How To Grow Spinach

How to grow spinach? Spinach is one of my favorite cool-weather vegetables. It grows easy, you can harvest it at any stage, plant it twice per year, and is extremely nutritious.

I use spinach in my morning smoothies and put Italian dressing on it for salads. In North America, baby spinach is what you will find at most grocery stores and is great in salads or cooked. So how do you get the best spinach harvest?

In this article, we will cover everything from the history of spinach, what spinach is, and teach you how to grow the best spinach possible. Let’s get into it.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Spinach Plant Description

Common Name: Spinach

Scientific Name: Spinacia Oleracea

Growing Season: Cool season – Spring/Fall

Transplant or Direct Sow: Direct sow

Sunlight: Full Sun – 4-6 hours per day

Hardiness Zones: Zones 5,6,7,8,9,10

Germination Time: 5-9 days

Water: 3 times per week – 1-1/2 inches of water per week

Temperature: 50-60°F (10-15°C) – Can tolerate as low as 15-20°F (-6 to -9°C)

Humidity: 50 – 70%

Soil: Loose soil with pH 6.0-6.5

Average Days To Harvest: 35-45 days – 2 weeks for baby spinach leaves

Fertilizer If Needed: Compost, high nitrogen fertilizer, bone meal

Best Spinach Companion Plants: Radishes, kale, cauliflower, strawberries, beans , peas, margolds, asparagus, kohlrabi, cabbage, brocolli, kale, lettuce, leeks, eggplant, collard and brussel sprouts

Worst Spinach Companion Plants: Potatoes, corn, fennel, sunflowers, pumpkins, melons

Common Pests: Cutworms and wireworms

Diseases: Downy mildew, damping-off, root rot, and leaf spot

What Is Spinach?

Spinach is a leafy green that belongs to the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae) and has the botanical name Spinacia Oleracea. It is also related to quinoa and beets.

This cool seasoned annual vegetable is grown in the spring/fall. Spinach leaves grow off the main stem, with larger triangular leaves at the bottom and smaller oval leaves near the top as the plant grows.

Furthermore, spinach plants grow up to 1 ft tall and you can start harvesting the outermost leaves 2 weeks after germination.

Spinach is a good source of nutrients and minerals including iron, vitamins A, C, K, folate, calcium, magnesium, and potassium. Half a cup counts for 1 of the 5 servings of your daily recommended fruits and vegetables.

History of Spinach

Spinach originated in Persia centuries ago and was introduced to China and India as the Persian green.

In the 12th century, spinach became popular in the Arab Mediterranean and Spain. It was considered to have many medical benefits and was the leafy green of choice.

In the 13th century, it reached Europe and became increasingly popular for how cold-hardy spinach was.

In the 14th century, Spain brought spinach to England and France which became popular for how early it grew and could be harvested as a fresh green before main staples such as potatoes.

Eventually, spinach was brought to the rest of Europe and the United States in the early 1800s

During World War I, spinach was used to fortify the wine and given to injured French soldiers with the intent to stop the bleeding.

One of the best features of spinach is it’s a great substitute for an animal or dairy diet. The vegetable is packed full of nutrients and in many studies, it is the number one choice for vegetarians.

Spinach was the first frozen vegetable to ever be sold for commercial use and over 26 million tonnes are produced per year. Now let’s get into how to grow spinach!

How To Grow Spinach – 5 Step Method

1. Where To Grow Spinach

In cooler northern climates, you can grow your spinach in the spring and fall. Avoid the hot summer months due to your plant bolting (producing seeds instead of spinach).

In warmer southern climates, grow your spinach in the winter months when the temperatures are cooler.

Grow your spinach in a location that gets 6-8 hours of direct sunlight. Make sure the soil is well-draining with plenty of organic matter. The more sunlight the sweeter the spinach leaves will taste.

The ideal place to grow your spinach is where the soil temperature will remain between 40-70°F (4.4–21°C) for at least 6 weeks. Above 70°F (21°C) your plant will bolt and below 40°F (4.4°C) your plant won’t germinate properly.

If you do plan to grow spinach into the hot summer months, place a taller crop such as beans in front of your spinach plants to shade out the sun. This will help keep your plants cooler and prolong the growing season.

Furthermore, spinach prefers a soil pH of 6.0 to 6.8. If you want to test your soil we recommend the Luster Leaf Rapitest Kit.

2. How To Grow Spinach

Spinach seeds can be started indoors as a microgreen but aren’t intended for transplanting. They are a deep-rooted crop so transplanting instead of direct sowing can cause transplant shock.

Plant 2 weeks before the last predicted frost date (spring) and 6 weeks before the first predicted frost date (fall).

Direct sow your seeds as soon as the soil is workable. From seed to harvest they take 6 weeks of cool weather. Furthermore, spinach is a heavy nitrogen feeder so add organic compost or high nitrogen fertilizer 2 weeks before planting.

