyed texture.
• Excellent for cooking.
• Suitable for bunching and individual leaf harvest.

The same seed can be used for either growing method.

Bloomsdale Spinach vs Silverbeet

True spinach and silverbeet are different vegetables.

Bloomsdale Spinach – Spinacia oleracea

• True spinach.
• Cool-season crop.
• Relatively compact plants.
• Soft to heavily savoyed edible leaves.
• More prone to bolting in warm weather.

Silverbeet – Beta vulgaris

• Also known as Swiss chard.
• Larger plants with substantial leaf stalks.
• More tolerant of warmer growing conditions.
• Usually provides a longer harvesting period.

Australian gardeners sometimes use the terms interchangeably, but botanically and horticulturally they are distinct crops.

Perfect For

• Home vegetable gardens
• Cool-season vegetable production
• Autumn and winter gardens
• Raised garden beds
• Pots and containers
• Market gardens
• Baby spinach production
• Mature spinach leaves
• Cut-and-come-again harvesting
• Successive sowings
• Fresh salads
• Sautéed spinach
• Soups and curries
• Pasta dishes
• Quiches and spinach pies
• Traditional savoy spinach
• Growers wanting an open-pollinated spinach variety

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bloomsdale Spinach?

Bloomsdale is a traditional open-pollinated spinach variety producing thick, dark green, heavily savoyed leaves with excellent traditional spinach flavour.

What is the botanical name of Bloomsdale Spinach?

The botanical name is Spinacia oleracea.

Is Bloomsdale a true spinach?

Yes. Bloomsdale is true spinach, Spinacia oleracea, rather than silverbeet or another spinach substitute.

Is Bloomsdale an open-pollinated variety?

Yes. Bloomsdale is an open-pollinated spinach rather than an F1 hybrid.

What does savoy spinach mean?

Savoy spinach has crinkled, puckered or blistered leaves. Bloomsdale is a heavily savoyed variety with pronounced leaf texture.

What colour are Bloomsdale leaves?

Bloomsdale produces medium to dark green foliage.

What does Bloomsdale Spinach taste like?

It has a rich, traditional spinach flavour suitable for both fresh and cooked dishes.

How quickly does Bloomsdale Spinach grow?

Bloomsdale is relatively fast growing under cool conditions. Baby leaves can generally be harvested in approximately 20–30 days, while larger mature foliage commonly develops in approximately 30–50 days depending on conditions.

How many Bloomsdale Spinach seeds are in a gram?

Approximately 80 seeds per gram is a useful guide. Seed size varies naturally between lots.

Can Bloomsdale be grown as baby spinach?

Yes. Sow more densely and harvest the leaves young for baby-spinach production.

Can Bloomsdale be grown to full size?

Yes. Allow more space between plants and harvest the substantial mature savoyed leaves individually or as whole plants.

Can Bloomsdale Spinach be eaten raw?

Yes. Young tender leaves are excellent raw in salads and baby-leaf mixes.

Can mature Bloomsdale leaves be eaten?

Yes. Mature leaves are excellent steamed, sautéed or added to soups, curries, pasta, pies and other cooked dishes.

When should Bloomsdale Spinach be planted in Australia?

Bloomsdale is primarily a cool-season vegetable. Autumn, winter and spring are the main growing periods across much of Australia.

Can Bloomsdale Spinach be grown in Brisbane?

Yes. In Brisbane and South East Queensland, Bloomsdale is best treated primarily as an autumn and winter vegetable, with sowing possible into the cooler parts of spring where conditions remain suitable.

Can Bloomsdale Spinach grow in tropical Australia?

True spinach can be difficult in tropical climates because of persistent heat. Grow Bloomsdale during the coolest part of the year and provide suitable moisture and airflow.

Does Bloomsdale tolerate frost?

Established spinach has useful cold tolerance and can tolerate light frost. Severe freezing conditions can still damage foliage.

Does Bloomsdale need full sun?

Full sun is ideal during cool weather. Light partial shade can help prolong production as temperatures increase.

How deep should Bloomsdale Spinach seed be planted?

Sow seeds approximately 1–1.5 cm deep and keep the soil consistently moist during germination.

How long does Bloomsdale Spinach take to germinate?

Germination generally occurs in approximately 7–14 days under suitable cool, moist conditions.

Does spinach germinate well in hot soil?

No. True spinach germination becomes less reliable as soil temperatures become excessively warm. Cool to mild soil provides better establishment.

Can Bloomsdale be direct sown?

Yes. Direct sowing is generally preferred for spinach.

Can Bloomsdale Spinach be transplanted?

Yes, although direct sowing is normally simpler. Transplanting may be useful where growers need more control over plant establishment.

How far apart should Bloomsdale Spinach be planted?

Approximately 5–10 cm between plants is suitable for mature leaf production. Baby-leaf crops can be sown considerably more densely.

How often should Bloomsdale Spinach be sown?

Small successive sowings every one to three weeks during suitable weather can provide a more continuous harvest.

Can Bloomsdale be harvested more than once?

Yes. Harvest outer leaves while leaving the central growing point intact, or cut baby leaves above the basal crown where regrowth is desired.

Why is my Bloomsdale Spinach flowering?

Increasing day length, warm temperatures, maturity and environmental stress can cause spinach to bolt and produce flowering stems.

Can I stop spinach from bolting?

Bolting cannot be prevented indefinitely, but cool-season planting, consistent moisture, light shade in warmer conditions and timely harvesting can extend useful leaf production.

Can spinach be eaten after it bolts?

The foliage remains edible, but leaf quality generally declines. Leaves become smaller, firmer and often less desirable once flowering begins.

Can Bloomsdale Spinach grow in pots?

Yes. Bloomsdale performs well in containers with fertile potting mix, good drainage and reliable moisture.

Can Bloomsdale Spinach grow in raised beds?

Yes. Raised beds are excellent provided they contain fertile soil and do not dry excessively.

How often should spinach be watered?

Maintain relatively consistent moisture. Avoid repeatedly allowing the plants to wilt, particularly while producing tender leaves.

Why are my spinach leaves small?

Small leaves can result from overcrowding, low fertility, moisture stress, insufficient light, cool slow-growing conditions or plants beginning to bolt.

Why are Bloomsdale leaves wrinkled?

The heavily crinkled leaves are a normal varietal characteristic. Bloomsdale is a savoy spinach and is specifically grown for this textured foliage.

Do savoy spinach leaves need extra washing?

Yes. The deep folds can hold soil more readily than smooth leaves, so harvested Bloomsdale should be washed carefully before eating.

What pests attack Bloomsdale Spinach?

Potential pests include aphids, leaf miners, slugs, snails and other leaf-feeding insects.

What diseases affect spinach?

Potential problems include downy mildew, damping off, leaf spots and root diseases associated with unsuitable growing conditions.

Can I save seed from Bloomsdale Spinach?

Yes. Bloomsdale is open pollinated. Allow selected plants to flower and mature seed, using suitable isolation where varietal purity is important.

Is Bloomsdale the same as silverbeet?

No. Bloomsdale is true spinach, Spinacia oleracea. Silverbeet is Beta vulgaris and is a different crop with different growth characteristics.

Is Bloomsdale suitable for market gardens?

Yes. Bloomsdale can be grown for baby leaf, bunching and full-sized mature spinach and has a long history as both a home garden and market garden variety.

What is Bloomsdale Spinach best used for?

Bloomsdale is excellent for baby spinach, fresh salads, steaming, sautéing, soups, curries, pasta dishes, quiches, pies and mixed cooked greens.