Spinach Planned

Spinach ('Bloomsdale', 'Space', and 'Seaside' grown together) runs two seasons in Decatur's Zone 8a: a fall sowing from late September, once soil has cooled below 75°F, that carries through the mild winter into a big spring harvest, and a shorter spring sowing in February-March that races the early heat before bolting shuts it down.

1. 1

   Sowing

   Late September once soil is under 75°F (fall crop) or mid-February to early March (spring crop)

   You'll see Seeds are small, round, and slightly bumpy or corky, tan to brown, and show nothing above ground for 7-14 days, spinach being a notoriously slow, uneven germinator in warm soil.

   Do Pre-chill seed in the refrigerator for about a week before sowing to improve germination, then direct sow 1/2 inch deep and keep the soil surface consistently moist.

   Details
2. 2

   Seedling

   Days 7-21 after sowing

   You'll see Narrow, elongated seed leaves appear first, followed by true leaves that already show each variety's shape: heavily crinkled and savoyed for Bloomsdale, smoother and flatter for Space and Seaside.

   Do Thin crowded rows to 4-6 inches apart and keep soil evenly moist.

   Details
3. 3

   Cut-and-come-again harvest

   Starting 30-45 days after sowing for baby leaves, continuing 6-10 weeks

   You'll see Leaves reach 4-6 inches for baby spinach, forming a dense rosette; Bloomsdale's leaves are deeply crinkled and dark green, while Space and Seaside are smoother, flatter, and glossier.

   Do Harvest outer leaves first, or shear the whole plant an inch above the crown, leaving the growing point intact so it regrows.

   Details
4. 4

   Bolting

   Late spring, typically April-May, once daylength lengthens past roughly 14 hours, largely independent of temperature

   You'll see A central stalk suddenly shoots up from the center of the rosette, leaves turn narrow and arrow-shaped, and the plant reveals whether it's male (thin flower spikes, no seed) or female (bulkier, seed-bearing) before setting seed.

   Do Harvest remaining leaves promptly, since they turn bitter once bolting starts, and pull the plant or let a female plant go to seed.

   Details
5. 5

   Seed saving

   4-8 weeks after bolting, once female plants' seed clusters dry and turn tan to brown

   You'll see Spinach is dioecious, with separate male and female plants; male flower spikes shed pollen and wither, while female plants develop small, spiky, corky seed clusters along the stem that dry from green to tan.

   Do Cut whole seed stalks from female plants once dry, then rub the stems to release the corky seed clusters.

   Details

Techniques — transplant, prune, propagate, divide, seed