Spinach

Planting spinach

Sow 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost, then every couple of weeks until warm weather. Sow again in late summer for a fall crop.

Planting details

• Thin seedlings to 4 to 6 inches
• Seed depth: about 1/2 inch
• Long days and heat trigger bolting

Growing requirements

Spinach wants cool temperatures, fertile soil, and steady moisture. Light afternoon shade can stretch the harvest by a week or two as days lengthen.

Harvesting and care

Cut outer leaves or whole plants before a flower stalk forms. Harvesting the outer leaves first keeps a single sowing producing for several weeks.

Common mistakes

• Sowing into warm summer soil, which germinates poorly and bolts fast
• Letting the bed dry out, which makes leaves small and bitter
• Skipping thinning, which produces a crowded mat of weak leaves

Companion plants

Lettuce, radishes, peas, and strawberries share space well. Spinach roots stay shallow and rarely compete with deeper-rooted neighbors.