leafy crops

Spinach assortment

Spinach is regarded as a very healthy vegetable, partly because of its high content of lutein and vitamin C. The crop is grown in temperate
climate zones all over the world – sometimes in polytunnels but mainly outdoors. Rijk Zwaan has occupied a strong position in this crop for
many years, including in the organic market.

Spinach is prepared in various different ways around the world: stir-fried in the Far East, cooked in most of Europe, and often eaten raw
in English-speaking countries. In order to capitalise on growth potential in the raw segment, Rijk Zwaan is developing specific varieties
and types specifically for the fresh market. This means achieving a longer shelf life, for example, and creating an attractive appearance.
We already have a red-veined spinach type in our range, for instance. Much of the breeding work in spinach revolves around resistances.
Our goal is to ensure a reliable crop for growers and a clean and healthy product for consumers. Because almost all spinach is harvested
mechanically, we also pay attention to uniformity, a good germination percentage and slow bolting, which is a particular strength of the
Rijk Zwaan varieties. In the future, we will continue to focus on resistances in our breeding work while also responding to market needs and
opportunities. In addition, we are striving to achieve year-round supplies of our red-veined type.

Legend Climate conditions

Non Chemical Treated N North; temperate climate
Fresh market S South; warm climate
Convenience
Hydroponics
Industry
Tunnel

Organic catalogue | 2021 Rijk Zwaan

 leafy crops

Spinach assortment
Oriental, Savoy, Savoy baby leaf,
green green green

summer
autumn
winter
spring
Growing period
Variety name Product description USPs
/ climate conditions

Oriental, green
Bufflehead RZ F1 Very early oriental
Bufflehead RZ is an oriental spinach variety with a good leaf-to-stem • High yield
ratio. Bufflehead RZ is very early and suitable for the processing, baby • Rusticity
leaf and convenience markets. Variety for winter crop and late fall for • Open-field cultivation
industry. • Suitable for industrial processing
Hornbill RZ F1 Very attractive • Earliness S
Hornbill RZ is a vigorous variety with strong resistance to leaf diseases. • Leaf quality
Light green colour. • Resistance
Pachyderm RZ F1 Very fast grower • Earliness S S
Oriental Spinach variety for Europe winter (Industry and Fresh) • Resistance to Pe
production. Very fast growth in cool / winter conditions. • Leaf size
Python RZ F1 White rust resistance N
An oriental spinach variety with very dark green, pointed leaves for the
bunching market. This is a very early variety with an upright growth
habit and intermediate resistance (IR) to white rust. Recommended for • White rust resistance (IR)
winter cycles. • CMV resistance
Savoy, green
Bonnethead RZ F1 Mid early semi savoy S S
Bonnethead RZ is a slower bolting variety compared to Hammerhead
RZ and is more even growing through teen leaf with slightly less vigour
in the cold. • Albugo and Stemphylium resistance
Budgerigar RZ F1 Uniform round leaves with shiny colour S S
This mid late semi savoy type with big round leaves is suitable for late
spring and early autumn period. Has more vigour in cold compare
Parakeet with better bolting tolerance.
Cabezon RZ F1 Dark green shiny leaves N N
Cabezon RZ is a semi-savoy spinach variety with oval, dark green, shiny
leaves with a nice blister for the baby leaf and convenience markets.
Cabezon RZ is late variety with upright growth and is strong against • Shiny dark green leaves
leaf diseases such as Stemphylium and Albugo. It performs well in the • Strong against leaf diseases such as
summer. Stemphylium and Albugo
Cugoe RZ F1 High yield with uniform leaves N N
Cugoe RZ is a semi-savoy spinach variety with round, thick, shiny, • Firm uniform leaves
dark green leaves for the baby leaf and convenience markets. This • High yield
is a mid-late variety with a high leaf count and good resistance to • Good resistance to Stemphylium leaf
Stemphylium leaf spot. Cugoe RZ is suitable for summer cultivation. spot
Platypus RZ F1 Robust with high yield N
Platypus RZ is a semi-savoy spinach variety with oval-shaped leaves
for the baby leaf market. The plants are healthy and fast-growing and
produce an early crop. Platypus RZ is suitable for autumn, winter and • Robust
spring cultivation. • High yield
Sunangel RZ F1 High yield with uniform round leaves N N
Sunangel RZ is a savoy spinach variety with round, dark green, thick
leaves that have an attractive blister. This is a mid-early variety and
is suitable for the baby leaf and convenience markets. The plants are
vigorous, have an upright and uniform growth habit and produce a high • High yield
yield. Sunangel RZ is recommended for spring and autumn cycles. • Good resistance to white rust
Savoy baby leaf, green
Goanna RZ F1 Thick round savoy leaves N
Goanna RZ is a late semi-savoy spinach variety with thick, round, S
uniform-shaped, dark green leaves. It is ideal for the baby leaf and
convenience markets. Goanna RZ performs well in the summer period. • Thick round savoy leaves
Kolibri RZ F1 Good resistance to Pythium N N
Kolibri RZ is a semi-savoy spinach variety with thick, firm, oval leaves for
the baby leaf and convenience markets. Kolibri RZ is a mid-early variety
and is suitable for spring and autumn cultivation. • Good resistance to Pythium
Parakeet RZ F1 Good resistance to leaf diseases N N
Parakeet RZ is a semi-savoy spinach variety with oval-round, thick and S
shiny dark green leaves for the baby leaf market. It is a mid-late variety
with good resistance to leaf diseases. This variety is suitable for spring, • Good resistance to leaf diseases
summer and autumn cycles. • Upright growth

