Eager to devour healthier meals without breaking the bank? Look no further than cultivating spinach in a small space! With minimal light requirements and affordable seeds, this nutritious superfood can become a staple in your kitchen. Gone are the days of spinach being seen as an unpalatable green, forced upon unwilling youngsters. Today, many people recognize its delectable flavor. When you’re growing your own spinach, there’s no excuse not to indulge in the benefits of eating your greens.
To get started on this path towards a healthier, more budget-friendly lifestyle, simply follow these easy steps:
Spinach Plant Info
This vegetable thrives in USDA Hardiness Zones 3 through 9. The ideal soil conditions include loamy texture, a pH range of 6.5 to 6.8, and excellent fertility with proper drainage. Sow seeds in full sun and plant them indoors 4-6 weeks before the last spring frost or 6-8 weeks prior to the first fall frost. Harden off seedlings for at least one week before transplanting them outdoors, which can be done about three to four weeks after sowing.
Space plants 6-12 inches apart and rows 12-14 inches apart, with a seed depth of ½ to 1 inch. This vegetable grows well when paired with eggplant, celery, cauliflower, corn, peas, strawberries, cabbage, kale, or onions, but it has poor compatibility with potatoes. Regular watering is essential, providing at least one inch of water every seven to ten days. Fertilize the plants with nitrogen about two to three weeks after the first hilling.
Common issues include mosaic virus, white rust, fusarium wilt, downy mildew, damping-off, anthracnose, aphids, armyworms, bulb mites, cutworms, darkling beetles, flea beetles, earwigs, cabbage loopers, wireworms, nematodes, and slugs. Harvest the leaves when they are large enough to eat, typically around six to eight weeks after planting.
Best Spinach Varieties to Plant
Among the three primary types of spinach (Spinacia oleracea), Savoy, Semi-Savoy, and Flat/Smooth varieties stand out. However, the constant quest for innovation in agriculture has led to the development of new spinach variants aimed at enhancing flavor and extending their cultivation period.
Savoy
Savoy spinach boasts impressive cold tolerance and distinctive wrinkled leaves. While this unique texture makes cleaning more challenging, a simple soaking in cold water can effectively remove dirt from the leaf’s intricate folds. This technique replaces traditional rinsing under running water.
In contrast, ‘Hammerhead’ stands out for its exceptional mildew resistance, achieving maturity in just 27 days. Meanwhile, ‘Bloomsdale’ takes slightly longer at 30 days, but is prone to rapid bolting.
Semi-Savoy
When it comes to semi-savoy spinach, disease-resistance and bolt-resistance take center stage. While they can withstand cold temperatures, this characteristic isn’t their most notable feature. In fact, semi-savoy spinach tends to be more robust in its ability to resist diseases and bolting than its savoy counterparts. This type of spinach also takes a bit longer to go to seed compared to savoy spinach, which is an added advantage for growers.
Other popular varieties of spinach include ‘Kolibiri’, ‘Reflect’, ‘Tasman’, and ‘Tundra’. The ‘Kolibiri’ variety boasts medium-slow bolting and matures in 29 days. Meanwhile, ‘Reflect’ offers disease-resistance and a mature time of just 28 days, with minimal bolting. The ‘Tasman’ variety is quick to bolt but takes only 28 days to mature, while ‘Tundra’ has dark green leaves that are ready for harvest in just 27 days, with a medium-fast bolting rate.
Lastly, the ‘Acadia’ variety features glossy, dark green foliage and matures in 27 days, with a medium-slow bolting pace.
Flat Leaf
When it comes to growing spinach that’s similar to what you typically find on store shelves, this variety is a great choice. One of its standout features is the smooth texture of its leaves, making them easy to clean. Additionally, most types of this spinach are slow to bolt, which means they’ll continue to produce healthy leaves for a longer period. Some popular varieties include ‘Seaside’, which takes around 30 days to mature and is also slow to bolt.
‘Lizard’ is another option that’s ready to harvest in just 28 days, featuring dark green leaves that are similarly slow to bolt. If you’re looking for something a bit different, ‘Woodpecker’ is a slow-bolting variety that takes around 28 days to mature. For those who want to add a pop of color to their spinach crop, ‘Red Kitten’ has green leaves with striking red veins.
While it does bolt quickly and matures in just 28 days, the unique appearance makes it a great choice for gardeners looking to mix things up. Finally, ‘Flamingo’ boasts dark, arrowhead-shaped leaves that are simply beautiful. It’s a medium-slow bolter, taking around 27 days to mature.
Heat Resistant Varieties
In addition to the three types of spinach mentioned earlier, new varieties have been developed that can thrive in various climates throughout the year. These heat-resistant options are particularly noteworthy for their ability to grow in regions where other spinaches may struggle. Two prominent examples include ‘New Zealand’ and ‘Malabar’ (Basella alba). The former is ideal for raw consumption, boasting a delightful crisp texture, although it does lose its crunch when cooked.
