Spinach may be a leafy green vegetable that grows best in cool weather. full of iron, spinach is additionally high in vitamins A and C, thiamin, potassium, and vitamin Bc (one of the B-complex vitamins). Like most dark green leafy vegetables, spinach also contains the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin. Perhaps better of all, spinach tastes great eaten fresh or cooked.

While there are many various spinach varieties with an assortment of leaf shapes and textures, spinach is typically divided into two major categories: smooth leaf and savoy. But this plant has been crossbred such a lot that it’s often hard to categorize. Small-leafed spinach, or baby spinach, has gained in popularity recently and isn’t necessarily immature spinach leaves but varieties that simply don’t get large.

Spinach is extremely fast-growing and may be able to harvest in as little together month after it’s planted as seed. In most climates, it grows best when planted in spring and fall, since it needs relatively cool temperatures to thrive.

How to Plant Spinach

You can start spinach indoors or direct seed it within the garden as soon because the soil is workable. Spinach grows quite quickly, so don’t start plants indoors quite a two to 3 weeks before you propose to transplant them outdoors. Spinach also matures and goes to seed quickly, so it’s better to re-seed every few weeks than to undertake and plant an outsized crop to reap over time.

Sow the spinach seeds thinly in rows spaced about 12 to 18 inches apart, or just scatter the seeds in blocks. Cover the seeds lightly with soil, firm it in situ , and water well. Keep the soil moist until germination. Once the plants have a grown their true leaves, you’ll begin to thin the plants to about 6 inches apart. Of course, you’ll eat your thinnings.

As the weather warms, spinach plants will bolt more quickly. Expect to prevent sowing spinach seeds sometime in May or June, counting on your climate. you’ll extend the season slightly by planting within the shade of taller plants and frequently watering your spinach plants.

Spinach Care
Light

Plant spinach where it’ll receive full sun to partial shade. It’s advised to not tuck spinach during a flower bed, since too many critters will make a snack of it. You can, however, cash in of the shadier spots of a fenced-in kitchen garden, where most other vegetable plants would languish. you’ll also grow spinach within the shade cast by taller vegetable plants and near plants which will begin spreading out because the spinach finishes its season, like pole beans and corn.

Soil

Spinach prefers a well-draining soil with a neutral pH and won’t be happy at a pH less than 6.0.

Water

Water spinach frequently to stay the soil moist; this also helps keep it cool during the weather. The plants need 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water per week. In dry climates, you’ll get to water a day, sometimes more often. In any area, don’t wait all week, then deep-water; it’s better to water several times per week at a minimum.

Temperature and Humidity

Spinach grows best within the relatively cool days of spring and fall, even during the short days of fall. additionally, to spring planting, you’ll start seeding again at the start of August. Keep the seedlings shaded and watered and within the summer heat, and that they should be able to harvest beginning in September. Spinach grows during a range of humidity conditions, including very dry climates.

Fertilizer

Because it’s such a quick grower, spinach is additionally an important feeder. A fertilizer high in nitrogen, the primary number on the fertilizer package, will help produce dark, healthy leaves. Fish emulsion and soy meal are good organic choices for spinach.

Spinach Varieties

• Disease-resistant varieties include ‘Melody,’ ‘Nordic IV,’ ‘Olympia,’ ‘Tyee,’ and ‘Wolter’.
• Good varieties for fall planting include ‘Avon,’ ‘Indian Summer,’ ‘Melody,’ ‘Razzle Dazzle,’ and ‘Tyee’.
• Plants that overwinter well include ‘Bloomsdale Long Standing,’ ‘Cold Resistant Savoy,’ and ‘Tyee’.
• Recommended types for containers include ‘Baby’s Leaf Hybrid’ and ‘Melody’.

Harvesting

Typically, you’ll harvest spinach four to 6 weeks from seed. you’ll begin harvesting whenever the leaves are large enough for your taste. Spinach is often harvested within the “cut and therefore the come again” method of harvesting leafy greens like lettuce. Cut individual leaves, starting with the older, outer leaves and letting the young inner leaves remain to continue growing for a later harvest. you’ll also hamper the entire plant for a bigger harvest. If you narrow about an in. above the crown or base of the plant, it’s very likely the plant will send a replacement flush of leaves.