Organic catalogue | 2021 Rijk Zwaan 2

 leafy crops

Spinach assortment
Smooth,
green

summer
autumn
winter
spring
Growing period
Variety name Product description USPs
/ climate conditions
Smooth, green
Bandicoot RZ F1 Good tolerance to leaf diseases S S
Bandicoot RZ is a variety with oval leaves and long stems for the baby
leaf and convenience markets. An early and fast-growing variety that
is strong against leaf diseases. Suitable for spring, autumn and winter • Very resistant to leaf spot diseases
cultivation in temperate and subtropical dry climates. • Fast growing
Bilby RZ F1 Good tolerance to bolting S S
Bilby RZ has a good tolerance to bolting and is suitable for winter, spring • Leaf colour and quality
and autumn. • Regular stem length
Boa RZ F1 Slow bolting and fast growing N N N
Boa RZ is a smooth spinach variety with round leaves for the processing • Fast growing
market. It is very vigorous and suitable for organic cultivation. Boa RZ • Slow bolting
performs well in summer in temperate climates. • Suitable for organic production
Bonobo RZ F1 Good leaf-to-stem ratio N N
Bonobo RZ is a smooth spinach variety with large, oval leaves and
good leaf-to-stem ratio and is suitable for the processing, baby leaf and • Good leaf-to-stem ratio
convenience markets. Bonobo RZ is very strong against Colletotrichum. • Very resistant to Colletotrichum and
This mid-early variety is suitable for spring and autumn cultivation. Stemphylium leaf spot
Donkey RZ F1 Firm round leaves N S N S
Donkey RZ is a semi-savoy spinach variety with firm, round, dark green
leaves for the baby leaf and convenience markets. This is a mid-late
variety that is suitable for spring, summer and autumn cultivation. • Firm round leaves
Eagle RZ F1 High yield N N
Eagle RZ is a smooth spinach variety with a very good leaf-to-stem ratio
for the processing market. The plants have an erect growth, produces a • High yield
high yield and are slow bolting which makes this a very good choice for • Very good leaf-to-stem ratio
spring and autumn cycles. • Slow bolting
Gecko RZ F1 Dark and upright growing S S S
This smooth mid late variety will fit in the segment of Fantail and Brolga.
Very dark colour and upright growing habbit with oval/pointed leaves. • Strong against Stemphylium
Gorilla RZ F1 Big leaves N N N
Gorilla RZ is a smooth spinach variety with large leaves and good leaf-to-
stem ratio for the processing industry. The plants are healthy, vigorous • Large leaves
and have good resistance to leaf diseases. • Healthy plants
Kodiak RZ F1 Good resistance to leaf diseases N N
Kodiak RZ is a smooth spinach variety with dark green leaves for the
baby leaf and convenience markets. The plant grows upright and is very • Good resistance to leaf diseases
resistant to leaf diseases. This is a mid-early variety and is suitable for • Dark green leaves
spring and autumn cultivation. • Upright growth
Marabu RZ F1 Resistant to CMV N N S S
Marabu RZ is a smooth spinach variety with elongated leaves for the
baby leaf, convenience and processing markets. A mid-late variety and is
suitable for spring, summer and autumn cultivation. • Resistant to CMV
Puma RZ F1 Slow bolting N N N
Puma RZ is a smooth spinach variety with thick, round, dark green
leaves and relatively short stems. It is ideal for the processing market.
The plants are vigorous, very strong against bolting and withstand hot • Heat tolerant
conditions very well. Puma RZ is recommended for summer cultivation. • Slow bolting
Rhino RZ F1 Strong vigorous plants N N
Rhino RZ is a smooth spinach variety with very uniform, large, mid-green
leaves mainly for the processing market. The plants are vigorous and • Very vigorous
slow to bolt. Rhino RZ is very suitable for organic cultivation and is • Slow bolting
recommended for spring and autumn cultivation. • Strong plants for organic production
Salamander RZ F1 Very tolerant to leaf diseases N N
Salamander RZ is a smooth spinach variety with oval, dark green leaves
for the baby leaf, teen leaf and cooking leaf convenience markets. It is • Very strong against leaf diseases
an early variety with an upright growth habit and is very tolerant to leaf • Early crop
diseases. Recommended for spring, autumn and winter cycles. • Upright growth
Serow RZ F1 Variety for summer N N
Serow RZ is a smooth spinach variety with better pfs resistance. • Slow bolting

