When to Plant Spinach Seeds
Spinach is a cold-hardy, tender-leafed crop. Direct sow spinach seeds in early spring, as soon as the soil can be properly worked. For a fall harvest, plant again in late summer, ensuring that soil temperatures are cool enough.
Where to Plant Spinach Seeds
Plant your spinach seeds in a sunny location in average, well-draining soil.
How to Plant Spinach Seeds
Sow about 12 seeds per foot in a row, or sprinkle them over a wide row or bed. Sow seeds a half-inch deep, compress gently into soil, and water lightly. Seedlings emerge in about 7 to 14 days depending on conditions. Soil should stay below 70º F for good germination. When seedlings are about one to two inches tall, thin them to be about four to six inches apart. If you’re growing spinach for young leaves or baby spinach, thinning is not necessary.
How to Care for Spinach
Keep plants well-watered during dry periods to help promote growth. Plants need about one inch of rain per week during the growing season. If watering with overhead sprinklers, water early in the day so the foliage has time to dry off before evening, to minimize disease problems.
How to Harvest Spinach
Harvest once the outer leaves reach three inches in length or your desired size. You can harvest the whole plant all at once and cut at the base, or leaves can be picked off one layer at a time. Don’t wait too long to harvest or wait for larger leaves, as the leaves can quickly become bitter after maturity.
