Growing Spinach From Seed - The Complete How To Planting Guide (2024)

FAQs

How many spinach seeds do you plant per hole? ›

Or space them 4-6" apart if you don't want to thin the seedlings. 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.

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.

Spacing & Depth

Cover 1/2 inch deep. When the plants are one inch tall, thin to 2 to 4 inches apart. Closer spacing (no thinning) is satisfactory when the entire plants are to be harvested.

Once your spinach plants are established, you can use a balanced fertilizer. A fertilizer with a bit more nitrogen might work even better. Something like 10-10-10 is successful, but a 15-10-10 is preferred. Before planting, use a granular fertilizer.

To germinate seeds faster and more reliably, there is a process called “priming.” A week before sowing spinach seeds indoors or out, soak seeds in room temperature water overnight or up to 24 hours. Next, place the seeds on a paper towel to air dry for one or two days.

Once the days warm up and the temperature reaches the 80⁰F, spinach will want to bolt. Therefore, with a spring planting, this plant's productive life usually stops by the end of May.

Soil, Planting, and Care

In order to grow spinach twice a year, plant it about 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost in the spring, and again 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost in the fall.

Spinach prefers well-drained, rich soil with a neutral pH. Add compost or composted manure to your beds to give your spinach the nutrients it needs to thrive. Spinach forms a long taproot, so it's helpful to loosen the soil down to a foot or so.

About 1″ of water per week is best for spinach. But in warmer weather, bump that number up by half an inch. Regular, shallow watering is better than one deep watering per week.

It is possible to plant seeds too deep, in which case they will either fail to germinate, stay below the soil after sprouting, emerge late, or grow poorly after emerging from the soil. A good rule is to plant seeds at a depth of 2 times their diameter.

How deep does a planter box need to be for spinach? ›

Spinach has a deep taproot, so you'll need a container that's at least eight to 10 inches wide and deep, with drainage holes in the bottom, for each plant.

In a 5-gallon bucket you can grow: • 1 tomato, pepper or zucchini, or • 3-4 lettuce, or • 1 cabbage or broccoli (with 15 radishes or 8 spinach), or • 15 carrots or beets, or • 6 bulbing onions, garlic or leeks, or • 8 mustards or turnips for greens.

Spinach. Grow 15 plants per person. Yield 4 to 7 pounds per 10-foot row. Space plants 3 to 4 inches apart in rows 1 to 2 feet apart.

ANSWER: As long as the growing point is not damaged during the initial harvesting and the weather is still cool, spinach plants will most likely regrow for two or more harvests.

Spinach – A good companion for Brassicas, eggplants, leeks, lettuce, peas, radish, and strawberries, particularly. Don't plant spinach near potatoes. Squash – Companions: corn, lettuce, melons, peas, and radish. Avoid planting near Brassicas or potatoes.

This is because the interaction of organic cow manure and atonic manure can increase the vegetative growth of spinach plants. Cow manure contains macro and micro nutrients in a balanced manner so that it can supply nutrients for plant growth.

Well-draining soil is important for spinach to grow well in pots. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in containers. Seedlings should germinate in five to 14 days depending on the variety and growing conditions. Space each spinach plant at least 3 inches apart - or slightly further apart if you want to harvest larger leaves.

Spinach is an excellent choice for over winter production as it is extremely cold hardy. As the temperature decreases the plant increases the sugar content in its vasculature. This essentially acts as an “anti-freeze” to protect the plant.

Spinach grows well in soil that is near neutral in pH – between 6.5 and 7.5. It is not a heavy feeder, but performs best in soil that is rich in organic matter. Spinach is rarely troubled by disease problems or pests. Harvest spinach as you would lettuce.

Place the spinach in an airtight storage container or zip-top bag. Cooked spinach can last anywhere from three to five days in the refrigerator.

Why you should not reheat spinach? ›

Spinach contains high amount of iron, hence heating and reheating spinach may oxidize the iron present in spinach. Oxidation of iron generates dangerous free radicals which are known to cause many diseases including infertility and cancer.

Second, know that a light frost—32°F and colder—kills all tender plants such as tomatoes. Hardier plants such as spinach and kale will survive until there's a hard freeze—28°F and colder. (We explain the frost tolerance level of different crops below.)

