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Grow spinach from seed


Growing Spinach From Seed - The Complete How To Planting Guide

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Growing spinach from seed can be challenging for beginners, but it’s actually super easy! The key is knowing how and when to do it. So, in this post I will show you everything you need to know about how to grow spinach seeds, step by step.

Spinach is a fast, low maintenance vegetable that is actually very easy to grow from seed. But timing is everything!

The biggest mistake newbies make is sowing the seeds too late, only to watch the plants bolt right away. Another common mistake is using the wrong method for starting spinach seeds.

Don’t worry, I will break it all down, and make it simple for you! In this detailed guide, I’m going to cover everything from the best planting method, to when to start, and give you detailed sowing instructions.

 

I’ll also talk about germination time, seedling identification and care, fixing common problems, answer your FAQs, and much more! In the end, you’ll know everything about successfully growing spinach from seed.

Table of Contents

Growing Spinach From Seed

If you have ever tried starting spinach from seed, then you probably know first hand just how tricky it can be.

But don’t worry, once you learn the secrets for success, you’ll have a garden full of these yummy greens!

The best part is that these instructions work no matter what type of spinach seeds you want to grow. Woohoo!

Types Of Spinach Seeds To Grow

You may be surprised to learn that there are several varieties of spinach seeds that you could grow.

Some have slightly different flavors and textures, while others are slow bolting, or have larger leaves.

A few of my personal favorite varieties are Bloomsdale (bolt-resistant), Monstrueux Viroflay (large leaves), Lavewa (heat tolerant), Butterflay (large leaves), and Matador (slow to bolt).

Spinach seeds in my hand

Recommended Method For Sowing Spinach Seeds

Spinach doesn’t like to be transplanted, and doing so can trigger it to bolt prematurely. So, it’s best to direct sow the seeds, rather than starting them indoors or winter sowing them.

In fact, I don’t even recommend trying to start them indoors – it’s a recipe for failure.

It’s actually really nice, because that means you don’t have to worry about buying any equipment or caring for the seedlings!

Related Post: 3 Seed Starting Methods That Every Gardener Should Try

Planting Spinach Seeds

It’s very important to plant spinach seeds using the best method, and at the right time. In this section, I’ll talk about how to get it right every time.

When To Plant Spinach Seeds

Like I mentioned above, growing spinach from seed is all about timing. The key to success is planting it during the cooler months of the year.

If you plant them too late, the seeds may not germinate because it’s too warm. And even if they do end up germinating, the heat will trigger the plants to bolt right away.

Since it prefers the cold, plant spinach seeds directly into the garden 4-6 weeks before your average last frost date, or as soon as your soil is workable in early spring.

You could also plant the seeds in late summer for a fall harvest, since it’s such a fast crop. It is cold hardy, so it won’t be killed off by spring or fall frosts.

If you live in a warmer climate with mild winters, sow the seeds once the weather cools down in the fall, and enjoy it through the winter.

You can stagger your harvests by sowing the seeds intermittently throughout the spring and/or fall, so the plants mature at different times.

Preparing Spinach Seeds For Planting

There’s nothing fancy you need to do before planting spinach seeds, no soaking nicking, or cold stratification is necessary.

If you want to try it, soaking spinach seeds before planting can help to speed up germination time.

But, since you’ll be sowing them directly into your garden, pre-soaking is not necessary.

Related Post: How To Grow Seeds: The Ultimate Seed Starting Guide

Spinach Germination Time

When planted in the right soil, spinach seeds germinate very quickly. It only takes about 5-10 days for the seedlings to start emerging.

If the soil it too warm or too wet, it will inhibit germination. So, if your spinach seeds aren’t growing, then it could be too warm or soggy for them.

What Do Spinach Seedlings Look Like?

When they first pop out of the soil, baby spinach seedlings will have two long, narrow leaves. These are called the “seed leaves”. All of the ones that form after that are called “true leaves”.

The true leaves look like tiny spinach leaves, and it only takes a couple of days for those to start forming after the seed leaves unfurl.

Spinach seeds germinating

How To Care For Spinach Seedlings

Since it’s best to direct sow them, you don’t need to worry too much about caring for the seedlings. Woohoo!

But below are a few tips to get them off on the right foot, you can read my complete care guide here.

Water

One of the reasons it’s so low maintenance is that, since it’s usually cool and wet in the spring, I rarely need to worry about watering my spinach plants.

Spinach likes a lot of water, but it doesn’t like wet or saturated soil. Make sure to sow the seeds in a spot in your garden that has fast draining soil, and never allow it to dry out completely.

Fertilizer

I like to top-dress my soil with a granular fertilizer before I plant the seeds to give them the extra nutrients they need.

As soon as spinach seedlings begin growing their first true leaves, you can start using liquid fertilizer on them. You can buy compost tea concentrate, or get tea bags and brew your own from scratch.

Spinach seedlings also love being fed with fish emulsion or liquid kelp, which are two of my favorites to use in my garden.

Baby spinach seedling

Thinning Spinach Seedlings

If you planted more than one seed per hole, or sowed them too close together, then you’ll need to thin the seedlings.

