Spinach
Spinach is the cool-season workhorse that fills your salad bowl from early spring and again in fall, thriving where summer crops struggle.
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The Cool-Weather Champion
Spinach has been cultivated for over 2,000 years, originating in ancient Persia before traveling through Arab trade routes to Europe and eventually becoming one of the world's most popular leafy greens. Its rich, dark leaves pack impressive amounts of iron, folate, vitamins A and K, and antioxidants into every bite.
Modern varieties fall into three main camps: savoy types with crinkled, textured leaves; semi-savoy with moderate texture and good disease resistance; and flat-leaf varieties prized for easy washing and commercial processing. For home gardens, semi-savoy types like 'Tyee' or 'Catalina' offer the best balance of flavor, yield, and bolt resistance.
Planting & care
Sow seeds directly in the garden 4-6 weeks before your last frost date, or in late summer 6-8 weeks before first fall frost. Press seeds about 1/2 in deep and 2 in apart in rows spaced 12-18 in apart. Spinach prefers a fertile, well-draining soil with a pH of 6.5-7.0. Work in compost before planting and apply a balanced fertilizer to encourage leafy growth.
Keep soil consistently moist - spinach bolts quickly when stressed by drought or heat. Thin seedlings to 4-6 in apart once they reach 2 in tall and use the thinnings in salads. Side-dress with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer midseason to boost leaf production. Begin harvesting outer leaves when they reach 3-4 in, or cut the whole plant at soil level. Once daytime temperatures consistently exceed 75 degrees F, plants will bolt and turn bitter.
Beat the Bolt
Spinach is triggered to bolt by long days and warm temperatures, not just heat alone. To squeeze extra weeks out of your harvest, plant in a spot with light afternoon shade during spring, choose slow-bolt varieties like 'Space' or 'Reflect', and keep soil cool with a layer of mulch. In mild climates, a cold frame or row cover can extend your harvest well into winter.
How much sun does Spinach need?
Spinach grows best in full sun to partial shade.
How often should you water Spinach?
Give it about 1-1.5 in per week.
When is Spinach ready to harvest?
Spinach is usually ready in 37-50 days from seed.