Winter Giant Spinach, Heirloom Seeds

Winter Giant Spinach, Heirloom Seeds — The Supremely Cold-Hardy Late Fall & Winter Heirloom That Sweetens After Every Frost, Large Semi-Savoyed Dark Green Leaves, Baby Leaf in 30–40 Days, Full Size in 50 Days

Winter Giant (Spinacia oleracea) — also known as Giant Winter or Gigante d’Inverno — is the spinach that performs when everything else has given up. Selected specifically for late fall and early winter production, this heirloom cold-hardy variety produces large, deeply semi-savoyed, dark green leaves that hold their quality long into the cold season. The defining quality of Winter Giant: flavor improves with cold. Light frosts sweeten the leaves noticeably, and plants continue producing under row cover and mulch well into winter in most climates. Most vigorous at 30–60°F — the exact conditions that defeat most other greens. Grow it twice a year: early spring and late summer for back-to-back harvests. 50 days.

Why Grow Winter Giant?

• Supremely cold-hardy — selected for late fall and winter production; survives well below freezing under row cover and mulch
• Frost-sweetened flavor — light frosts improve sweetness; winter-grown leaves are often the best of the season
• Large, deeply semi-savoyed leaves — dark green, visually impressive, and tender even at full size
• Two harvests per year — early spring and late summer; 50-day maturity makes it easy to fit both into one season
• Baby leaf in 30–40 days — harvest tender young leaves for salads weeks before full maturity
• Cut-and-come-again — harvest outer leaves continuously or cut whole plant above crown for regrowth
• Overwintering capable — in mild climates or under row cover and mulch, resumes growth in early spring for heavy early yields
• Also known as Giant Winter, Gigante d’Inverno — a prized variety among market growers and serious home gardeners
• Open-pollinated heirloom — save seed year after year

In the Kitchen

Winter Giant’s large, tender leaves work beautifully at every stage. Use baby leaves raw in salads and grain bowls — sweet and delicate. Mature leaves are outstanding steamed, sautéed with garlic and olive oil, added to stir-fries, blended into soups, or stirred into pasta. A classic creamed spinach with these large savoyed leaves is exceptional. Add to smoothies for nutrition without strong flavor. Rinse gently and chill promptly after harvest to preserve peak texture and sweetness.

Bolting — What to Know

Spinach bolts (goes to seed) when triggered by heat, long days (14+ hours of daylight), or crowding. To delay bolting: avoid warm-weather planting, use wider spacing, irrigate consistently, and use shade cloth if needed. Winter Giant is slower to bolt than many varieties, but spring plantings should still be timed for harvest before summer heat arrives.

Fertilizing Note

Winter Giant is a heavy nitrogen feeder — amend with compost or balanced fertilizer at planting. Avoid applying high-nitrogen fertilizers shortly before harvest to prevent elevated nitrate levels in the leaves.

Growing Notes

Direct sow ½ inch deep as soon as soil is workable in spring, or in late July–August for fall harvest, or late August–September to overwinter. Sow in rows 12–18 inches apart; thin to 2–4 inches for large rosettes. Germination best at 45–70°F — spinach will not germinate above 85°F; provide shade or extra moisture for late summer sowings. Full sun to partial shade. Rich, moist, well-drained soil pH 6.0–7.5. Apply row cover and mulch for fall and winter crops. Harvest baby leaves at 30–40 days; full size at 50 days. Harvest outer leaves continuously or cut whole plant 1 inch above crown for cut-and-come-again regrowth. Harvest in the cool of the morning; rinse and chill promptly.

Packed and shipped by Box Garden Seeds LLC — heirloom seeds grown without GMOs, selected for flavor, resilience, and your garden’s success.