This is less vigorous and smaller in leaf than silverbeet. It is also softer and has a green rather than a white midrib. English spinach has a lower tolerance to heat than silverbeet. Spinach is a minor crop in Western Australia but demand has increased in recent years. However, there has been competition with spinach due to the increase in consumption of Asian vegetables.
Spinach is more popular in the eastern States, where it is widely used in pre-packs.
Spinach and silverbeet are listed jointly by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. In 1993-94, the area grown in Western Australia by 37 growers was 17.4 hectares and the production was 380 tonnes. However, rural statistics are known to be highly inaccurate for small vegetable crops and actual production was probably much higher than the listed figures. Spinach is a useful source of vitamins A, B and C and calcium. It also contains levels of oxalate and should not be eaten by people who suffer from kidney stones.