Once they get to be about 2″ tall with a few true leaves, thin them out so they are about 4-6″ apart. Simply choose the healthiest one to keep, and then remove the rest.

Don’t pull them out though, or you could damage the shallow roots of the one you want to keep. Instead, cut them off at the base using a sharp pair of micro-tip snips or bonsai shears.

First true leaves on spinach plant seedling

How Long From Seed To Harvest

As I’ve already mentioned a few times, spinach if very fast. So it will be one of the first things you harvest from your garden in the spring.

It takes about 45 days to grow spinach from seed to harvest. Some of the leaves may be large enough to pick before then, which is great.

But make sure you don’t remove all of the leaves when you harvest. They need to have some of them in order to stay alive and keep producing.

Related Post: Freezing Spinach With Or Without Blanching

Mature spinach plants in the garden

Troubleshooting Common Problems

There’s nothing worse than taking the time to plant all those seeds, only to have problems that you don’t know how to fix.

So, below I will list a couple of the most common problems you may have when growing spinach seeds, and how to fix them…

Spinach Seeds Not Germinating

If your seeds never germinated, then it was either too wet, too warm, or the seeds were old, and no longer viable.

Always plant fresh spinach seeds in well draining, cool soil for best results.

Seedlings Aren’t Growing

If your seedlings aren’t growing any larger, it could be because it’s too shady, the soil is either too wet or dry, or the weather is too hot for them.

Keep the soil evenly moist, and try feeding them to see if that helps to trigger new growth. Otherwise, next time adjust your placement and/or planting schedule.

Spinach Seedlings Bolting

There are two things that trigger spinach seedlings to bolt right away. They were either transplanted, or the temperature is too hot.

To avoid this next time, never transplant the seedlings, and always either plant the seeds in very early spring, or in the fall for a winter crop.

FAQS About Growing Spinach Seeds

In this section, I will answer some of the most frequently asked questions about growing spinach from seed. If you have a question that you can’t find the answer to, ask it in the comments below.

How many spinach seeds per hole?

How many spinach seeds you plant per hole depends on their age. If they’re brand new, then you only need to plant one per hole. Otherwise, if they are old or have a low viability rate, then sow 2-3 seeds per hole.

How deep do you plant spinach seeds?

The general rule of thumb is to plant a seed twice as deep as it is wide. So, spinach seeds should be planted about 1/2″ deep.

What is the best temperature to grow spinach seeds?

The best temperature to grow spinach seeds is between 50-70°F. They germinate more successfully when the soil is cool.

How long does it take to grow spinach from seeds?

On average, it takes about 45 days to grow spinach seeds from planting to harvest time. Some varieties are faster than others, so check the packet for exact timing.

Do spinach seeds need light to germinate?

No, spinach seeds do not need light to germinate.

Should spinach seeds be soaked before planting?

Soaking spinach seeds before planting is optional. It can help to speed up germination, but it’s not necessary.

Why are my spinach seedlings dying?

The most common reasons why spinach seedlings die is improper watering (either too much or not enough), too much sun and heat, transplanting, or fertilizer burn.

They do best in cold weather and will start to die as soon as it gets hot, so plant them as early as possible.

They prefer the shade rather than full sun, and like evenly moist soil – never soggy or completely dried out.

Also, sow the seeds directly into the ground, because the seedlings do not transplant well.

How do you grow spinach seeds indoors?

I do not recommend growing spinach seeds indoors. Transplanting the seedlings will trigger them to bolt. Instead, you should direct sow them right into your garden.

Growing spinach from seed can be tricky if you’ve never tried it before. Just remember, timing is everything. The secret to success is planting spinach seeds as soon as you possibly can, before the weather starts to warm up in the spring.


If you want to learn more about growing your garden from seeds using any method you want, check out my online Seed Starting Course! It’s a comprehensive online course that you can take at your own pace (and from anywhere in the world!), with lifetime access, and step-by-step guidance! Sign up and get started today!

Or do you just need a refresher or quick-start guide to get going? Then my Starting Seeds Indoors eBook is just what you need!

More Posts About Growing Seeds

Share you tips for growing spinach from seed in the comments section below!

Steps For Planting Spinach Seeds

It’s easy to plant spinach seeds indoors or outside. Simply follow these step-by-step instructions.

Materials

Tools

Instructions

    1. Prepare the soil - Loosen up the soil, and remove any weeds, or large rocks and sticks. Amend poor soil with compost or worm castings, and then mix an organic granular fertilizer into it before sowing the seeds.
    2. Figure out the spacing - You can either space the seeds 2" apart, and then thin them later. Or space them 4-6" apart if you don't want to thin the seedlings.
    3. Plant the seeds - Spinach seeds should be planted 1/2" deep. If you're using fresh seeds, then you only need to plant one per hole. Otherwise, if they are old, then plant 2-3 per hole. You can either lay the seeds on top of the soil, and gently push them down, or make holes first and drop them in.
    4. Cover the seeds - Once you're done sowing the seeds, cover them with soil, and gently press it down. Don't pack it tight, but just enough so that the soil will come in contact with the seeds.
    5. Water - Use a low setting on your garden hose so you don't displace the seeds, then water the bed until the soil is evenly moist. Don't overdo it though, the soil should not be completely saturated or soggy.

