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How often to water spinach seeds


The Ultimate Spinach Growing Guide

Spinach is one of the most satisfying cool-weather crops to grow, producing large yields of vitamin-rich, dark green leaves that are excellent for salads and for cooking. Since both hot weather and long days trigger spinach to bolt (send up a seed stalk) quickly, the secret to success with this crop is to start sowing seeds as soon as possible in spring; to make small, frequent plantings during late spring and summer; and to concentrate on fall as the season for the main crop.

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Planting

Spinach does best when growing in moist, nitrogen-rich soil. Spinach plants form a deep taproot; for best growth, loosen the soil at least 1 foot deep before planting.

Sow spinach seed as early as six weeks before the last frost or as soon as you can work the soil. Prepare the soil the previous autumn, and you'll be able to drop the seeds in barely thawed ground come spring. In areas with a long, cool spring, make successive plantings every 10 days until mid-May.

In warm climates, plant spinach in the shade of tall crops such as corn or beans. The young plants will be spared the hottest sun and be ready for harvest in fall or winter. Using cold frames or heavyweight row covers, you can grow spinach all winter in many parts of the country. In colder regions, try planting in fall (October) and protecting the young plants through winter for a spring harvest. In regions where the soil doesn’t freeze, try planting spinach in February for a March harvest.

Spinach seed doesn’t store well, so buy fresh seeds every year. Sow them one half inch deep and two inches apart in beds or rows. If the weather isn’t extremely cold, seeds will germinate in five to nine days. Spinach produces beautifully in cool fall conditions, but it’s tricky to persuade the seed to germinate in the hot conditions of late summer. Sow seed heavily, because the germination rate drops to about 50% in warm weather, and water the seed beds frequently — even twice a day — because watering helps to cool the soil.

We love planting spinach in raised beds — here's our favorite design for building one:

Growing Guidelines

Overcrowding stunts growth and encourages plants to go to seed. To avoid crowding, thin seedlings to four to six inches apart once they have at least two true leaves. Fertilize with compost tea or fish emulsion when the plants have four true leaves.

Since cultivating or hand pulling weeds can harm spinach roots, it’s best to spread a light mulch of hay, straw, or grass clippings along the rows to suppress weeds instead. Water stress will encourage plants to bolt, so provide enough water to keep the soil moist but not soggy. Cover the crop with shade cloth if the temperature goes above 80 degrees.

Troubleshooting

Since most spinach grows in very cool weather, pests are usually not a problem. Leafminer larvae can burrow inside leaves and produce tan patches. Prevent leafminer problems by keeping your crop covered with floating row cover. For unprotected plants, remove and destroy affected leaves to prevent adult flies from multiplying and further affecting the crop. Slugs also feed on spinach.

Spinach blight, a virus spread by aphids, causes yellow leaves and stunted plants. Downy mildew, which appears as yellow spots on leaf surfaces and mold on the undersides, occurs during very wet weather. Reduce the spread of disease spores by not working around wet plants. Avoid both of these diseases by planting resistant cultivars.

Harvesting

In six to eight weeks you can start harvesting from any plant that has at least six three or four inch long leaves. Carefully cutting the outside leaves will extend the plants’ productivity, particularly with fall crops. Harvest the entire crop at the first sign of bolting by using a sharp knife to cut through the main stem just below the soil surface.

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!

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  • How To Plant & Grow Radishes From Seed

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

  • Spinach seeds
  • Water

Tools

  • Hand trowel
  • Soil thermometer (optional)

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.

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

Author: Elena N. https://floristics.info/en/index.php?option=com_contact&view=contact&id=19 Category: garden plants reprinted: Last amendments:

Content

  • Planting and care for spinach
  • Plant Spinach - Description
  • Spinach sowing
    • When to plant spinach
    • Growing spinach from seeds
  • Growing spinach on the windowsill
    • How to grow spinach at home
  • Growing spinach in open ground
    • when
    • Planting spinach in soil spinat Spinach nutrition
    • What to plant after spinach
  • Spinach pests and diseases
    • Spinach diseases
    • Spinach pests

      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. nine0007

      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 an incredible amount 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. nine0007

      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.

      nine0012
    • 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.
    • Top dressing: if spinach growth is slow, apply nitrogen fertilizer to the soil, but if the soil was fertilized before sowing, top dressing is unlikely to be needed. nine0012
    • Propagation: seed - seedling and non-seedling.
    • Pests: mining and beet flies, gamma cutworm caterpillars, aphids, common mole crickets and boletus flies.
    • Diseases: fusarium, peronosporosis, anthracnose, curliness, viral mosaic, ascochitosis, cercosporosis and ramulariasis.
    • Properties: Spinach is the most valuable dietary product with a laxative, diuretic, anti-inflammatory and tonic effect. nine0012

    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. nine0007

    Rosettes of spinach leaves, which form at the very beginning of the growing season, are used as food.