For better germination, refrigerate seeds 1 week before sowing them. Spinach seed will germinate in 5 to 9 days at soil temperatures of 70°F (21°C) and take up to 20 days with cooler soil temperatures of 50°F (10°C).

After germination, when your plants are 3 inches in height, thin out the seedlings. Cut the weakest seedling off at the soil level with a sharp knife or scissors.

Thin your seedlings out so each plant is 2-6 inches apart. The more space your seedlings have the larger your spinach leaves will grow.

If you cover your spinach plants with a cold frame or polytunnel, you are able to grow spinach all year. In the colder months the growth will slow down but the plant will survive.

3. How To Plant Spinach

The spinach seeds won’t germinate properly until the soil temperature reaches above 40°F (4.4°C) but you can speed up the soil warming up by covering it with a garbage bag or by adding a cold frame.

Soak your spinach seeds overnight or up to 24 hours in filtered water. This hydrates the seed and the seed will sprout faster. Make sure the water has no chlorine in it.

Remember spinach plants are very cold-hardy and thrive in cooler temperatures after germination.

How To Plant Your Spinach With Two Methods:

Row Spacing Method – Plant your spinach seeds 1/2 inch deep every 1-2 inches apart and lightly cover them with soil. Make sure each additional row is 1 to 1.5 ft (12 to 18 inches) apart.

Square Foot Gardening Method – In a square foot gardening method, plant 9 spinach seeds in one sq ft 1/2 inch deep and lightly cover them with soil.

For succession planting, sow your seeds every 1-2 weeks for a continuous harvest throughout the growing season. You will be able to harvest spinach daily for salads, smoothies, and much more.

Furthermore, spinach enjoys constant moisture and consistent temperatures in the soil. By adding a thick layer of mulch you will achieve both.

Make sure you plant before the soil temperature exceeds 70°F or your spinach plants will bolt and plant taller crops such as pole beans in front for shade.

4. How To Harvest Spinach

Spinach leaves can be harvested as soon as they are big enough to eat. When the plant has 5 to 9 leaves on it, harvest the outer leaves first and let the inner leaves continue to grow. This is called the cut and come again method.

Plants will need 35-45 days to reach full maturity but immature leaves can be harvested at any time. If you wish to harvest the whole spinach plant, then cut the whole plant to the soil level.

Harvest spinach by using a sharp knife, pruners, or even your hands in a pinching motion. Cut the largest outer spinach leaves that are 3-8 inches long. Always harvest the outer leaves and work inward.

As the spinach leaves grow and become larger, they will taste bitter. It’s better to harvest sooner rather than later.

5. How To Store Spinach

To store spinach you want to avoid moisture and ethylene-producing fruits which will make your spinach decay faster.

Use an airtight container lined with a paper towel to store your spinach. The paper towel absorbs excess moisture and airtight container stops moisture from entering.

If you don’t use an air-tight container then don’t store your spinach near bananas, apples, avocados, or any other ethylene-producing fruits. Here is a full list of anything that produces ethylene.

The best place to store your spinach is in an airtight container or plastic bag in the vegetable drawer at the bottom of most refrigerators. The vegetable drawer prolongs the freshness of the spinach due to the controlled humidity level compared to the rest of the fridge.

The Best Options To Store Your Spinach:

1. Refrigerator your spinach in a vegetable drawer. Lasts 10 – 14 days

2. Cook your spinach and store it in the fridge for quick recipes. Lasts 3 – 6 days

3. Freeze your spinach in a container or plastic bag. Great for smoothies but not so much for recipes. Lasts 10-12 months

4. Vacuum sealing spinach. If you are looking to store your spinach for over 12 months then vacuum seal and freeze. Lasts 1-2 years.

5. Dehydrating your spinach. Can be stored in a smaller space since it will be concentrated. Lasts 5 – 12 months

What Are The Best Spinach Varieties?

Most spinach varieties require 35-45 days from seed planting until full maturity. The immature leaves can be harvested as early as two weeks after seed germination.

There are three different types of spinach available: savoy, flat-leaf, and semi-savoy.

I won’t be covering the three in this article but will be getting into what is cold hardy and heat tolerant spinach varieties. Cold hardy grows well in spring/fall when the weather is cooler and heat tolerant can withstand the summer heat. Everything recommended below are the best varieties I have tried. Links included

Best Cold Hardy Spinach Varieties

• Bloomsdale – Large dark leaves – Thrives in cold weather – Virus resistant
• Winter Giant – Large flavorful leaves – Cold hardy – High yield – Great in salads or cooked
• Monstrueux de Viroflay – Heirloom dating back to 1866 – Leaves stay tender and delicious no matter how big the plant grows – Easy to grow
• Matador Viking – Large smooth green leaves – Grows well in containers or smaller spaces – Cold hardy and excellent flavor

Heat Tolerant Spinach Varieties

• New Zealand – Medium triangular leaves – Can grow through the summer – More you cut the more it grows all year
• Red Malabar – Thrives in most gardens – Great in salads and stir-fries – Leaves are great tasting
• Noble Giant – Heavy dark green leaves – Great in sautee and smoothies – Delicious flavor
• America – Very hardy and cold tolerant – Excellent flavor – Great for canning or freezing

Spinach Frequently Asked Questions

How To Freeze Spinach

To freeze spinach, you want to Blanche your spinach leaves in boiling water for 30 seconds. This will stop the enzymes in the raw spinach from continuing to break down the leaves while frozen.

