Winter Giant Spinach is a remarkably cold-hardy heirloom that transforms late fall and winter growing from challenge to triumph. This Italian variety, also known as Gigante d'Inverno, produces exceptionally large, deep-green savoyed leaves that actually sweeten after light frosts. Ready to harvest in 50-59 days, these sturdy plants reach 8-12 inches tall and can overwinter in mild climates, providing fresh greens when most other crops have long finished for the season.
Full Sun
—
3-10
12in H x ?in W
—
Moderate
Hover over chart points for details
What sets Winter Giant apart is its exceptional cold tolerance and ability to extend your growing season by 2-3 weeks longer than traditional spinach varieties. The large, semi-savoyed leaves develop their sweetest flavor in cold weather, making this variety a favorite among market growers who prize its reliability and longevity. Plants can overwinter under protection in mild climates and resume vigorous growth in early spring, delivering heavy yields of tender, flavorful leaves when fresh greens are most precious.
Winter Giant excels in fresh preparations where its large, tender leaves and sweet cold-weather flavor shine. The substantial savoyed leaves are perfect for hearty salads, sautéing, and cooking applications that benefit from spinach that holds its structure. Baby leaves harvested at 30-40 days provide exceptional tenderness for fresh eating, while mature leaves at 50 days offer robust flavor for cooked dishes and preserve beautifully when harvested in cool morning temperatures.
No timeline data available yet for this variety.
Direct sow seeds 0.5 inch deep as soon as soil can be worked in early spring, or in late summer for fall and winter harvests. Keep the seedbed evenly moist and aim for soil temperatures between 45-70°F for optimal germination.
Begin harvesting baby leaves at 30-40 days when foliage is a few inches long and still very tender. For continuous harvest, cut individual outer leaves as needed, or clip whole plants an inch above the crown for cut-and-come-again regrowth. For full-size bunching, allow plants to reach about 50 days with large, savoyed leaves that remain young and sweet. Harvest in the cool of morning for best flavor and texture, and winter-grown leaves are often the sweetest, especially after light frosts.
Enter your ZIP code to see a personalized growing calendar for this plant.
“Winter Giant Spinach is an heirloom variety specifically selected and bred for late fall and early winter production. This Italian strain, known traditionally as Gigante d'Inverno, represents generations of careful selection by growers who needed reliable cold-weather greens. The variety has been preserved and passed down through seed-saving networks, valued for its exceptional hardiness and productivity during the challenging winter months when most vegetables cannot survive outdoors.”