SKU

AVSPAGSED31

How to plant spinach

Select a planting site with full sun (or partial sun, at least) and well-drained soil. Prepare the garden soil with aged manure about a week before planting, or, you may wish to prepare your spot in the fall so that you can sow the seeds outdoors in early spring as soon as the ground thaws. (Learn more about preparing soil for planting.) HOW TO PLANT SPINACH Although seeds can be started indoors, it is not recommended, as seedlings are difficult to transplant. Sow seeds ½-inch to 1-inch deep, covering lightly with soil. Sow about 12 seeds per foot of row, or sprinkle over a wide row or bed. Water the new seedlings well in the spring.

Care

Fertilize only if necessary due to slow growth, or use as a supplement if your soil pH is inadequate. When seedlings sprout to about two inches, thin them to 3-4 inches apart. Beyond thinning, no cultivation is necessary. Roots are shallow and easily damaged. Keep soil moist with mulching. Water regularly. Spinach can tolerate the cold; it can survive a frost and temps down to 15ºF (-9°C). (See local frost dates) Young spinach is more tender; cover if cold temps are in the forecast.

Pests/Diseases

Leaf Miners: Radishes attract leaf miners away from spinach. The damage that the leaf miners do to radish leaves doesn’t prevent the radishes from growing underground. Bolting Mosaic Virus/Blight Downy Mildew