Cold weather makes for tastier spinach

DURHAM, N.H. — Old Man Winter’s coldest months are a boon to growers interested in adding spinach to their winter crop.
Researchers at the NH Agricultural Experiment Station have found that spinach grown in high tunnels during the coldest months of winter has the highest sugar content.
Trial. Becky Sideman, a researcher with the NH Agricultural Experiment Station and Extension professor of sustainable horticulture production, Kaitlyn Orde, a graduate student in agricultural sciences, and Connor Eaton, a graduate student in plant biology, conducted a two-year winter spinach trial at the Woodman Horticultural Research Farm to determine the most suitable spinach varieties and planting dates for winter production in New Hampshire in an unheated high-tunnel environment.
“Spinach is a suitable crop for winter production in New Hampshire due to its ability to continue producing saleable leaves at very low-temperatures. Fall transplants into high tunnels can result in winter-long harvests and significant spring yields, providing an avenue for growers to meet strong consumer demand for local greens during the off season,” Orde said.
Varieties. Researchers focused primarily on three spinach varieties: Regiment, Space, and Tyee, which were planted at six different dates throughout the fall. They also investigated Carmel, Corvair, Gazelle, Emperor and Renegade.
In both years, researchers found a direct relationship between temperature and sugar content, with colder temperatures in the days leading up to harvest heightening the sugar content in the leaves.
The lowest sugar measurements were recorded during the warmest periods of the experiment (October, November, March, and April), and the highest measurements were recorded during the coldest months, February in particular.
Predictably, earlier transplant dates resulted in higher fall yields of spinach. For spring harvest, however, the researchers found that transplanting as late as mid-October did not negatively impact spring yields, and even the latest planting dates produced good spring yields. What this means is that the optimum planting dates will depend on the timing of growers’ markets.
Variety also affected sugar content. For example, Gazelle and Emperor had higher average sugar content than other varieties during both years. However, researchers said the differences in sugar content between varieties were not enormous, and all varieties were of a high eating quality.
Whether a grower has existing high-tunnels that are unused in the winter and may be interested in starting winter greens production, or already produces spinach but is interested in other varieties and planting dates, this study addresses the range of grower needs.
“The traditional growing season in New Hampshire is very short, limiting the period for local food production. Growing systems that allow for an extended period of production can help support agriculture in the state and supply more locally produced food on a more consistent basis,” she said.