Spinach Seeds - Bloomsdale - Spinacia olearacea

2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11

USDA Zones 2-11: Grows as a cool-season annual across all zones. Planting times are critical and must be scheduled to avoid peak summer heat, which causes spinach to bolt (go to seed) and turn bitter.

Best Performance (Cool/Northern Zones 2-7): Plant in very early spring as soon as the soil can be worked, often 4-6 weeks before the last frost. Plant again in late summer or early fall for a robust autumn harvest that can often last past the first light frosts.

Best Performance (Warm/Southern Zones 8-11): Spinach is an ideal fall, winter, and early spring crop in these zones. Plant in the fall and harvest throughout the mild winter. Avoid planting in late spring or summer, as the heat will cause immediate bolting.

Soil Temperature: Requires cool soil for germination, ideally between 45-70 degrees F. Germination is very slow or will fail in soils warmer than 75 degrees F. Seeds can be sown in early spring when the soil reaches 40 degrees F.

Growing Season: Requires 40-50 days of cool weather (daytime temperatures consistently below 75 degrees F) to reach full maturity. Spinach is frost-tolerant but will bolt when days lengthen and temperatures rise.

Learn more about USDA Hardiness Zones here

Spring: Direct sow seeds outdoors as soon as the soil can be worked, typically 4-6 weeks before your average last frost date. Bloomsdale is frost-hardy and thrives in the cool, moist weather of early spring.

Fall: For a superior harvest, sow seeds in late summer (about 6-8 weeks before your average first fall frost). The plants will mature during the cool, shortening days of autumn, which prevents bolting and often results in a sweeter flavor.

Where to Plant:

Sunlight: Spinach prefers full sun during the cool weather of spring and fall. If you are trying to extend the harvest as temperatures rise, planting in a location with partial afternoon shade can help keep the plants cool and delay bolting.

Soil: Plant in rich, loose, well-drained soil. Spinach is a heavy feeder, especially of nitrogen. Amend your soil generously with aged compost or well-rotted manure before planting for the best results.

Soil pH: Prefers a soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5.

How to Plant:

Depth: Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep.

Spacing: Sow seeds 1-2 inches apart in rows that are 12-18 inches apart.

Germination: Be patient. Germination can take 7-14 days and is highly dependent on cool soil temperatures. Keep the seedbed evenly moist.

Growing and Care:

Thinning: Once seedlings have two true leaves and are 2-3 inches tall, thin them to stand 3-6 inches apart. Use the delicious thinnings in salads.

Watering: Spinach has shallow roots and requires consistent moisture. Keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. Drought stress will accelerate bolting.

Mulching: Apply a 2-3 inch layer of organic mulch (such as straw, shredded leaves, or grass clippings) once plants are established. This is crucial for retaining soil moisture and keeping the roots cool.

Fertilizing: If you prepared your soil with compost, you may not need extra fertilizer. If plants seem slow-growing or pale, feed them once or twice with a nitrogen-rich liquid fertilizer (like fish emulsion or a compost tea) during the growing season.

Harvesting:

Baby Leaf: You can begin harvesting individual outer leaves when they are 3-4 inches long (around 28-30 days).

Full Size: Harvest the entire plant by cutting it off at the soil line, or continue to harvest only the outer leaves, allowing the inner leaves to mature. This "cut-and-come-again" method can extend your harvest.

Pro-Tip: Harvest in the cool of the morning for the crispest, most hydrated leaves. Harvest frequently and before the plant sends up a central flower stalk (bolting), as the leaves will turn bitter once this process begins.