Can I Grow Spinach? - Burpee

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Posted in: Spinach

Can I Grow Spinach?

Spinach is one of the few vegetables with beets and chard that prefers a neutral to alkaline soil (pH 7. 0 or above). If your garden soil is sandy and acid, be sure to get a lime recommendation based on a soil test before planting spinach. Spinach is also a heavy feeder. Start by working 2-4 pounds of a complete fertilizer per 100 square feet into the soil at planting time and then side-dress every two weeks or as necessary to keep the plants growing vigorously. Be sure to keep fertilizer 4-6 inches from the base of the plants so as not to burn the roots and water thoroughly immediately after fertilizing.

There is no such thing as putting too much compost in garden soil. Mix at least 2-4 inches of compost in the row before planting. Commercial compost is sometimes little more than slightly decayed wood chips. Check to see that the raw material used to make the compost is mostly unrecognizable before buying it or better yet, make your own.

Spinach thrives in cool weather and short days so it's best to grow it in the fall for most gardeners. Northern gardeners can plant an early spring crop followed by another in midsummer to mature before the first hard freeze. In southern gardens spinach easily tolerates a light frost, especially if it is acclimated. In case of a sudden or hard freeze (below 28 degrees), old blankets or polypropylene frost blankets can save the day and prolong the harvest.

Plant spinach seeds an inch apart in rows 14-18 inches apart and cover the seeds with a 1/2 inch of soil. Keep the soil moist and after the seeds germinate thin them to stand 3-5 inches apart. Most gardeners like to do this in several passes to determine the strongest plants to save. Thinning is very important and you must be ruthless in the final analysis or you will have a congested row of plants that don't size up.

Spinach Plant History

Spinach is thought to be of Persian origin (modern day Iran). It was introduced into Europe about 1000 AD It wasn't until after the eighteenth century that it began to be cultivated in the Netherlands, France and England with the Spanish eventually bringing it to the Americas.

Should I Plant Spinach Seeds Or Plants?

Most gardeners start with seeds but transplants are often available at local nurseries. Germinating the seeds in the heat of late summer/fall can be a real challenge. The best soil temperatures for rapid germination (6-7 days) are between 68 and 86 degrees F. Keeping the soil constantly moist and covering the row with fiber row cover will help to cool the soil and get the seeds up. Be sure to remove the row cover as soon as the seedlings are visible. If its still too hot use hoops made from 1/2 inch polyethylene irrigation tubing to lift the row cover off of the small seedlings. A final spacing of 3-5 inches is best for most varieties. So either transplant them directly to this spacing or thin them.

How Do I Cultivate Spinach Plants?

Spinach is grown commercially on deep, loam soils. If your garden soil is acid (pH below 7), then be sure to lime the soil based on a soil test to raise the pH to 7.0. Many gardeners opt for raised beds, 6-8 inches above the existing soil, especially if they have a heavy clay soil to deal with. Working 2-4 inches of compost into the soil prior to planting is always a good idea and while you're at it incorporate 2 pounds of a complete fertilizer per 100 square feet.

Make sure the plants are adequately spaced or you will end up with lots of very small leaves and don't be afraid to side-dress the row with nitrogen to encourage a continual production of leaves. Ammonium sulfate at 2 tablespoons per foot of row should keep the spinach producing all season long if applied every two weeks or as needed. Similarly spinach needs lots of water but it also needs good drainage. Finally just harvest a few leaves at a time from each plant. This will allow the plants to continue producing all season.

Spinach Plant Growing Tips

The key to success with spinach begins with getting the plants off to a good start. Plant the right varieties in a rich, organic soil. Supply lots of moisture and cool the soil (especially with late summer plantings) and don't be shy about fertilizing. Side-dressing with a nitrogen fertilizer will work and so will foliar applications of fertilizer like Dyna-Gro. Check out the Organica Plant Growth Activator and Marine-Gro products, too. Vigorous spinach is tasty spinach.

Spinach Plant Insects & Diseases

Aphids or plant lice are fond of spinach. Usually a high-pressure water spray will knock them off or try one of the organic sprays like Burpee's K+Neem. Check with your local Cooperative Extension Agent for other recommended pesticides.
Caterpillars love spinach, too. Use one of the biological worm sprays (Bacillus thuringiensis) to take out these pests without hazard to people, pets and beneficial insects.

Diseases are also a threat to spinach. White rust, blue mold (downy mildew) and the soil-borne disease fusarium wilt are the primary pests in this category. White rust is a common problem during cool, humid conditions. If only a few leaves are infected just remove them. Where this disease is a common problem, as it is in many areas of the South, check with the Extension Service for recommended fungicides.
Blue mold can also be treated by removing infected leaves (look for yellow spots on top of the leaf and a grayish-blue mold on the bottom of the leaf) or use a recommended fungicide.

Rotating spinach with unrelated crops for at least three years is the best control for fusarium wilt.

Spinach Plant Recipes & Storage

Fresh spinach is wonderful with blue cheese or ranch dressing, maybe a little bacon, hard-cooked egg, etc, etc. It's also great sautŽed with a little bacon grease, green onion and a vinegar hot pepper sauce. Spinach makes a great quiche and also works well in an omelet.

