Growing up I was never a big fan of spinach and never thought I would be writing about how to grow spinach. My early dislike for spinach came from watching Popeye the Sailorman ‘pop’ open cans of spinach and eat them down in one gulp. That was unappetizing.
Over the years, however, I became a fan of spinach. I started by eating spinach in salads. I particularly like a good spinach salad with mushrooms, onions, hard-boiled eggs and bacon. Slowly, I began to eat spinach cooked in different recipes. Now, I am much more adventurous in cooking with spinach and nothing beats fresh spinach from the garden! Continue reading to learn about how to successfully grow spinach in your garden.
There are three primary types of spinach:
- Savoy: handles cold better than other types of spinach and has deep crinkly, curly leaves. Can be difficult to clean because of the deep crevices in the leaves.
- Semi-savoy: tend to have better disease and bolt resistance. While the leaves are crinkly, they are less so than savoy and are thus easier to clean.
- Flat leaf: unwrinkled, spade-shaped leaves that are easiest to clean. This variety is used for most processed spinach.
A few interesting facts about spinach:
- Spinach originated in the Middle East
- Spinach was not commonly eaten in the United States until the early 19th century
- In the US, most spinach is grown in Texas and California
It didn’t occur to me that… that gardening, like music, could demand practice, patience, a willingness to make mistakes.
HOW TO GROW AND CARE FOR SPINACH
Spinach is considered a cool season crop and is therefore one of the first crops to plant in the spring. Seeds germinate best at temperatures between 55-65°F. If you invest in plastic row covers, spinach can be planted in late fall and harvested thru the winter (just be aware that spinach grows much slower in the fall). When planting spinach in the fall, the plant needs to be about one-third grown before the first freeze and should be heavily mulched. Spinach planted in fall will resume growth in the spring.
Spinach plants can be grown from transplants or direct seeded in the garden bed. The soil needs to reach a temperature of 40°F before sowing seeds or setting out transplants. Transplants need 4-6 true leaves and a well-developed root system before transplanting. It takes 5-6 weeks to grow transplants of this size. Be careful not to let spinach become ‘root bound’ in its container as this can lead to early bolting. For more information on starting plants from seeds, read my blog titled “The complete guide to starting seeds indoors”. Spinach also does well direct seeded if the temperature does not exceed 75°F.
Grow Spinach
Here are the general guidelines for to grow spinach:
- Plant spinach in early spring before the onset of high temperatures. Temperatures above 80°F will cause spinach to bolt. Bolting is the formation of a flower stalk. When a flower stalk forms, spinach must be harvest immediately or it will taste bitter.
- Spinach does well in a variety of soil types and prefers soil that has been amended with organic matter (e.g. the addition of compost and/or manures). Compost can be made at home or purchased from a garden center. For information on making compost at home, reference my blog titled “Recipes for Compost”. It’s best to work compost into the soil in the fall for a spring planting.
- Spinach prefers a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.8. To understand your soil pH and nutrient levels, it is important to get your soil tested.
- Follow the guidelines on the back of the seed package for planting depth and spacing. If you are interested in intensive offset planting, then the recommended spacing for spinach is 6 inches. This planting method is part of the ‘intensive organic planting’ method and increases, by approximately 10%, what can be planted in a given area. I follow this method of planting.
Care for Spinach
- Water spinach in the morning to ensure the leaves are dry before nightfall. To encourage strong roots, the soil should be moistened to a depth of 6 inches.
- Spinach grows quick and needs nutrients. Apply a seaweed/fish emulsion fertilizer once every two to three weeks. It is also important to side dress (apply to the ground around the plant) the spinach once after transplanting with an organic nitrogen fertilizer such as Blood Meal.
- Organic mulches (e. g. straw, dry shredded leaves, wood chips) are used to ensure that the ground retains moisture and maintains the soil temperature.
- Strawberries are a companion crop for spinach.
PROBLEMS
Spinach does not compete well with weeds and beds should be kept weed free. Spacing plants closer together, as in the intensive organic planting method, will control weeds. Because spinach is a fast-growing crop, it is not as susceptible to many insect or disease problems. To avoid pest problems, cover spinach with a lightweight row cover. Rotating where you plant your spinach crop each year will reduce disease and pests.
HARVEST AND STORAGE
Harvest spinach 6-7 weeks after it is planted. Spinach can either be harvested whole or can be continuously harvested by picking off the outermost leaves. Pick spinach leaves that have fresh green leaves and are not wilted, damaged or spotted. I enjoy picking off the leaves because I pick just what is needed. New leaves will grow in to replace what was picked. Harvest early in the morning before the heat of the day begins. After harvesting, separate the leaves and clean in a bath of cold water, dry with dish or paper towels, place in a plastic bag and store in the refrigerator. Spinach will keep 7-14 days if stored dry and at a refrigerated temperature of 32°F.
If a flower stalk develops, this is an indication that the spinach is bolting (going to seed) and should be harvested right away. If left in the garden, the spinach will taste bitter. Seed stalks are an indication of warm temperatures and age.
PREPARING
Before preparing spinach, pinch off the stems if they are thick and tough. Spinach can be eaten cold in a salad or can be cooked by blanching, microwaving, sautéing or steaming. Spinach is low in calories and high in nutrients including vitamin A and C, good source of iron, fiber and vegetable protein, high in potassium.
Here are a couple of my favorite spinach recipes, including two which are treasured family recipes:
- One pan orecchiette pasta and spinach I substitute spinach for the arugula in the recipe and increase to 4 cups of spinach.
- Spanakopita* (Greek Spinach Pie)
- Spinach and Rice*
*Our Greek Family Heirloom recipe
RECOMMENDED CULTIVAR
Flat Leaf: Matador
This variety is cold tolerant with smooth leaves. It also has the potential to produce abundantly. It is suitable for both spring and fall planting.
Matador Spinach Seedling
BOTANICAL INFORMATION
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Spinacia
Species: oleracea
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