Organic catalogue | 2021 Rijk Zwaan 3

 leafy crops

Spinach assortment
Smooth baby leaf,
green

summer
autumn
winter
spring
Growing period
Variety name Product description USPs
/ climate conditions
Smooth baby leaf, green
Finwhale RZ F1 Robust variety S S
Finwhale RZ is a smooth spinach variety with oval-round leaves for the
baby leaf market. This is a mid-early variety that is suitable for spring
and autumn cultivation.. • Robust
Meerkat RZ F1 Round leaves N N
Meerkat RZ is a smooth spinach variety with attractive round leaves
for the baby leaf and convenience markets. This variety is early and
performs well in spring, autumn and winter. When grown in autumn it is • Nice round leaf shape
also suitable for the processing industry... • Autumn crop is suitable for processing
Ratel RZ F1 Good resistance to bolting N
Ratel RZ is a smooth spinach variety with oval-round leaves for the baby S
leaf and convenience markets. This is a late, slow-growing variety that
shows good resistance to bolting. Ratel RZ is recommended for summer
cultivation. • Late to bolt
Racoon RZ F1 Teen leaf and baby leaf N N S
Racoon RZ is a smooth spinach variety with oval-round leaves for the S
baby leaf and teen leaf market. The plants are vigorous with an upright
growth habit and produce an early crop. Racoon RZ is suitable for spring
and autumn cycles.
Silverwhale RZ F1 Good resistance to leaf diseases N N N
Silverwhale RZ is a smooth spinach variety with oval-round leaves for
the baby leaf and processing markets. This is a strong mid-late variety
that is suitable for spring and autumn cultivation.. • Good resistance to leaf diseases
Squirrel RZ F1 Firm leaves S S
Squirrel RZ is a smooth spinach variety with firm, round, dark green
leaves that are slightly cupped and a little savoyed. Suitable for the baby
leaf market, this is a mid-early variety with upright growth. Squirrel RZ is • Firm leaves
recommended for spring and autumn cultivation. • Slightly savoyed
Whale RZ F1 Good resistance to leaf diseases N N N
Whale RZ is a smooth spinach variety with oval-round leaves for the
baby leaf, convenience and processing markets. It is a mid-late variety
and is recommended for spring and autumn cultivation. • Good resistance to leaf diseases
Woodpecker RZ F1 High yield with uniform leaves N N
Woodpecker RZ is a smooth spinach variety with round, thick and
firm, dark green leaves for the baby leaf and convenience markets.
This is a mid-late variety that grows upright and produces a high yield. • Uniform in height
Woodpecker RZ is recommended for spring and autumn cycles. • High yield

Organic catalogue | 2021 Rijk Zwaan 4