Spinach leaves are very sensitive to the ethylene gas given off by many fruits, so don’t store spinach within the refrigerator with apples, melons, or tomatoes. Spinach are often frozen for later use. Wash the leaves well and permit them to dry somewhat before placing during a resealable freezer bag. Then zap them within the microwave for about one minute on high. Allow to chill slightly and place within the freezer. Frozen spinach is best used within three to 6 months.

Overwintering

You can continue sowing spinach seeds late into the autumn season. In warmer climates, you’ll quite possibly be harvesting well into winter. If the bottom freezes before the plants mature, mulch them with hay and leave them be until the temperatures warm again in spring. Remove the mulch, and therefore the plants should resume growing, supplying you with a good earlier harvest.

Common Pests and Diseases

Since spinach is grown when the weather is cool and damp, several fungal diseases, like false mildew (blue mold) and wilt , can become problems. Space your spinach plants in order that they get good air circulation and check out to stay water off the leaves within the evening.

Aphids pose a risk to spinach because they will spread viruses. Monitor your crop for aphids regularly and hose them off immediately if you discover them.

Several four-legged pests, rabbits chief among them, can also raid your spinach patch. the simplest defense against them is fencing.

How to Grow Spinach in Pots

If space is tight or rabbits are many, you’ll easily grow spinach in containers. Even a comparatively small 10- to 12-inch pot or a box will do. Plant as you’d within the garden. you’ll get to water more frequently since containers dry out faster.

Spinach may be a cool-season annual. Plant spinach before the weather warms in spring and again because the weather cools in early autumn.

Spinach doesn’t grow well during long hot summer days or in wet weather.

WHERE TO GROW SPINACH

• Grow spinach fully sun. Grow spinach in partial shade in warm regions.
• Plant spinach in well-drained, loamy soil rich in organic matter. Add two inches of aged compost or a billboard organic planting mix to the planting beds before planting then turn the soil to 12 inches (30cm) deep.
• Spinach prefers a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.8.
• Spinach is hardy and thrives in cool weather; ideal spinach growing weather is 50°F to 70°F (10-21°C).
• Warm weather and long days will cause spinach to bolt—that is it’ll flower and attend seed.

Sow spinach indoors 6 to eight weeks before the last average frost date in spring.

SPINACH GROWING TIME

• Spinach may be a cool-season annual. It needs 6 weeks of cool weather from seed sowing to reap .
• Spinach grows best when planted outdoors in early spring then again in autumn. In mild-winter regions grow spinach outdoors in winter.
• Sow spinach indoors 6 to eight weeks before the last average frost date in spring for transplanting out as early as 4 weeks before the last frost. However, seedlings may suffer transplant shock if the roots are disturbed at transplant time.
• Direct sow spinach outdoors or began transplants 4 weeks before the last average frost date.
• In mild-winter regions, plant spinach in late summer or early autumn for harvest in autumn or winter; sow spinach for autumn harvest 6 to eight weeks before the primary fall frost.
• Spinach are often grown through the winter everywhere during a protective covering or plastic tunnel.
• Spinach started in autumn can survive the winter under thick mulch; plants will resume growing within the spring.
• Plant succession crops of spinach every 10 to 14 days.
• Don’t grow spinach through the summer in hot summer regions. Instead, grow New Zealand spinach or Malabar spinach which are heat tolerant.

Thin spinach to 12 inches apart; s[ace rows 12 inches apart.

PLANTING SPINACH

• Plant spinach seed ½ inch (12mm)deep. Cover seed lightly with soil.
• Refrigerate seeds 1 week before sowing to assist germination.
• Sow seed 2 to 4 inches (5-10cm) apart.
• Space rows 12 to 14 inches (30-35cm) apart.
• Spinach seed will germinate in 5 to 9 days at 70°F (21°C) Germination will take longer if the soil is cooler, about 21 days at 50°F (10°C).
• Thin spinach to 12 inches (30cm) apart when seedlings are 3 inches (7cm). Thin to the strongest seedlings. Remove weak seedlings by cutting them off at the soil level with scissors.
• Grow 15 plants per household member.