See all our Spinach

May 18, 2021

How to plant and grow spinach on a windowsill

In winter and early spring, you especially want to please yourself with fresh herbs - lettuce, dill, spinach. Healthy crops contain vitamins, minerals, acids and oils, they improve the taste of any dish. You can plant delicious plants not only in the garden, but also at home. How to grow spinach at home?


Before planting spinach at home in a pot, you need to prepare a planting container and soil.

The culture pot will need to be low, but wide, since the root system of the plant is located near the surface. There must be drainage holes at the bottom of the container to drain excess moisture.

Spinach gives good, juicy greens only in fertile, loose, neutral soil. Heavy clays or poor sands are not suitable for him. You can make the soil mixture yourself by mixing garden soil with humus and a small amount of river sand, or use ready-made soil for vegetable seedlings.

Any soil requires preliminary disinfection in order to prevent the death of seedlings due to fungal diseases or pest larvae. The earth is calcined in the oven or frozen, abundantly watered with a fungicide solution.

Not every variety is suitable for growing spinach at home. It is better to give preference to early maturing varieties that are resistant to flowering - Matador, Giant, Krepysh, etc.

Selected seeds should first be disinfected in a fungicide solution to get rid of fungal spores located on the seed coat. A weak solution of potassium permanganate or any available fungicide will do.

After disinfection, the seed should be soaked. When sown with dry seeds, the germination of spinach is low due to the dense shell. Soak them in a solution of growth stimulants or fertilizer according to the instructions. Spinach sprouts fastest after soaking the seeds on a damp cloth or napkin for 1-2 days.

It is inconvenient to sow raw seeds, therefore, after soaking, they are slightly dried on a napkin.

Spinach sowing


Sowing spinach will not make it difficult even for beginner gardeners. After preparing the seeds and planting containers, you can start sowing the seeds.

How to plant spinach at home:

  1. Fertile soil is poured into the pot 2-3 cm below the edge.
  2. Moisten the substrate with warm water.
  3. Spread the spinach seeds 2 cm apart.
  4. Sprinkle the spinach with a 0.5-1 cm layer of soil.
  5. Lightly moisten the soil surface with a spray bottle. It is impossible to water the seeds from the watering can: they will be washed away with water.
  6. The container with crops is removed in a plastic bag or under glass to maintain high humidity.

At a temperature of about +20 degrees, seedlings will appear in 3-5 days. The film is removed gradually so that the sprouts do not wither from a sharp change in air humidity.

After the appearance of the first true leaf, the spinach should be carefully picked into separate cups or spacious boxes according to the 5x7 cm pattern. This will give the plants enough space to grow full-fledged greenery. In thickened plantings, spinach greens will shrink and stretch.

Spinach Care

The plant is undemanding to care: with proper sowing of spinach on the windowsill, it will quickly gain green mass. However, to obtain juicy, abundant greenery, it must be provided with appropriate care.

It is best to grow spinach on a windowsill with a window to the west or east, and if there is additional light, also to the north. The peculiarity of the culture is that in direct, abundant sunlight, the leaves acquire a characteristic bitterness. The plant will need diffused light.

In order for the plants to remain compact, not stretched, the temperature should be maintained within + 15 ... + 18 degrees. At lower temperatures, spinach develops slowly. An ideal place for growing will be a warmed loggia, balcony.

Spinach needs frequent, abundant watering, it does not tolerate drying out of the soil. The dryness of the earthy coma leads to the appearance of flower arrows. Blooming plants will not give a full-fledged harvest: they will spend all their strength on flowering and seed setting.

Since the culture is fast-growing, spinach does not require additional feeding. There will be enough nutrients in the soil.

Picking spinach on the windowsill begins a month after germination. It is convenient to cut the leaves with scissors, leaving only young foliage on the plant. Do not pull on the leaves: they will lose their appearance. In addition, the root system of the bush may suffer during sharp jerks.

To keep the greens always fresh, you can sow spinach seeds every 2 weeks.

In winter, in apartments, plants suffer from excessively dry air, especially in combination with high air temperatures. Leaf plates may dry out along the edge. To maintain the presentation of the leaves, they must be sprayed daily.


You can grow spinach all year round: in summer - in open ground, and in winter - at home. So you can always add healthy greens to fresh salads, soups, side dishes and meat. The leaves are used in cooking to color baked goods a pleasant green color.

growing from seeds in open ground and at home, harm and benefits, photo

Author: Elena N. https://floristics.info/ru/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=19 Category: Garden plants Reissued: Last edited:

Contents

  • Growing spinach on the windowsill
    • How to grow spinach at home
  • Raising spinach
    • Spinach watering
    • Spinach nutrition
    • What to plant after spinach
  • Spinach pests and diseases
    • Spinach diseases

      In the middle of the 7th century, along the Great Silk Road, spinach came to China, where it was called the “Persian vegetable”. In Christian Europe - first in Sicily and Spain - spinach became known around the 13th century, but then a form of the plant was cultivated that is now forgotten. In Italy of the 15th century, green spinach was eaten during Lent, and in France, the Italian Catherine de Medici introduced the fashion to serve spinach at the table. Since the middle of the 16th century, spinach of the modern type has already been grown in Europe: broad-leaved, without bitterness and with round seeds.

