History
Giant Nobel Spinach is a time-honored heirloom variety that has earned its place in kitchen gardens and commercial fields alike for well over a century. Originating in Europe and widely grown throughout the early 20th century, Giant Nobel was selected specifically for its extraordinary leaf size — producing some of the largest, most tender leaves of any spinach variety available. Its smooth, flat leaves and mild, sweet flavor made it a favorite for cooking and processing, and it remains a top choice for gardeners who want maximum yield from every plant. Open-pollinated and non-GMO, every seed carries the same reliable genetics that gardeners have saved and replanted for generations.
Plant Profile
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Days to Maturity: 45–50 days
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Plant Size: Large, upright habit, 10–12 inches tall — one of the biggest-leafed spinach varieties you can grow
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Leaf Size: Very large, smooth, flat, and slightly glossy — medium to dark green
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Plant Type: Open-pollinated, non-GMO heirloom
Flavor Profile
Giant Nobel Spinach delivers a mild, sweet spinach flavor with less bitterness than savoyed varieties. Its large, smooth leaves are exceptionally tender — ideal for cooking applications where the leaves need to wilt evenly and absorb flavors. Raw, the leaves are mild and pleasant, making them well-suited for salads when harvested young. The smooth texture makes Giant Nobel one of the easiest spinach varieties to clean and prepare, with no deep crevices to trap soil.
Growth Type & Harvest Yields
Giant Nobel is a cut-and-come-again crop — harvest outer leaves continuously while the plant keeps producing from the center. Its large leaf size means fewer plants are needed to fill a harvest basket, making it one of the most productive spinach varieties per plant. In cool climates it produces prolifically through spring and into early summer, and again from fall through early winter. Expect impressive, generous harvests from a plant that lives up to its name.
Disease Resistance
- Good general disease tolerance in cool, well-drained growing conditions
- Performs best with good air circulation to minimize fungal pressure
- Bolts more quickly than slow-bolting varieties — time plantings carefully for spring and fall harvests
- Tip: Succession sow every 2–3 weeks for a continuous harvest through the cool season
Growing Tips & Planting Dimensions
- Spacing: 6–8 inches between plants, rows 12–18 inches apart (or broadcast sow and thin)
- Sow depth: ½ inch deep
- Germination: 7–14 days at soil temps of 35–75°F (optimal 50–65°F)
- Full sun to partial shade — partial shade extends the harvest in warmer weather
- Prefers fertile, well-drained soil with consistent moisture and a slightly alkaline pH (6.5–7.0)
- Direct sow as soon as soil can be worked in spring — spinach tolerates frost
- Water consistently — drought stress accelerates bolting
When to Plant
Direct sow 4–6 weeks before your last frost date for a spring crop — spinach tolerates frost and can be planted as soon as the soil can be worked. For a fall crop, direct sow 6–8 weeks before your first fall frost. Spinach does not transplant well — direct sow is strongly preferred. Find your frost dates and hardiness zone at the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map.
Companion Plants & Mutual Benefits
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Strawberries — a classic companion; spinach acts as a living mulch beneath strawberry plants
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Radishes — fast-maturing companion that loosens soil and marks rows; harvest before spinach fills in
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Garlic & Onions — repel aphids and other common spinach pests
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Peas — fix nitrogen in the soil, benefiting spinach planted nearby
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Avoid planting near: fennel — allelopathic and inhibits growth of most vegetables including spinach
How to Enjoy
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Raw: Young leaves make a mild, tender salad base — pairs well with light vinaigrettes
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Sautéed: Wilt with garlic and olive oil — large leaves cook down beautifully
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Soups & Stews: Stir into soups, lentils, or pasta dishes in the last few minutes of cooking
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Smoothies & Juicing: Mild flavor blends seamlessly with fruit in green smoothies
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Quiche & Eggs: Fold into frittatas, quiches, and scrambled eggs for a nutritious boost
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Freezing: Blanch and freeze for year-round use — large leaves freeze exceptionally well
Why Gardeners Love Giant Nobel Spinach
- Enormous leaves — one of the largest-leafed spinach varieties available
- Mild, sweet flavor with less bitterness than savoyed types — a crowd pleaser
- Smooth leaves are easy to clean and prep — no deep crevices to trap soil
- High yield per plant — fewer plants needed to fill a harvest basket
- Open-pollinated and non-GMO — save your own seeds year after year
- A proven heirloom with over a century of reliable garden and kitchen performance
Harvest Tips
- Begin harvesting outer leaves when plants reach 4–6 inches tall — never remove more than ⅓ of the plant at once
- Always harvest from the outside in, leaving the central growing point intact
- Harvest in the morning when leaves are crisp and moisture content is highest
- Once plants begin to bolt (send up a flower stalk), harvest the entire plant immediately for best flavor
- Store harvested leaves in a damp paper towel inside a sealed bag in the refrigerator for up to 5–7 days
Order Today
Add Giant Nobel Spinach Seeds to your garden this season and grow one of the most impressive, high-yielding spinach varieties available. Whether you're planting a spring crop or stocking your fall garden, Giant Nobel delivers season after season. Choose your pack size and start growing today.
