Some great suggestions already in this thread. I am always in search of good summer spinach/lettuce alternatives. Currently growing:
-Swiss Chard: Bright Lights, Perpetual Spinach, Verde de Taglio. Discontinued: Fordhook Giant (extremely chalky mouthfeel). Verde de Taglio may beat out Perpetual Spinach! Super tender, mild leaves. First year growing that one.
-Dwarf Moringa: first year growing, need to improve drainage in soilless mix, they are not doing so great, tips of leaves brown. Probably need to trim taproots as well. Seedlings less than 1' tall in half gallon containers. Potting up to 1 gallon this weekend.
-Kang Kong: first year, I am excited about this one. Growing like weeds. One of my favorite veggies. Ebay seeds, variety that grows well in soil.
-Malabar Spinach: third year? Only need to buy seeds once and you will have this plant forever. Flourishes in heat, loves 100 degree days. Larger leaves have too slimy a texture but small leaves good raw. Red variety.
-Okinawa Spinach: has slowed down in the heat but no wilting. Might need part shade.
-Longevity spinach: still showing fast growth in full sun.
-Tuscan Kale: many online comments say it does not do well in hot weather, but mine is far more heat tolerant than other varieties I have tried. My Red Russian plants are currently taking a beating (will wilt in middle of day) but the Lacinato is putting out lots of leaves. Starting to get bitter raw.
-Sorrel De Belleville: tasty if you like sour lemons. Still doing great in our high 90s weather. I am moving it to part-shade this weekend. Virtually maintenance-free. Very tender, spinach-like texture. Bugs do not touch it.
Not doing so well in the heat:
-Chinese Kale: first year, these are done. Will try again this fall.
-Bull's Blood Beet: I give up. Tasty leaves but I never get good summer production. Have tried two different seed sources. Plants have completely stalled since temperatures reached the 80s. Have not been able to harvest leaves in a month. Will only plant in fall from now on.
-Sylvetta: perennial arugula, needs shade in hot weather, only getting a few leaves per plant each week now. Worth maintaining for a cool weather payoff.
-Orach: Another year of disappointment.
-Shiso: poor germination, weak seedlings. Need new seeds.
Finally, my ever-growing list of potential summer candidates:
-New Zealand Spinach: Zeedman, that is one fantastic-looking row. I haven't tried this one yet since it doesn't get the best taste reviews.
-Egyptian Spinach: I have avoided this plant since it is always followed by a description along the lines of "Slimy like okra". Even purslane can be too slimy for me sometimes, but I could try drying it into a powder.
-French Dandelion: cultivated strain?
-Aztec Spinach
-Taiwan Swordleaf Lettuce: not sure how heat tolerant.
-Amish Deer Tongue Lettuce: supposedly slow to bolt and grow bitter.
-Tokyo Bekana: claimed to be heat tolerant.
-Senposai Select: reviews say produces well in summer.
-Nagaimo Sweet Potato: Supposedly the purple varieties (Ipomoea batatas) have the best-tasting leaves, which are lower in oxalic acid than spinach. I'm not sure the Nagaimo would do well in containers, although it seems cutting may not produce the huge tubers. Looking for recommendations!
Not in this list are collards. Many of the varieties I have grown are heat tolerant, but get bitter in summer. I'm taking the year off from collards (and all but a few kale plants) to reduce some persistent pest issues. Portuguese Tronchuda did fantastic last year in hot weather, better than Georgia and Alabama varieties.
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