Spinach is more of a cool weather vegetable and is great to grow in September for a late fall/winter harvest.

Plant spinach twice in early fall, making one sowing in late August for harvesting in October, and a second two or three weeks later for growing through winter.

Growing Spinach from Seeds

Choose a wide-mouthed pot that is about 6 to 8 inches deep. You can also use a garden box, wooden box, even a crate as a planter for the spinach. Sow the seeds in ½-inch deep soil. After planting the seeds, they should germinate within 5 to 14 days.

Some vegetables, like spinach and spring radishes, have very shallow roots and don't need more than 4 to 6 inches of soil to grow successfully. But the smaller the planter, the more often you'll need to water.

Stunted slow growth accompanied by yellowing leaves is also a symptom. Leaves falling off often accompanies this symptom. If your plants have yellowing leaves and old leaves, as well as new leaves that are falling at the same accelerated rate, you are overwatering.

Yes, you can eat water spinach every day. It is loaded with many vitamins and minerals that promote overall health.

Water spinach frequently to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Regular watering is essential in warm weather to prevent bolting. In general, spinach needs around 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water per week. Rather than a weekly deep watering, it's better to water several times a week.

If using baby spinach, there is no need to trim the stems. If using full-grown spinach leaves, remove the tougher stems from the leaves and discard. Break up any very large leaves, but there's no need to chop it up. Drain, but you don't need to use a salad spinner.

Why is my spinach growing straight up? ›

If your spinach plant doesn't receive enough sunlight, doesn't feel like it has enough space in the garden, or doesn't like the rising temperatures, it will first stop being productive and then do something called bolting.

Cut leaves from the outside first, being sure to leave at least 6 leaves to allow the plant to grow. For longer vines, allow individual Malabar spinach vines to get longer before harvesting. To encourage branching and a bushier plant, cut back stems earlier.

You can use packing peanuts as long as they're not the type that dissolves in water. Styrofoam peanuts do an excellent job. Make sure they're secured within a bag to keep them stable and in place. It also makes your life easier if you decide to repot the plant.

Spinach. Another good veggie to grow in a shallow container is spinach. You can grow spinach practically year-round, though some varieties are better suited for winter while others grow best in the spring. Plant your spinach seeds in soil with a pH level between 6.0 and 7.0.

Pot your plant into the plastic pot, and then set this inside the planter – if done correctly, the plastic should be hidden, and it will appear as though your plant is potted directly into the planter! You can then take it out to water, and take advantage of the drainage holes in the plastic pot.

About a week before planting, soak spinach seeds in room temperature water for 24 hours. Place the wet seeds on a paper towel, and allow to dry at room temperature for a day or two. Shift the seeds to an airtight container, and keep in a cool place for up to a week.

Spinach is more of a cool weather vegetable and is great to grow in September for a late fall/winter harvest.

Mature spinach has a long taproot, so loosen the soil to between 12 and 18 inches. Sow the seeds ½ inch deep two inches apart, in rows 12 to 18 inches apart.

In most areas, successive sowing can be done from early spring until early winter, but more often during hotter months. The plants prefer full sun, except in warmer weather when they benefit from semi-shade.

How often should I water spinach seeds? ›

In general, spinach needs around 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water per week. Rather than a weekly deep watering, it's better to water several times a week. Adding a layer of mulch around the plants also can help to maintain soil moisture.

Spinach can be planted 6-8 weeks before your average first frost. Count back from your average first frost date to six, seven and eight weeks before. This is your planting window. I've had better luck planting spinach around eight weeks before my frost date.

Plant the spinach seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep and three inches apart for the fall garden, eight weeks before the first frost date. Alternatively, plant the seeds when soil temperatures reach 45 degrees Fahrenheit in spring. Water lightly to moisten the soil and seeds.

Its ideal temperatures range between 45 and 75 degrees, but spinach thrives when daytime temps climb no higher than the 60s. Spinach can even handle a bit of frost. You can begin sowing your spinach seeds directly in the soil outside starting about six weeks before your last expected frost date.

Step 2: Apply fertiliser, manure or compost. If you are using fertiliser, use one handful for every square metre of soil. Or four hands of kraal manure or compost for every square metre of soil. Step 3: Use a garden fork to mix soil and fertiliser, manure or compost thoroughly, and then even out using a rake.