On the other hand, ‘Malabar’ is a unique vine–growing spinach relative that can be trained to climb a trellis. While not a true spinach, it shares similarities and can be used in similar ways. Its ability to thrive in warmer regions like India makes it an excellent choice for those with limited space living in USDA Zones 7-10.
How to Grow Spinach
While many gardening endeavors can be labor-intensive, cultivating spinach proves to be an unusually straightforward and stress-free experience. This ease of growth makes it an excellent choice for gardeners of all skill levels, from beginners to seasoned green thumbs.
Plan When to Plant
Spinach is a versatile crop that can be grown twice a year, depending on your location and climate. In regions with distinct spring and autumn seasons, you can plant spinach once in early spring and again in late fall. This bi-annual harvest is made possible by spinach’s remarkable ability to thrive in cold weather, while hot temperatures can be detrimental to its growth. To successfully grow spinach in the spring, plant it 4-6 weeks before the last frost of the year.
This allows the crop to establish itself and produce a decent harvest under the cooler conditions that prevail during this period. Similarly, for fall planting, aim to put spinach in the ground 6-8 weeks prior to the first frost of the year, giving it ample time to mature before the onset of winter. By following these guidelines, you can enjoy a bountiful spinach harvest twice a year.
Where to Plant
To reap a bountiful spinach harvest, it’s essential to provide your plants with the right conditions. While they do thrive in full sun, you can still achieve a great yield even in partial shade – especially if that shade occurs during the mid-day heat when the intense sunlight can be overwhelming. When selecting a planting location, ensure the soil is well-drained and has a neutral pH of around 6.5-7.
To give your spinach the best chance of success, incorporate compost or fertilizer into the soil to provide a nutrient-rich environment. Before planting, it’s also crucial to test your soil to determine its specific needs. This will enable you to tailor your approach and provide the ideal conditions for your spinach plants.
Sow Your Seeds
While it’s technically possible to start spinach seeds indoors, transplanting them can be a challenge. As such, it’s generally recommended to direct-sow the seeds into the ground. To do so, simply place each seed about half an inch to an inch deep into the soil. When sowing, keep in mind that around 12 seeds per foot is a good rule of thumb to prevent overcrowding and subsequent disease issues in your beds.
Keep Seeds Moist
To successfully grow spinach from seed, ensure you water them lightly but consistently until the seedlings emerge. As they start to sprout, maintain a consistent moisture level by watering thoroughly when the topsoil feels dry to the touch. Once established, spinach thrives in well-draining containers with at least 6 inches of depth. This is particularly beneficial for indoor gardeners or those with limited outdoor space.
Choose a pot that can accommodate this depth and fill it with a high-quality potting mix. Position your container in a sunny windowsill (4-5 hours of direct sunlight) or outdoors, where spinach can receive partial to full sun exposure. Regularly inspect the containers to maintain optimal soil moisture levels.
Caring for Your Spinach
Simplifying the process of caring for spinach can lead to a fruitful harvest. By following these straightforward guidelines, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying a plentiful yield.
Water Well and Regularly
To cultivate spinach effectively, it’s essential to understand its fundamental needs. Like many plants, spinach thrives on consistent moisture levels. Regular watering is crucial to keep the soil hydrated and provide the necessary sustenance for the plant to grow. One simple way to determine if your spinach needs water is by checking the soil around the roots. If the soil feels dry or parched to the touch, it’s time to add plenty of water.
This ensures that the plants have enough moisture to last for a few days before you need to water again.
Fertilize
When spinach plants reach about 1/3-inch in height, it’s the ideal time to fertilize them. One way to determine if your spinach needs a nutrient boost is by checking its growth rate – if it’s not progressing as expected, it might be due for some fertilizer. Additionally, if your spinach isn’t sporting its usual vibrant green color, that’s another indication it’s time to add some nitrogen to the soil.
Unlike other crops where excessive nitrogen can lead to weak harvests, spinach is an exception; its primary purpose is producing tender leaves, so a generous dose of nitrogen is actually beneficial. To give your spinach the nitrogen it needs, you can use products like Miracle-Gro or opt for more organic alternatives such as blood meal, cottonseed meal, or compost.
Thin Out
As spinach plants approach 2-inches in height, it’s essential to thin them out to ensure proper growth. To do this, create roughly 4-inches of space between each plant, allowing them to spread out and receive the necessary resources. One of the unique aspects of spinach is its shallow root system, which means you can minimize soil disturbance once the plants have been thinned.
In fact, excessive cultivation or handling can potentially disrupt the roots and hinder your harvest before it has a chance to thrive.
Mulch
To ensure optimal growth and health for your spinach plants, consider incorporating a simple yet effective mulching technique. By layering organic material around the base of your plants, you’ll not only suppress weed growth but also retain precious moisture in the soil. This easy step will help prevent over-drying, guaranteeing a robust and productive harvest.