    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 are soaked in water for two days before sowing, 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.

    • Sowing vegetables in open ground in March

    Growing spinach from seeds

    Spinach is sown to 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. nine0007

    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. nine0067 How to grow spinach at home? When growing a crop in the spring-summer period, the seedlings do not require supplementary lighting, but if spinach is grown from seeds in the autumn or winter, it can give a good harvest only if you organize daily additional lighting for it 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. nine0007

    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. nine0007

    Growing spinach outdoors

    When to sow spinach outdoors

    Since spinach is a hardy plant, 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. nine0007

    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.

    • Onion husks are an easy way to add a sweet flavor to vegetables.

    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. nine0007

    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 with 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. nine0007

    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. nine0007

    Fertilizing spinach

    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.

    • Do not throw away rotten potatoes - we will get elite tubers from it!

    Spinach pests and diseases

    Spinach diseases

    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. nine0007

    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; nine0012
    • 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. nine0007

    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.

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

    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. nine0007

    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. nine0007

    Spinach pests

    Spinach pests are also numerous. Among them are mining and beet flies, gamma scoop caterpillars, aphids, common bears and babanukhs.

    Miner fly lays its eggs in the leaves of the plant, and the larvae that appear in June eat their flesh, which kills the spinach. 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. nine0007

    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.

    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. nine0007

    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. nine0007

    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 bolting, 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 with a diameter of about 25 cm. Leaves of deep dark green color, smooth, juicy and fleshy, in slightly pronounced bubbles; nine0012
    • 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 varieties of spinach 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 flowering 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 a slightly sour taste with medium-length petioles. The variety is suitable for salads and soups. nine0012

    In addition to those described, spinach varieties such as Khorovod, Povar, Zhirnolistny, Popeye, Nikitos, Normal, Prima, Casta, Melodiya, 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. nine0007

    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 mulberry, 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. nine0007

    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. nine0007

    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. nine0007

    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. nine0007

    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. Spinach is not useful for gout, diseases of the duodenum, liver, biliary tract and rheumatism.

    It should be said that there is not so much oxalic acid in young leaves - it accumulates in mature leaves, so problems can be avoided by eating only young leaves of the plant, that is, the so-called baby spinach. nine0007

    Literature

    1. Read related topics on Wikipedia
    2. Peculiarities and other plants of the family Amaranthaceae
    3. List of all species on The Plant List
    4. More information on World Flora Online


    For large garlic: what fertilizer is important at this stage?
    Sorrel: growing in the garden, properties

    Sections: Garden plants Amaranth (Schiritsaceae) Plants on Ø Leaf

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    Growing spinach on the windowsill of Springs Speed ​​in 2022 on the Gudgrint

    Content

    • Characteristics of the plant, spinach variety for window sill
    • Preparation for sowing
    • Planting
    • Growing in open soil
    • When and how to harvest
    • Storage
    • Benefits of spinach

    Some types of fresh herbs are available throughout the year, even in winter. Growing spinach greens from seeds is within the power of every gardener. Spinach is a valuable product, indispensable for dietary and children's menus. This plant is unpretentious, takes root on any soil, withstands cold snaps and yields even in cool conditions.

    Characteristics of plant, spinach variety for window sill

    Spinach is an annual herbaceous crop that produces juicy and highly nutritious leaves. They contain minerals and vitamins in high concentration, and the calorie content is very small - 23 kcal per 100 g. In spring and summer, spinach feels good in the garden, and in room conditions it can grow all year round. nine0007

    For home cultivation, early maturing, often hybrid varieties of spinach with resistance to greenhouse conditions are selected.

    Good tasting varieties:

    1. Fat-leaved - a variety of spinach with soft and textured foliage. Rosettes of leaves reach 25-30 cm in volume. Greens are suitable for food already 25-40 days after the appearance of sprouts.
    2. Gigantic - medium-sized leaves, have a mild taste. This variety is used for conservation, it is recommended for feeding children. Leaves are edible 30 days after sprouts appear. nine0012
    3. Matador - a variety with smooth grayish leaves that ripen in 35-50 days. This type of spinach is adapted to adverse conditions, rarely exposed to pests.
    4. Victoria - this species has rounded leaves collected in a small rosette. Early ripe variety, the crop ripens in 25-40 days. Due to its compactness, it is one of the most popular varieties for growing on the windowsill.
    5. Strawberry is interesting with a light berry aroma emanating from the bush. Both leaves and fruits are edible. One of the earliest ripe varieties, 2-3 weeks is enough for him. nine0012
    6. Krepysh is a mid-season variety that gives a large yield in conditions of regular watering. Releases flower arrows late. Suitable for outdoor cultivation.