After blanching, place your spinach in a ziplock bag or a container and place it into a freezer. t option. Your frozen spinach will last 12-14 months in the freezer under 0° F (-18° C) conditions.

Furthermore, frozen spinach breaks down the cellular walls, so it will become watery when you thaw it. I’d recommend using the frozen spinach for soups, sautee, smoothies, or anywhere the spinach is used for nutrition rather than texture.

What Can You Use Frozen Spinach For?

• smoothies
• soups
• stews
• sautee
• crock pots
• stir fry
• dips
• pasta dishes

How Far Apart To Plant Spinach

Plant your spinach seeds 2 inches apart in row planting and 9 spinach seeds per sq ft

How Deep To Plant Spinach Seeds

Spinach seeds should be planted double the width of the seed or 1/2 inch deep then lightly covered with soil

4 Way To Stop Spinach From Bolting

To stop spinach from bolting, keep the soil consistently moist and harvest the plant before the soil temperatures reach 70°F (21°C)

1. Use portable grow bags which you can move from the sun into shade
2. Grow in a location with partial shade in the afternoon
3. Cool the soil temperature with a thick layer of mulch
4. Plant tall growing crops in front of your spinach plants for shade

How To Grow Spinach In a Container

Spinach is a cool-weather vegetable that desires 6-8 hours of direct sunlight. The best part of growing spinach in a container is how mobile growing becomes.

In the spring, soil in containers will warm up quickly so you can plant earlier and you can extend your growing season by moving your spinach into shade during the hot summer months. How to plant spinach in a container?

Sow your container spinach seeds 1/2″ inch deep and lightly cover with soil. Plant each seed 2-3 inches apart and germination will take 5-14 days after planting.

For containers, you have to worry about excess moisture after watering. Add 70% potting mix, 20% compost, and 10% perlite. This will be the perfect balance between aeration, drainage, and nutrients.

Water more frequently in spinach containers with 1-2 inches per week since the above-ground containers are affected by the sun and weather.

Best Spinach Growing Container Material

• Ceramic
• Clay
• Plastic
• Vinyl
• Wood

Growing Much Spinach Per Person

Grow 25 spinach plants per person in a square foot gardening method. You can plant 9 spinach plants per sq ft which is growing in 2.77 sq ft.

For the row method, grow 30 spinach plants per person 1.5 ft apart which is growing in a row equal to 45 ft in length.

How Long Does Spinach Take To Grow?

Spinach takes between 30 – 50 days to grow from seed to harvest. Most varieties require 35-45 days of cool weather to reach full maturity but you can harvest the outer spinach leaves as early as two weeks after planting.

How To Water Spinach Plants

The plants need around 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water per week. It’s better to water spinach several times a week to keep the moisture consistent instead of providing the plants with a deep watering once a week.

Fertilizing Spinach Plants

To fertilize your spinach plants add 1-2 inches of organic compost or the manufacturer’s recommended amount of high nitrogen fertilizer 2 weeks before planting and after you harvest the full spinach plant.

How Do You Stop Spinach Diseases?

1. Place a 1-2 inch layer of thick mulch on top of your soil after the seedlings have popped through the soil
2. Water as close to the soil to avoid water splashing onto your plant which brings up unwanted pathogens
3. Create a healthy soil mix for your plant to grow strong with. A healthy soil mix will help any plant fight off diseases
4. Proper air circulation. You do this with pruning and proper plant spacing. Air circulation prevents moisture which causes diseases

Most Common Spinach Diseases

1. Downey mildew
2. Anthracnose
3. Damping off
4. Cladosporium leaf spot
5. Stemphylium leaf spot

When you see any sign of disease on your spinach plant, cut it off right away to avoid spreading.

Spinach Pests

Spinach doesn’t attract a number of pests. Most spinach pests will be obvious and can be easily taken care of. When you are harvesting your spinach leaves, check under a few leaves which will show pests in the soil or on your plant.

Most Common Spinach Pests

1. Cutworms and wireworms
2. Fea beetles
3. Slugs and snails
4. Aphids
5. Leaf miners

Final Thoughts

Whether it’s your first time planting spinach or you are trying a new variety, spinach is amazing to grow. It’s not only nutritious but very resistant to colds and diseases. Furthermore, enjoy the gardening journey and comment with any questions for us!

If you enjoyed this in-depth article then check out how we grow potatoes or what I am growing this year. Have fun gardening!