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How to Grow Spinach from Seed

easyGardening30 min

Learn how to cultivate fresh, organic greens with this comprehensive guide to growing spinach from seed. Designed for home gardeners of all skill levels, this tutorial teaches you how to prepare the soil, time your sowing, and properly plant seeds for a bountiful harvest.

Safety Warnings

  • Raw spinach contains oxalic acid, which can potentially be harmful to people who suffer from kidney stones and digestive problems.
  • Avoid using composted manure in your garden unless you are sure that it is completely composted to prevent E. coli infection.

Tools Needed

Garden trowel — Hand-held planting tool
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Watering can — Can with a fine rose nozzle
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Materials

Spinach seeds — Fresh seeds for higher germination rates(12-15 seeds per foot of row)
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Blood meal — High-nitrogen fertilizer (12-0-0)(1-2 tablespoons per square foot)
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Mulch — Grass clippings or straw(3-4 inch layer)
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Steps

1
Prepare fertile, well-draining soil with a pH between 6 and 7. For garden beds, dig blood meal into the upper 3 inches of soil. If using containers, use 1-gallon pots at least 4 to 6 inches deep, mixing 1 to 2 teaspoons of blood meal into each gallon of potting soil.
2
Time your sowing for early spring (as soon as soil can be worked and is at least 45°F, up to 6 weeks before the last frost) or late summer (6 to 8 weeks before the first autumn frost). Wait until the soil is crumbly rather than sticky before planting.
3
Sow seeds directly into the garden or containers at a depth of 1/4 to 1/2 inch. Space them at a rate of 12 to 15 seeds per foot of row. For a continuous harvest, plant new seeds every 2 weeks until the weather warms.
1/4-1/2" Press seed into soil Sown depth Surface Cross-section: Ensure seeds are buried shallowly for optimal sprout
4
Water the plants to ensure they receive at least 1 inch of water per week. Keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy, as dried-out soil can cause the plants to bolt. Apply 3 to 4 inches of straw or grass clipping mulch to maintain dampness and suppress weeds.
5
Once seedlings sprout (usually in 7 to 10 days) and reach 2 inches in height, thin them so they stand 3 to 6 inches apart, with rows spaced at least 1 foot apart.
Keeper Thin out Remove extra 3-6" spacing Top-down view · Pull out smaller seedlings to prevent crowding
6
Maintain the plants by applying a side-dressing of 1 to 2 teaspoons of blood meal once per month while the plant is producing greens and has not yet sent up flower stems.
7
Harvest the spinach, typically within 6 weeks of planting. For a continuing harvest, cut off the outermost leaves when they reach 3 to 6 inches, leaving the inner leaves to grow. Alternatively, use a sharp knife to cut the entire rosette just above ground level. Ensure all harvest is complete before the plant sends up stalks.
Cut outer leaf Inner leaves Outer foliage Soil line Harvest outer leaves first to allow continuous growth from the center

Pro Tips

  • To prevent leaf miners, plant radishes between rows of spinach to attract pests away from the foliage.
  • Use slug bait around young plants to eliminate slugs that cause large holes in the leaves.
  • Combine different varieties, such as savoy and smooth leaf, to vary texture and bolt-resistance.
  • Harvest in the early morning during the coolest part of the day.

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