    Tip! If spinach is grown for the first time, then gardeners recommend sowing several varieties at once for testing.

    Greens differ not only in leaf size and maturity, but also in taste. The crop is harvested within 2 months, during which time you can decide which variety to give preference to in the future. nine0007

    Sowing preparation

    Spinach seeds medium size, round, light brown. Before planting, they are soaked for a day in warm water, since the dense external structure will not allow them to germinate in a dry form. Then the seeds are moved for 2-4 hours in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for disinfection, and dried with a paper towel before sowing. If the material has not been soaked, then it is necessary to water the soil abundantly after planting. Gardeners recommend not to ignore soaking, as the percentage of germinating seeds increases. nine0007

    Tanks are selected in accordance with the further cultivation of seedlings. If it will be located on the windowsill, and the crop will be harvested at home, then long, wide and shallow pots are taken. If the sprouts dive into open ground, then smaller containers are taken. The material of the growing pots does not matter much, regular flowerpots will do. A prerequisite is drainage holes at the bottom to remove moisture.

    Spinach is an unpretentious plant, it takes root in any soil. The only rule: there should be no peat in the soil. Increased acidity adversely affects the quality of the crop. Self-preparation of soil for sowing seeds: 1 part of coconut fiber + 2 parts of biohumus. Coconut fiber is sometimes replaced with perlite. To exclude seedling diseases, the soil must be calcined in the oven or poured with a solution of fungicide or potassium permanganate. nine0007

    Tip! To harvest throughout the year, sowing seeds is carried out every two weeks.

    Landing

    Spinach seed sowing steps:

    1. A drainage layer of broken bricks or expanded clay is placed in the prepared container.
    2. The treated soil mixture is poured onto the drain.
    3. Spinach seeds are buried 1-2 cm into the soil.
    4. All plantings are sprinkled with soil.
    5. Immediately after sowing, the soil is slightly moistened. This will speed up the appearance of inputs. nine0012
    6. The box is covered with a plastic film or a transparent lid and moved to a bright place.

    Tip! When planting seeds in a common pot, it should be borne in mind that each plant needs at least 8-10 cm of soil for normal development.

    Seedling care

    The first sprouts should appear on the surface a week after sowing, if the box was stored at a temperature of +15-17 ° C. When caring for seedlings, several conditions must be observed: abundant watering, maintaining air humidity and a sufficient amount of light. nine0007

    Spinach likes good light, but does not tolerate dry soil. It is allowed to place a flowerpot after planting on the south side, but away from heating appliances. To maintain moisture, seedlings are sprayed with settled water from a spray bottle. The frequency of moistening the leaves - once a day, in dry times - twice. If the room is too hot, the spinach will wither and form seed pods faster.

    Spinach should be watered moderately. The soil should not dry out, but the root system does not need to be poured. Each new introduction of moisture is carried out with the drying of the top layer of soil. Water is taken settled, at room temperature. After each watering, the soil is slightly loosened so that air flows freely to the root system. nine0007

    Young seedlings are afraid of the scorching sun, so at midday it is recommended to shade the place where the box is located, otherwise the tender leaves will get burned. In winter, daylight hours are extended with a UV lamp by at least 2 hours in the morning or evening. The optimal number of hours of daylight is 10-12. The lamp is installed at a height of 50-60 cm above the box.

    Tip! In cloudy weather or in winter, the lamp can be left on all day up to 14 hours.

    The optimal temperature for growing healthy and tasty leaves is from +14 to +18 degrees, so that spinach will be comfortable both indoors and on a warmed balcony. The plant yields even at a temperature of + 7-10 degrees, but under such conditions, leaf growth slows down. At temperatures above +20 degrees, an early appearance of the peduncle is possible.

    It is recommended to feed spinach from the first shoots for friendly growth. Liquid mineral fertilizers are applied. However, if the soil at the time of planting the seeds was sufficiently fertile, spring seedlings will not need to be fed. An excess of nutrients affects the taste of spinach leaves. nine0007

    The cultivation of greens lasts approximately 2 months. If you plan to re-cultivate the crop in a pot, then organic fertilizer should be applied to the soil.