      In the first third of the 20th century, spinach boomed in popularity in the United States and Western countries because it was mistakenly believed to contain incredible amounts of iron. Remember cartoons about the sailor Popeye? However, later it turned out that there is 10 times less iron in spinach: the researcher simply forgot to put a comma in the number ... The excitement around spinach gradually subsided, but nevertheless, its producers erected a monument to the sailor Popeye in Texas in gratitude for popularizing the vegetable.

      In Russia, spinach began to be eaten in the middle of the 18th century, but until the end of the next century it remained a little-known "master's" vegetable, which was served at the table with croutons and an egg, and even then spinach in Russia failed to gain wide popularity.

      Currently, this crop is most in demand in China and the United States, and in America, three-quarters of the spinach crop is sold fresh. Spinach consumption in the United States has almost returned to the levels of the middle of the 20th century. Today, young spinach, the so-called baby spinach, with tender leaves up to 5 cm long, is gaining ground on the market.

      Planting and caring for spinach soil - in the second half of May. Sowing seeds of early varieties directly into the ground - at the end of April, after which seeds can be sown by the conveyor method every two weeks: from sowing to harvesting - 5 weeks. Late varieties can be sown until mid-August to harvest in 6-7 weeks. Before winter, spinach seeds can be sown 6-8 weeks before the first frost - in mid-October.

    • Lighting: bright sunlight, partial shade and even shade.
    • Soil: well-drained, slightly acidic loam, pH 6.5-7.0.
    • Watering: for each m² of garden watering can with a sprinkler or a hose with a sprinkler head, a bucket of water is poured. In heat and drought, spinach is watered three times a week.
    • Fertilizers: If spinach growth is retarded, apply nitrogen fertilizer to the soil, but if the soil was fertilized before planting, fertilization is unlikely to be needed.
    • Propagation: seed - seedlings and non-seedlings.
    • Pests: mining and beet flies, gamma cutworm caterpillars, aphids, common mole crickets and boletus flies.
    • Diseases: fusarium, peronosporosis, anthracnose, curl, viral mosaic, ascochitosis, cercosporosis and ramulariasis.
    • Properties: Spinach is the most valuable dietary product with a laxative, diuretic, anti-inflammatory and tonic effect.

    Read more about growing spinach below

    Spinach plant - description

    What does spinach look like? The height of the plant is from 25 to 50 cm or more. Its stems are bare, simple and branched. The lower basal leaves of spinach are petiolate, triangular-lanceolate, often with elongated lateral ears, or oval, oblong-ovate, entire, contracted into a petiole. The upper, and often the middle leaves are oblong, pointed, with a wedge-shaped base. Anther flowers with four stamens form a spike-paniculate inflorescence, and pistillate flowers are in dense glomeruli located in the axils of the leaves. The fruits of spinach are spherical or two-horned, sometimes soldered together, but, nevertheless, do not form seed.

    Rosettes of spinach leaves, which form at the very beginning of the growing season, are eaten.

    Sowing spinach for seedlings

    When to plant spinach

    Spinach, like any other herb, can be grown in a greenhouse, at home or in open ground. You can get the earliest greens if you pre-grow spinach seedlings. To do this, in late March or early April, spinach seeds are sown in boxes, paper or plastic cups filled with a moist, loose, disinfected substrate consisting of biohumus (1 part) and coconut fiber (2 parts). A layer of expanded clay 2-3 cm thick is placed under the substrate.

    Stubborn spinach seeds with a dense shell before sowing are poured for two days with water, changing it every 6-8 hours. Then they are placed for disinfection for several hours in a pink solution of potassium permanganate, after which they are dried to flowability.

    • Exhibition onion seedling care: top dressing, pruning, supports

    Growing spinach from seeds

    Spinach is sown at a depth of 1-1.5 cm, then the surface is slightly compacted, the crops are covered with film or glass and kept in a warm place until germination. As soon as the seeds begin to germinate, the film is removed, and the container is moved to the southeast or south window sill - the seedlings that have appeared will need a lot of light. But spinach seedlings are undemanding to warmth: it can be grown even on an unheated loggia. Another condition for the successful development of seedlings, in addition to good lighting, is to keep the substrate slightly moist.

    Spinach is planted outdoors when the soil is warm. After transplanting, install metal arcs above the bed at a height of about 20 cm and cover the seedlings with agrofibre in case of night frosts and intense spring sun.

    Growing spinach on the windowsill

    How to grow spinach at home

    If you want to grow spinach on the windowsill, keep in mind that the life of the bush is no more than two months: after a few cuts, the spinach releases a flower arrow, and its leaves lose their necessary for food quality. How to grow spinach at home? When growing a crop in the spring and summer, the seedlings do not require additional lighting, but if spinach is grown from seeds in the autumn or winter, it can only give a good harvest if you arrange for it daily additional lighting for 2-3 hours after sunset.

