Spinach is a versatile vegetable that can be grown in a wide variety of situations. Growing spinach is simple and requires minimal care.

Spinach grows best in cool, moist soil. Work a few inches of compost or worm castings into the bed before planting to boost nutrients.

Soil Preparation

Spinach thrives in good soil, rich in organic matter. Ideally, work in several inches of finished compost into your planting beds before sowing seeds or transplanting seedlings.

Soil pH should be neutral (between 6.5 and 7.0) to ensure that nutrients are easily available to spinach plants. Avoid planting in alkaline soil, since this can cause problems with nutrient cycling.

As with other cool-season crops, spinach enjoys a well-drained, moist soil. Check soil moisture often and consider using a soaker hose to keep it consistently damp.

Prepare your garden beds for sowing or transplanting by removing all weeds and amending the soil with several inches of finished compost. Water the bed thoroughly the day before sowing or transplanting to hydrate the roots.

Sow spinach seeds in shallow, moist drills and cover lightly with soil to allow for germination. Sow successionally every few weeks to keep up a continuous supply of fresh, delicious spinach.

Sowing Seeds

Spinach is a fast-growing plant that produces a large quantity of leaves in a short period. The key to spinach success is to sow seeds in early spring and fall, when the soil temperature is cool.

Prepare the soil a week before planting by mixing in compost or other rich organic material. This ensures that the soil is well nourished and gives the roots the right environment for strong growth.

Sow seeds in shallow moist trays about 1/2-inch deep, 2 inches apart, and spaced 12-18 inches apart. Cover lightly with soil.

Water gently and keep the soil evenly moist until sprouts appear. Once sprouted, thin seedlings to stand 3-5 inches apart.

Spinach grows best in rich, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7. A simple way to improve the growing bed is by mixing several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter into the native soil.

Transplanting Seedlings

Whether you started your spinach seedlings indoors or purchased them from a nursery, transplanting your spinach is an important part of growing the vegetable. Transplanting the seeds can help them develop strong roots that will grow into healthy plants and produce more leaves.

Spinach grows well in alkaline soil (pH 6.5-7.5) that has been amended with organic matter such as compost, worm castings, or a balanced granular fertilizer (21-0-0). If your soil is too acidic, add a finely crushed eggshell, ground oyster shell, or wood ashes to the soil at planting time.

Once your spinach seedlings are about 6 inches tall, side dress them with a slow-release formulation fertilizer that has been mixed into the soil around the plant. The application will encourage faster growth and produce high-quality spinach.

Water your spinach regularly to keep the soil evenly moist. Moisture fluctuations can lead to tough leaves and off-flavors. Mulch the soil around your transplants to conserve moisture and reduce weed growth.

Harvesting

Spinach grows best in rich soil that has a high nitrogen content, a pH of 6.5 to 7. Fertilize spinach regularly to keep it growing strong.

Harvest leaves as soon as they’re big enough to eat, and leave older leaves on to continue producing new ones. Larger leaves can become bitter if harvested too early.

Depending on the variety, mature leaves are ready for harvest in 38 to 50 days. Crinkled leaves, called savoy types, are the most tender and sweet.

If you’re planting a lot of spinach, it can help to grow a few plants in a container. This helps reduce aphids’ and rabbits’ access to your crop, which can spread viruses.

You can also freeze spinach leaves to preserve them over the winter. To freeze, wash the leaves carefully and place them in a plastic freezer bag or container.