CONTAINER GROWING SPINACH

• Spinach will grow during a container. Allow one plant for every 8-inch (20cm)pot; in large containers plant spinach on 10-inch (25cm) centers.
• Spinach is heat-sensitive; move containers into the shade on warm and hot days.
• Containers will warm more quickly than garden soil in spring.

COMPANION PLANTS FOR SPINACH

• Grow spinach with other greens and Plant spinach within the shadows of tall crops like corn or pole beans.

WATERING AND FEEDING SPINACH

• Keep the soil evenly moist throughout the season to grow spinach quickly.
• Avoid splashing muddy water onto leaves; mulch around plants with straw or chopped leaves to avoid getting soil on leaves.
• Side dress plants with compost tea or a dilute solution of fish emulsion every fortnight during the season.
• Side dress spinach with aged compost at midseason.

Mature spinach plants can tolerate temperatures as cold as 20°F.

CARING FOR SPINACH

• Keep planting beds freed from weeds to avoid competition for light, water, and nutrients.
• Cut weeds at soil level instead of digging them out; spinach features a deep taproot but shallow feeder roots which will be injured easily.
• Mature spinach plants can tolerate temperatures as cold as 20°F (-6.7°C), but it’s best to guard plants against freezing weather by covering the bed with a transportable plastic tunnel or row cover.
• Spinach will bolt in temperatures greater than 75°F (24°C). If the weather warms, try protecting spinach under a shade cloth set over a frame.

SPINACH PESTS

• Spinach is often attacked by aphids, flea beetles, leafminers, slugs, and spider mites.
• Knock aphids off plants with a robust blast of water. Pinch out heavily infested foliage.
• Remove leaves during which leafminers are tunneling-. search for the eggs on the underside of the leaves. Floating row covers can exclude leafminer flies from the planting bed.
• Spray flea beetles and spider mites with spinosad.
• Keep slugs and snails far away from spinach by sprinkling a barrier of diatomite around plants.

SPINACH DISEASES

• Spinach is vulnerable to mildew, rust, and mosaic virus.
• Plant rust and disease-resistant varieties.
• Mildew and rust are fungal diseases. Spray-mist leaves with compost tea to stop fungal diseases.
• Plants hit by mosaic virus should be far away from the garden. The mosaic virus will cause leaves to be mottled or streaked white or yellow.
• Keep the garden clean of debris. Remove and destroy diseased plants.

Cut leaves 4 to 7 inches long from plants that have 6 to eight leaves.

HARVESTING SPINACH

• Spinach leaves are often harvested as soon as they’re large enough to eat.
• Cut leaves 4 to 7 inches (10-17cm) long from plants that have 6 to eight leaves. Cut the older outer leaves first. Allow the remaining young leaves to grow on to maturity.
• If you harvest all of the leaves from a plant, cut the leaves 3 inches (7cm) above the soil; new leaves will grow on for a second harvest.
• Very large leaves and older leaves are often bitter; harvest leaves sooner instead of later.
• Lengthening days (days longer than 14 hours) and warming weather (temperatures greater than 75°F/24°C) will cause spinach to bolt, flower, and set seed. Bolting will mark the top of the harvest.

STORING AND PRESERVING SPINACH

• Wash spinach thoroughly to eliminate the grit that sometimes sticks to crinkled leaves.
• Spinach is often refrigerated for up to at least one week.
• Spinach is often frozen canned or dried.
• Spinach seeds are often sprouted.

Bloomsdale Long Standing spinach has crinkled leaves.

SPINACH VARIETIES TO GROW

• ‘America’ (52 days): mostly heat and drought tolerant.
• ‘Bloomsdale Long Standing’ (43 days): crinkled leaves, mosaic virus tolerant.
• ‘Giant Noble’ (45 days): immune to mosaic virus.
• ‘Tyee’ (37-53 days): immune to false mildew.

HOT WEATHER SPINACH ALTERNATIVES

• Malabar spinach: vigorous climbing vines; native to tropical Asia and Africa.
• New Zealand spinach: grows naturally as a trailing ground cover.

ABOUT SPINACH

• Spinach may be a cool-season annual grown for its leaves.
• Spinach forms a rosette of dark green leaves which will be flat or crinkled (savoy leaf spinach).
• Spinach is said to beets and Swiss chard.
• Botanical name: spinach
• Origin: Asia