The Spruce / Kara Riley
Spinach is an annual leafy green vegetable that grows best incool weather.
The manyvarieties of spinachrange in appearance.
Often the leaves are smooth and medium to dark green.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
In most climates, it grows best when planted in the spring or fall.
That means you should plant seeds in the garden as soon as the soil is workable in the spring.
The soil must be cooler than 70 degrees Fahrenheit for germination.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
You also can reseed every couple of weeks in the spring or fall to extend your harvest.
Selecting a Planting Site
The ideal planting site for spinach is fairly sunny with good soil drainage.
Container growth is also an option.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
you might slightly delay this by planting in the partial shade of taller plants.
Once seedlings have grown their first set of true leaves, thin the plants to around 6 inches apart.
No support structure will be necessary.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
Spinach Plant Care
Light
Plant spinach where it will receivefull sunto partial shade.
Soil
The right soil is the secret to growing spinach.
The plant prefers loamy, organically rich, well-draining, but moist soil.
The Spruce / Kara Riley
It also likes a fairly neutral soil pH and can be sensitive to acidic soil.
Water
Water spinach frequently to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy.
Regular watering is essential in warm weather to prevent bolting.
In general, spinach needs around 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water per week.
Rather than a weekly deep watering, it’s better to water several times a week.
Adding a layer of mulch around the plants also can help to maintain soil moisture.
Wilting or yellowing leaves usually indicate overwatering.
Temperature and Humidity
Spinach prefers to grow in temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
It can tolerate a light frost, but heavy freezes will kill the plant.
Plus, hot weather will make it bolt and cause the remaining foliage to become bitter.
Fertilizer
Because it is such a fast grower, spinach is also a heavy feeder.
When planting, mix a fertilizer that’s high in nitrogen into the soil, following label instructions.
This will help to promote healthy foliage growth.
Continue to fertilize throughout the season, following your product’s instructions.
Fish emulsion and soy meal are good organic choices for spinach.
Pollination
Spinach is primarily pollinated by the wind, and varieties will cross-pollinate with one another.
However, they have some clear differences.
Kale leaves are typically ruffled and spinach leaves are often smooth.
Kale can have a slightly bitter taste while spinach is sweeter.
Begin harvesting whenever the leaves are large enough for your taste.
Spinach can be harvested in the “cut and come again” method.
You also can cut down the whole plant at once if you want a large harvest.
Spinach can be eaten fresh or cooked.
Keep it in an airtight container on its own.
Spinach also can be frozen for later use.
Wash the leaves well, and allow them to dry before placing them in a freezer bag.
Frozen spinach is best used within three to six months.
It also helps to deter pests from munching on your crop.
Choose a container thats at least 10 to 12 inches deep with a similar width.
You also can use a window box for a few plants, depending on their mature size.
The container must have drainage holes.
Unglazed clay is an ideal material because it allows excess soil moisture to escape through its walls.
(Taking stem cuttings typically isn’t successful.)
This skips the germination time that seeds take, allowing you to get a quicker harvest.
You might have to till your soil before planting, as spinach likes a loose, fine soil.
Firm the soil over the seeds, and water to evenly moisten it.
Potting and Repotting Spinach
Use an organic, all-purpose, well-draining potting mix for spinach.
Remove the mulch, and the plants should resume growing, giving you an early harvest.
Aphidsalso pose a risk to spinach because they can spread viruses.
Monitor your crop for aphids regularly, and hose them off immediately if you find them.
Wild animals,rabbits chief among them, also might raid your spinach patch.
The best defense against them is fencing.
Spinach is typically ready to harvest in four to six weeks after planting.
Spinach is an annual, completing its life cycle in one growing season.