    Outdoor cultivation

    Growing spinach outdoors is convenient when you need a large amount of crop, and the windowsill does not fit large boxes. When planting, it should be borne in mind that daylight hours longer than 14 hours contribute to the rapid formation of a peduncle, and such plants are no longer used for food. nine0007

    Spinach is more commonly grown outdoors from seeds rather than seedlings. Sowing is done around mid-April. Young sprouts withstand frosts down to -8 ° C. If sharp cold snaps occur in the region in spring, the seedlings are covered with non-woven material.

    How to sow spinach seeds outdoors:

    1. As for sowing seedlings, seeds for soil are soaked in a solution of potassium permanganate.
    2. Before planting, spring soil can be fertilized with nitrogen. nine0012
    3. Seeds are immersed in the soil to a depth of 1.5-3 cm. A distance of 8-10 cm is observed between them. It is better to leave about 30 cm between rows.

    Spinach can also be sown in summer (at the end of June), and in warmer regions - until mid-September.

    Caring for spinach outdoors is practically the same as caring for seedlings on a windowsill. The plant also needs abundant watering, loosening the soil and fertilizing.

    Strengthened seedlings from the windowsill are moved to open ground when the soil on the site warms up well. At first, young plantings need to be sheltered from the spring sun and protected from daily temperature changes. For this, arcs are installed and covered with agrofibre. nine0007

    Growing problems

    If the seedlings are stretched, then you need to increase the amount of light. It is better to move the boxes from the north, east and west windows to the south or install a lamp for additional lighting. If the spinach develops extremely slowly, the sprouts have small and weak leaves, then fertilizers must be applied to the soil.

    Diseases of spinach seedlings:

    1. Fusarium is a fungal disease. It manifests itself as darkening of the leaves and stopping their growth. The lower leaves turn yellow and die. nine0012
    2. Anthracnose - brown or grayish spots caused by a fungus.
    3. Root rot is another fungal disease that mainly affects young plantings. It appears as spots with a fungal formation in the center.

    If the fungus has affected a small part of the plant, then it is removed, and the seedlings are treated with a fungicide solution. If most of the spinach is damaged, it is best to dig it up and plant new seeds.

    Important! The leaves of the affected plant are not edible! They need to be thrown out. nine0007

    Pests of seedlings appear only in open ground conditions, they rarely settle on indoor seedlings.

    Pest examples:

    • scoop caterpillar,
    • aphids,
    • bear,
    • beet fly.

    To expel the pest from plantings, the bed is treated with a solution of the substance anabazine sulfate: for 10 liters of water - 15 cm 3 .

    When and how to harvest

    The crop is harvested with the appearance of 5-7 leaves on the sprout, while all the leaves are plucked at once, leaving the rosette, or part of them. Experienced gardeners recommend cutting off no more than half of the crop in one go: in this way, the formation of leaves will last for several weeks. nine0007

    To separate the sheet, it is broken off or cut off. It is not recommended to pull and abruptly tear off, so as not to damage the entire plant.

    The harvest is in the evening. It is noticed that the leaves plucked during the day quickly wither. If spinach grows outdoors, the leaves are not cut during or after rain, as they quickly rot when wet.

    After the appearance of the peduncle, the taste of the leaves changes, becomes rancid.

    Storage

    Fresh green spinach is stored for 5-7 days at temperatures from 0 to +1. If the leaves are placed in the refrigerator, wipe them dry. nine0007

    Tip! The sooner a plucked leaf is eaten, the more benefits it will provide to the body. From long-term storage, greens lose valuable substances.

    To preserve the crop for a long time, it is dried, frozen or canned:

    1. For freezing, the leaves are washed, dried, and the roots are cut off. Spinach can be frozen whole or sliced. A good option is to blanch the greens before moving to the freezer (pour over with boiling water).
      2. nine0011 Spinach leaves are also stored as a puree: they are washed, dipped in a blender and chopped.
    2. Dry the spinach crop in a shaded, dry place, preferably outdoors. After a few days, the leaves are moved to fabric bags and sent for storage.
    3. Salting is not the most popular way to harvest spinach. Peeled leaves are placed in jars and sprinkled with salt. The product is stored strictly in the cold and for a short time.

    Benefits of spinach

    Spinach is useful not only fresh, but also as a winter preparation. This green is a source of fiber, vitamins A, B, C, E, K, P, PP, trace elements (iron, potassium, magnesium), organic acids, flavonoids and vegetable protein.

    Spinach is useful for children as a prophylactic against rickets, has a positive effect on the health of the stomach, stimulates the intestines, improves blood composition and much more.

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