Easy Steps to Grow Spinach | How to Grow Series
Learn How to Grow Spinach…plus, a printable planting guide! Leafy greens like spinach are an easy-to-grow vegetable that has a place in most gardens.
Along with adding a nice fresh addition to salads, sandwiches, omelets, and vegetable dishes, spinach adds a powerhouse of nutrients to your daily diet.
Spinach needs well-drained, moderately fertile soils and a sunny location. Spinach is a very fast-growing vegetable, so keep your soil moist but not soggy.
How to Grow Spinach
Nutrients in Spinach
Complete How to Grow Series!
WE WILL COVER:
- Soils
- Sunlight
- Temperature
- Planting instructions
- Cold Hardiness
- Days to Germinate
- Thinning
- Varieties
- Days to Maturity
- Harvesting
- Storage Tips
- Plus, a few fresh Garden Leaf Lettuce Recipes!
- Printable Growing Handout
- Container Gardening and Greenhouses
EASY STEPS ~ HOW to GROW SPINACH
Find Your Zone:
FREE USDA Hardiness Zone Planting Guide
1. SOILS:
- Spinach needs well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5 (adjust to a higher pH with wood ash or garden limestone).
- Moist soils but not waterlogged
- Garden beds, containers, or pots all work well.
- Just make sure to have at least 10 inches of soil in your containers.
- Apply organic all-purpose fertilizer.
Depending on your geographic location, soils vary tremendously and need different soil amendments. It is easy to find out how to test your soil with this inexpensive soil tester from Amazon.
2. SUNLIGHT:
Spinach needs full sun but can handle some shade. Aim for 6 hours of sunlight each day for a healthy crop.
3. TEMPERATURE:
- Grow spinach in cool weather, as it struggles in summer heat.
- Plant it early in spring and again in late summer or early fall for a second harvest.
- For fall planting, sow seeds about 30 days before the first frost in your area.
4. PLANTING:
Plant spinach in early spring as soon as the soil is ready.
Here are some details on how to plant spinach:
- Plant in single rows
- Cover with 1/2″ of dirt and tap firm
- Seeds should be planted 1.5″ to 2″ apart in rows
- Rows should be 12″ to 18″ apart
- 10 to 12 seeds per 1 foot
- For continuing harvest, plant in succession every 7 to 10 days
- Hand Weed or Mulch to suppress weeds
Spinach can also be sown in 3″ to 4″ wide bands.
- 1/2″ deep
- 1″ spacing in all directions
- 40 seeds per foot in a 4″ wide band
- Ready to eat at approximately 21 day
- Snip small leaves for fresh eating
- Snip continually for baby leave spinach
- Leafy greens like spinach are fast growing so keep soil moist
French Watering Cans are especially useful.
♦Please Note: add this information to your Gardening Journal.
5. COLD HARDINESS:
Spinach is cold hardy. Plant as soon as garden soil can be worked. Spinach loves cool, drizzly weather.
6. DAYS TO GERMINATE: approximately 7 days
7. THINNING:
Spinach seeds are easy to plant as they can be easily seen in the dirt, so thinning should not be necessary. But if you have some seedlings that are too close together, simply transplant or thin them to 2″ apart. For wide 3″ to 4″ bands, thin to 2″ in all directions.
8. VARIETIES:
The main two varieties are Smooth Leaf and Savory Leaf, which have deeply crumbled leaves. Smooth-leaf varieties are easier to clean, but some people really love the traditional, deeply savory leaves.
ALSO CONSIDER: HEALTHY GREENS ASSORTMENT
9. DAYS to MATURITY:
Dates vary but you can pick mature in approximately 20 to 45 days.
- You can harvest spinach in 20 to 45 days, depending on the type.
- Baby spinach is ready in 20 to 30 days.
- Main crop spinach usually takes about 35 days or more
10. HOW to HARVEST:
- Pick baby spinach leaves when they are large enough for salads or sandwiches.
- You can either pinch off single leaves or cut entire sections.
11. STORAGE IDEAS: for Spinach
- Wash and Store for fresh eating
- Store in spinner or crisper drawer
Ball Canning and Freezing Resource Book
12. RECIPE IDEAS for SPINACH:
Do Not Forget to:
- Simply Eat Fresh Spinach!
- Spinach makes wonderful fresh, healthy salads all by itself.