    Sowing of prepared spinach seeds is carried out to a depth of 1-1.5 cm in the same substrate in which spinach seedlings are grown. Under the substrate, a layer of drainage 2-3 cm high is laid in the dishes. Spinach can be sown in boxes or containers at least 15 cm deep or in 1-2-liter pots, or you can grow seedlings in small cups, and in the development stage of seedlings 2- 4 real leaves, pick them into a permanent dish. Crops are covered with a film until germination.

    Growing and caring for spinach at home is very easy. The optimum temperature for the development of spinach seedlings is 15 to 18 ºC, watering should be regular and sufficient, especially in summer, as drying out of the substrate provokes premature bolting. In addition, you will need to spray your spinach daily in the early morning or after sunset. As for dressings, when sowing spinach in fertile soil, they are not needed. Spinach greens for cutting will ripen, depending on the variety, 3-5 weeks after sowing, but after 1-2 months the bush will go into the arrow and new greens will stop growing.

    Growing spinach outdoors

    When to sow spinach outdoors

    Because spinach is hardy, it can be grown outdoors without the seedling stage. For a spring harvest, spinach is sown 4-6 weeks after the last spring frosts, and for an autumn harvest, 6-8 weeks before the first autumn cold. In the spring, as soon as it warms up and the sun shines for 14 hours a day, small flowers will appear on the spinach - a process called flowering or shooting, and it makes the leaves of the plant unfit for consumption. Therefore, many gardeners prefer to sow spinach in the fall. In the spring, at the end of April, early varieties of spinach are sown. You can sow the plant several times every 15-20 days. No more than 5 weeks pass from sowing to harvesting. Late varieties are sown until mid-August - they give a harvest in 6-7 weeks.

    You can also sow spinach before winter - in mid-October. Before the onset of winter, the plant manages to form small rosettes, and in the spring, spinach left to winter in the ground will sprout very early, and in a couple of weeks you can include it in your diet.

    • Red cabbage: growing in the garden

    Planting spinach in the ground

    Planting and caring for spinach in the field is quick and easy. The site for the plant should be sunny, and although the plant will also grow well in the shade, its productivity will be lower than when grown in the sun. Spinach prefers drained slightly acidic loamy soils with a pH of 6.5-7.0. You can adjust the acidity of the soil by adding limestone to it: dolomitic limestone is added to soil that contains little magnesium, and calcite limestone is added to soil with a high magnesium content. Do this in the fall or at least 2-3 months before sowing.

    Since the soil for spinach needs to be rich in organic matter, alfalfa, soybean or blood meal is added to the soil for deep digging. Or they dig up a site with mineral fertilizers from the following calculation: 30 g of superphosphate and 15 g of potassium chloride per 1 m². Before spring sowing, urea is introduced into the soil - 20 g per 1 m².

    Spinach is sown in rows to a depth of 2 cm at row spacing of 20-30 cm, placing the seeds at a distance of 5-8 cm from each other. After planting the seeds, the surface is slightly compacted with the back of the rake, watered, covered with burlap for 3-4 days, and a plastic film is thrown onto the arched supports installed in advance at a height of about 20 cm. Seeds germinate at a temperature of 2 to 5 ºC in about 10-14 days.

    When the seedlings have formed a rosette of 2-3 leaves, thin out the spinach - ideally the bushes should grow at such a distance from each other that they barely touch the leaves. Spinach care consists of regular watering, weeding, loosening the soil around the plants and protecting the spinach from the sun with a shade net when the air temperature rises to 26 ºC.

    Watering spinach

    Spinach is very moisture-loving. For watering it, it is better to use a hose with a sprinkler nozzle or a garden watering can with a splitter, but remember that with strong pressure you can wash away fragile shoots. Approximately one bucket of water is consumed per m² of beds. In dry, hot weather, watering is carried out at least three times a week, and in order to prevent water from spreading, make a furrow around the perimeter of the beds. After watering, when the water is absorbed and the surface of the soil is slightly dry, loosen the soil around the plants and remove the weeds. If you notice flower arrows on spinach, break them off.

    Spinach nutrition

    If spinach grows well in the field, then it has enough nutrients in the soil, but if spinach grows slowly, feed it with a nitrogen fertilizer: cudweed meal or blood meal. Fertilizers are applied to a depth of several centimeters, after which the site is watered. In general, spinach needs top dressing only if the area was not fertilized before sowing or planting seedlings.

    What to plant after spinach

    To prevent soil depletion, spinach can be grown on one plot with a break of 3-4 years. According to the laws of crop rotation, roots are usually grown after tops, that is, after spinach, you can plant Jerusalem artichoke, swede, radish, radish, daikon, katran, turnip and other tuberous or root plants.

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    Pests and diseases of spinach

    Diseases of spinach

    The most harmful diseases of spinach are fusarium, downy mildew, anthracnose, curl and viral mosaic. Spinach can also be affected by diseases such as ascochitosis, cercosporosis and ramulariasis.

    Fusarium wilt, or root rot is a dangerous fungal disease that affects seedlings and young plants. In specimens affected by Fusarium, the color becomes dull, they begin to lag behind in growth, their leaves lose turgor, turn yellow, and the plants die. The process begins with the lower leaves, and when the plant is dug up, its roots are found to be rotten. You will not succeed in curing spinach from fusarium, especially if the process has covered the entire plant, so the affected bushes must be removed from the garden. As a preventive measure, you need to grow disease-resistant varieties of spinach, make sure that the bushes do not grow too close to each other, regularly loosen the soil around them and remove weeds, and the seeds must be disinfected with a solution of potassium permanganate before sowing.