Protect in the Fall
When sowing a fall crop of spinach, it’s crucial to provide necessary protection for the young seedlings. While spinach can tolerate temperatures in the teens and low 20s Fahrenheit, a sudden frost can still cause significant damage. To ensure a healthy harvest, employ row covers strategically to shield your crop from any impending cold snaps.
Spinach Pests and Diseases
In the world of gardening, it’s a given that every plant will face some level of pest or disease pressure. This is an inevitable reality that even the most skilled gardeners must contend with. But rather than being overwhelmed by this prospect, it’s essential to take proactive steps towards understanding and combating these threats. By doing so, you’ll be well-equipped to safeguard your harvest and enjoy a bountiful yield.
Leaf Miners
The larvae of beetles, known as leaf miners, are a common pest that targets plant leaves. These pesky critters lay their eggs on the leaves, which hatch into larvae that feed on the leaf tissue. One telltale sign of an infestation is the appearance of yellow squiggly lines crisscrossing the affected leaves.
To combat leaf miners, you have a few options at your disposal.
Chemical pesticides can be effective in killing them off, while neem oil and beneficial insects that prey on the larvae also do the trick. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even try smashing the leaves between your fingers along the trail of the tunnels.
Just be sure to exercise some restraint when it comes to using different methods, as pesticides can inadvertently wipe out those helpful beneficial bugs.
By taking a thoughtful approach to leaf miner control, you can restore balance to your garden and keep these pests from getting the best of you.
Bolting
When spinach plants reach maturity and produce flowers, a process known as bolting occurs. While some controlled bolting is necessary for seed production, unwanted bolting can significantly impact your harvest. To mitigate this issue, it’s essential to plant your spinach seeds at the right time. Temperature plays a significant role in triggering bolting, making early planting a key strategy to minimize its occurrence.
Additionally, selecting bolt-resistant varieties can also help you maintain a healthy and productive crop.
Mosaic Virus
The telltale signs of mosaic virus infection are unmistakable: the leaves of your spinach will display discolored spots ranging in hue from light green to yellow, and even white. Moreover, you may notice that the spinach plants appear stunted, failing to thrive as they should. Unfortunately, there is no definitive solution to this virus, leaving gardeners with little choice but to eradicate the infected plants by pulling them out of the ground and disposing of them.
This drastic measure is essential for preventing the further spread of the mosaic virus.
Downy Mildew
When it comes to downy mildew, one of its most noticeable symptoms is the appearance of discolored spots on affected plants. Fortunately, this issue can be addressed with some straightforward steps. If you suspect downy mildew has taken hold, consider applying a fungicide or a 1:1 mixture of milk and water to your plants. In addition to treating the issue, it’s also crucial to ensure your plants receive adequate air circulation. This can help prevent the spread of the disease.
Furthermore, adopting smart watering practices can also go a long way in mitigating the impact of downy mildew. Consider using soaker hoses instead of overhead sprinklers when watering your plants, as this will help reduce moisture accumulation on leaves.
Best Companion Plants for Spinach
While it’s not necessary to avoid planting certain plants near spinach, there are several species that thrive in its company. These spinach companion plants include asparagus, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, celery, dill, eggplant, lettuce, onions, peas, peppers, radishes, and strawberries. Tomatoes also grow well alongside spinach, making for a productive and harmonious garden.
How to Harvest and Store Your Spinach
Wash and Put in the Fridge
When planning to consume your fresh spinach within a week, a simple rinsing under cold running water is sufficient. Following this, gently pat the leaves dry using a paper towel and store them in an airtight container with a paper towel inserted inside to absorb any lingering moisture. Once stored, you can enjoy your spinach throughout the week, either cooked or raw.
Freeze Your Harvest
When faced with an abundance of fresh spinach that’s exceeded your weekly consumption, consider preserving some for future meals by freezing it. A simple process can ensure the leaves remain nutritious and flavorful throughout the year.
To begin, thoroughly wash the spinach leaves in cold water to remove any dirt or debris. Next, gently pat the leaves dry with a clean cloth to prevent moisture from affecting their texture.
Following this, blanch the spinach by submerging it in boiling water for approximately one minute. This step helps preserve the delicate nutrients and color of the leaves.
Once blanched, transfer the spinach to a sealable freezer bag, removing as much air as possible before sealing the bag. Label the bag with the date and contents, then store it in your freezer for up to three months.
When you’re ready to enjoy your frozen spinach, simply thaw it overnight in the refrigerator or reheat it quickly by leaving the sealed bag in warm water.
Can Your Spinach
Preserving spinach through canning offers a significant advantage in terms of shelf life. This method also eliminates the need for additional freezer storage space. If you possess the necessary equipment and experience, or have access to someone who does, then canning your own spinach may be a viable option. On the other hand, if you prefer to utilize your spinach immediately, we recommend exploring our extensive collection of 34 fresh spinach recipes.