- Spinach is a beautiful garnish and works very well on vegetable trays!
13. PRINTABLE HANDOUT on GROWING SPINACH
HOW to GROW SPINACH | How to Grow Series
Learn How to Grow Spinach
Materials
- SPINACH SEEDS
Tools
- Trowel & Shovel
- Rake & Hoe
- Watering Can
- Gloves
Instructions
1. SOILS:
- Spinach need well-drained soil with a pH between 6.0 and 7.5 (adjust to higher pH with wood ash or garden limestone)
- Moist soils but not waterlogged
- Garden Bed, Containers or Pots all work well
- Just make sure to have at least 10 inches of soil in your containers
- Apply Organic All Purpose Fertilizer
Depending on your geographic location, soils vary tremendously and need different soil amendments.
It is easy to find out how to test your soil with this inexpensive soil tester from Amazon.
2. SUNLIGHT:
Spinach loves full sun but can tolerate a little bit of shade; 6 Hours of full sun should be enough for a healthy crop.
3. TEMPERATURE:
- Spinach should be grown in cool temperatures as it does not do well with summer heat
- Plant as early as possible and then again in the late summer or early fall for later harvest.
- Sow your fall planting approximately 30 days before scheduled frosts for your area.
4. PLANTING:
Spinach should to be planted as early in spring as soon as the soil can be worked.
Specifics on Planting Spinach:
- Plant in single rows
- Cover with 1/2" of dirt and tap firm
- Seeds should be planted 1.5″ to 2" apart in rows
- Rows should be 12" to 18″ apart
- 10 to 12 seeds per 1 foot
- For continuing harvest, plant in succession every 7 to 10 days
- Hand Weed or Mulch to suppress weeds
Spinach can also be sown in 3" to 4" wide bands.
- 1/2" deep
- 1" spacing in all directions
- 40 seeds per foot in a 4" wide band
- Ready to eat at approximately 21 day
- Snip small leaves for fresh eating
- Snip continually for baby leave spinach
Leafy greens like spinach are fast growing so keep soil moist.
♦Please Note: add this information to your Garden Journal
5. COLD HARDINESS:
Spinach is cold hardy. Plant as soon as garden soil can be worked. Spinach loves cool, drizzly weather.
6. DAYS to GERMINATE: approximately 7 days
Spinach seeds typically germinate in approximately 7 days
7. THINNING:
Spinach Seeds are easy to plant as they can be easily seen in the dirt, so thinning should not be necessary. But, if you have some seedlings that are too close together, simply transplant or thin to 2" part.
For wide 3" to 4" bands, thin to 2" in all directions.
8. VARIETIES:
Main two varieties are Smooth Leaf and Savory Leaf which have deeply crumbled leaves. Smooth leaf varieties are easier to clean but some people really love the traditional deeply savory leaves.
1. Butterfly Spinach
2. Bloomsdale Long Standing
3. Set of 4 Varieties of Spinach
9. DAYS to MATURITY: Baby Leaf Spinach & Main Crop Spinach
Dates vary but you can pick mature in approximately 20 to 45 days
♦Baby spinach should be ready in about 20 to 30 days.
♦Main crop spinach Different varieties will be ready to harvest in approximately 35+ days.
10. HOW to HARVEST:
- Begin picking your baby spinach leaves as soon it is a nice size for salads or sandwiches.
- Carefully pinch individual leaves or cut entire sections in a row
11. STORAGE IDEAS: for Spinach
- Wash and Store for fresh eating
- Store in spinner or crisper drawer
Ball Canning and Resource Book is helpful and handy.
12. RECIPE IDEAS for SPINACH:
39 Recipes for Fresh Spinach
Crustless Spinach Quiche
Apple Cranberry Spinach Salad
14. CONTAINER GARDENS & GREENHOUSES:
Spinach varieties work well for container gardening and in a greenhouse setting as long as they are planted while it is still cool in early spring.
I have planted containers of spinach in succession plantings. Succession planting is sowing seeds every 1 to 2 weeks to increase your harvest period.
COMPANION PLANTING for SPINACH
Spinach loves to planted by:
- Beans
- Broccoli
- Cauliflower
- Cabbage
- Celery
- Peas
- Peppers
- Onions
- Actually, spinach is easy going and loves Everything!
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