    Downy mildew, or Downy mildew is a fungal disease that appears as yellowish spots on the upper side of spinach leaves, while a grayish coating forms on their underside. Then the spots acquire a brown-brown hue, the leaves droop, wrinkle, dry out and crumble. The disease progresses in cool damp weather. Ways to protect against peronosporosis, as well as from root rot, are mainly preventive, since when using chemical preparations, the toxic substances contained in them, accumulating in the leaves, will make them unsuitable for food. Folk remedies for fighting fungal diseases can come to the rescue:

    • treatment of plants with a solution of 10 drops of 5% pharmacy iodine in 1 liter of milk, which is then mixed with 9 liters of water;
    • treatment of spinach with an ash solution: 2 cups of ash are brewed with three liters of boiling water, allowed to cool, filtered through a triple layer of gauze, diluted with 10 liters of water and spinach is treated with this solution;
    • 200-300 g of onion peel are poured into 10 liters of water, brought to a boil, allowed to infuse for 1-2 days, filtered and treated with infusion of the plant;
    • 1-1. 5 g of potassium permanganate is diluted in 10 liters of water and sprayed with a solution of spinach.

    Anthracnose covers the leaves and their petioles with rounded dark spots, in the center of which there are black raised pads.

    Cercosporosis also affects the leaves and stems of spinach. First, rounded spots with a diameter of 2-4 mm are formed on them - red-brown with an ashy middle. Then the spots grow, merge with each other, the tissue inside the spots becomes thinner, dries and spills out, leaving holes in the leaf plates.

    With ascochitosis , spots also appear on leaves and stems: convex, of various shapes and colors, but most often brown with a dark border. Affected tissues gradually dry out.

    Ramulariasis, or leaf spot covers spinach leaves with grey-brown spots with dark edges. With the development of the disease, the leaves die.

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    Cucumber mosaic viruses and can be stored in soil, on seeds and plant debris and transmitted by sucking insects. Viruses penetrate the plant through damaged tissues, their presence is manifested by the formation of yellow or light green strokes and star-shaped spots on spinach leaves, which gradually merge with each other. The leaves are deformed, stunted, become dwarfed.

    Leaf curl results in thickening and uneven growth of the leaf tissue, causing the leaf to curl, become wavy and blistered. Curly hair is often accompanied by necrosis, spinach leaves dry up and fall off.

    Curly and Mosaic are viral diseases and there is no way to cure them - the plants must be destroyed. And with fungal diseases, you can fight with preventive methods and folk remedies, which we have already described to you.

    Spinach pests

    There are also many insects that damage spinach. Among them are mining and beet flies, gamma scoop caterpillars, aphids, common bears and babanukhs.

    Miner fly lays eggs in the leaves of the plant, and the larvae that appear in June eat their pulp, from which the spinach dies. You can scare away the pest by alternating rows of spinach with rows of beets, which the fly does not tolerate. However, do not sow spinach in an area where the beets have just been harvested, as it can get root rot.

    Green or brown cutworm is one of the worst leaf-destroying pests of spinach. You can fight caterpillars by treating bushes with tobacco or pepper infusion, as well as infusion of tomato tops. And don't forget to weed the garden regularly.

    Beet fly also lays eggs on spinach leaves. Destroy it by treating the plant with a two percent solution of Phosphamide.

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    Aphid is a sucking insect that makes punctures in young leaves of plants, sucking juice out of them, and often infecting them with viral diseases. Processing spinach with an ash-soap solution will help you cope with aphids: 200-300 g of ash should be boiled in a bucket of water for 30 minutes, then cool, strain and add 40 g of grated soap or liquid dishwashing detergent. Most likely, you will not be able to get rid of aphids at once, but if you spray the spinach with an ash-soap solution 4-5 times with an interval of several days, the aphids will disappear.

    Medvedka is a large and dangerous pest that feeds not only on plants, but also on small insects. She can move underground, on the ground and even through the air, which makes it very difficult to fight her. Nevertheless, it must be destroyed, since not only spinach, but also other garden and garden plants can suffer from this pest. The main thing is to find its nest and all the passages to it in the footsteps of the bear, and the tracks are best seen after rain. The discovered nest must be very carefully dug out so as not to frighten away the insect in it, put into a bucket and burned, and a drug to destroy the bear or pour soapy water into each passage in case there is no pest in the nest.

    Babanukha is a cabbage or horseradish leaf beetle that also eats spinach leaves with pleasure. These bugs are best picked by hand and destroyed, and after harvesting, it is advisable to dust the spinach with a mixture of wood ash with hot red pepper powder and dry mustard.

