How to Grow Spinach

This page talks about how to grow spinach. For the purpose of this site we are using the 7-Green type.

The 7-Green is a medium-large upright plants that bears productive yields of mildly flavored, medium green smooth leaves. Moderately slow bolting. Suitable for spring, summer or Fall planting.

Days to Maturity: 36

CULTURE: Spinach grows in a wide range of soils if moist and fertile, but is sensitive to acidity. pH should be at least 6.0, preferably 6.5-7.5.

SOWING DATES: Spinach germinates best in cool soil. Begin sowing in early spring as soon as the ground is ready. Summer sowing in hot soil-over 85°F (30°C)-risks low or erratic germination! Sow late in July into September for the fall crop. Spinach can also be planted from September until freeze-up for an early harvest the following spring; floating row covers offer effective winter protection.

PLANTING And HARVEST: For bunching and full size: Sow about 9-10 seeds/ft., 1/2" deep, rows 12-18" apart. Harvest spinach full size but before bolting, cutting just below root attachment for "rooted spinach," or cut higher for "clipped spinach." For salad mix (small clipped leaves): sow in a 2-4" wide band, 3/4" apart, about 40 seeds/ft.

Clip small leaves in 3-5 weeks, depending on time of year and speed of growth. Triple-rinse leaves, sort out cut and broken leaves, and package. For a continuous supply, sow every 7 days.

STORAGE: Store at 32°F (0°C) and 95% humidity 10-14 days. AVG.

About 9-31-09 I started some spinach seeds in doors in my DOT pots. It was warm for a couple of days then clouds and rain moved in. The seedlings emerged but they do not look very good because of the lack of sunlight. In learning how to grow Spinach, I will make sure I have more light on the next group I start.

I have a table set up in the kitchen which is where we get the most heat and sunlight. But we have gone almost three weeks with very little sunlight so when they emerged, they grew long and thin. This is a sign that the plants did not get enough sunlight.

I am going to try to grow a couple of plants inside. Once the leaves start growing, I can pick these as I need them and just let the plant keep growing.

This is the general idea in learning how to grow Spinach. And as I have discovered lately, not all my good ideas end up being so good.

Follow along with us as we have fun growing spinach. Check back each week for updates.

UPDATE: 12-20-09

Well it has not been much fun with the 7-Green Spinach, but we were never promised a rose garden.

We have had a cool and cloudy Fall so my plants have not done as well as I had hoped. Then my son accidentally erased my pictures I did take so we have had to start over.

Trying to grow them in the house has not worked out as I had hoped. There just is not enough light. My "how to grow spinach" page is more of a "how not to grow spinach."

3-06-2010

I bought a light that is supposed to be good for growing and have discovered there is a disadvantage to using it. I can only grow one row of about 8 plants.

So it would seem my best bet is to have a use my greenhouses but I would have to have heat in them. So it boils down to how much am I willing to spend to get a head start or do just plant according to the seasons.

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