    Types and varieties of spinach

    According to the maturation period, garden spinach varieties are divided into early-ripening, mid-ripening and late-ripening. The best early maturing varieties include the following:

    • Gaudry is a variety ripening for food in 2-3 weeks. It can be sown both in early spring and late autumn, both in open and closed ground. The diameter of the rosette of leaves of the Gaudri variety is about 23 cm;
    • Gigantic is one of the most well-known cultivars producing leaves two weeks after sowing. This variety is one of the best for canning. Rosette of elongated fleshy leaves sometimes reaches a diameter of 50 cm;
    • Virofle - an early maturing French variety, prone to the early formation of a flower arrow. The rosette of oval, fleshy, tender and smooth, greenish-yellow leaves reaches a diameter of 30 cm. The plant is resistant to cold, so it can be sown in early spring;
    • Stick is a high-yielding variety cultivated in our country since 1995, used both for fresh consumption and for canning. The rosette of leaves up to 19 cm long and up to 14 cm wide is half raised and reaches a diameter of 30 cm.

    Of the mid-season varieties most often grown:

    • Matador - frost-resistant and moisture-loving, as well as not prone to early shooting, a productive variety of Czech selection, which gives leaves already three weeks after sowing. The plant has a medium-sized compact semi-vertical rosette consisting of smooth, glossy oval grey-green leaves;
    • Bloomsdalesky is a new variety of Dutch selection, resistant to bolting, with a high rosette of about 25 cm in diameter. Leaves are rich dark green in color, smooth, juicy and fleshy, in slightly pronounced bubbles;
    • Krepysh is a high-yielding frost-resistant variety, not prone to early bolting, with a rosette of about 25 cm in diameter of semi-raised, glossy, obovate green leaves with slight vesicles.

    Late-ripening spinach varieties include:

    • Victoria is a moisture-loving and high-yielding variety with resistance to peronosporosis and bolting, which gives foliage 30-35 days after sowing. This plant has a compact rosette with a diameter of 14-19cm with dark green with a bluish tinge, strongly bubbly leaves up to 10 long and up to 7 cm wide;
    • Spokane is a high yielding hybrid Dutch variety that is resistant to bloom and is recommended for both fresh consumption and canning. It has rounded, wavy, wrinkled-bubbly dark green leaves 10-14 cm long and 6-11 cm wide, collected in a compact medium-sized rosette;
    • Varyag – a variety with an elevated compact rosette of large green oval medium-bubbly leaves of slightly sour taste with medium length petioles. The variety is suitable for salads and soups.

    In addition to those described, spinach varieties such as Khorovod, Povar, Zhirnolistny, Popeye, Nikitos, Normal, Prima, Casta, Melody, Mazurka, Virtuoso, Tarantella, Ladya and Dolphin, Puma, Space, Emerald hybrids have proven themselves well.

    Also known in cultivation is the so-called New Zealand spinach, or tetragonia, an annual plant of the Aizaceae family. This plant is not related to spinach, although the nutritional value and taste characteristics of these plants are very similar, and in some respects tetragonia even surpasses spinach.

    But many-leaved spinach, or zhminda, or spinach-raspberry is a relative of garden spinach and is valuable not only for tasty and healthy leaves that are added to soups and salads, but also for berries similar to mulberries, from which jelly, compote and jam are cooked.

    Malabra or Ceylon spinach, or Basella, from the Basella family, is a herbaceous plant, a creeper whose fleshy leaves are tasty both raw and cooked. A refreshing drink is obtained from the infusion of the leaves. In nature, Basella grows in the tropics and subtropics of Africa and America, and in our climate it can be grown in the garden as an annual plant.

    Benefits and harms of spinach

    Medicinal properties of spinach

    Spinach has many medicinal properties. Why is spinach useful? What valuable substances are contained in its leaves? They include carbohydrates, proteins and fats, fiber, organic, unsaturated and saturated acids, sugars, starch, vitamins A, C, H, E, PP, K, B vitamins, sodium, magnesium, phosphorus, iron, copper , iodine, zinc, potassium, selenium and manganese.

    It is important that vitamins C and A contained in spinach are retained even after cooking. And the iron in spinach is in a form that is easily absorbed by humans and prevents the formation of cellulite. Due to the fiber contained in spinach, the intestines are cleansed, which helps to get rid of excess weight. Spinach normalizes peristalsis and eliminates constipation.

    Spinach is recommended for diseases of the nervous system, anemia, malnutrition, diabetes, enterocolitis, gastritis, hypertension and anemia. Since the plant has a laxative, diuretic, anti-inflammatory and tonic effect and is perfectly absorbed by the body, it is useful for those recovering from a serious illness, pregnant women and children.

    Spinach strengthens the heart muscle and relieves insomnia, and due to the lutein contained in the leaves, it clarifies vision, reduces fatigue and increases efficiency.

    Fresh spinach juice helps cleanse the body, replenishes energy reserves, stimulates the functioning of organs - the liver, intestines, kidneys. With inflammation of the gums, they rinse their mouth, and with sore throats - the throat. Fresh chopped spinach leaves are applied externally for abscesses and stings of bees, wasps and other insects, and a paste of spinach leaves boiled in olive oil treats eczema and burns, removes freckles and whitens the skin of the face.

    Spinach is eaten fresh, boiled or baked and is used in many complex dishes, snacks and sauces.

    Spinach - contraindications

    Spinach contains large amounts of oxalic acid, therefore it is contraindicated for people with problems with the urinary tract, suffering from urolithiasis, nephritis and similar diseases.

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