Spinach

Spinach was pitched to a generation of children through the merits and power of Popeye. It did them a lot of good too. Spinach is full of vitamins, iron, calcium and so much more, but it is not only good for you but it is good tasting too fresh or cooked, it can even be frozen. It is one of the easiest vegetables to grow as well.

Spinach is a cold weather crop, so it is sown in the fall for an over winter crop in warmer climates or early spring or fall in cooler climates. To lengthen your harvest, plant a new section every two weeks. Space seeds 3 to 6 inches apart as spinach does not like its roots being disturbed and doesn’t take kindly to thinning. The seed can also be broadcast in blocks. I know of one such garden where the spinach simply reseeds itself and has perpetuated for years. It is also well adapted to growing in containers in the case of lack of space or an abundance of rabbits. They should be planted in full sun but being planted in partial shade or shaded by other plants can extend the harvest. Water evenly throughout the growing season.

Great Growing Tips for Spinach Sow in the spring or fall when the weather is cool. Spinach will go to seed in hot weather. Seed will not germinate well in hot weather. Even in cool weather it can be slow to germinate. Be patient.

Heirloom spinach can tolerate some light shade.

Plant spinach seed in rich, highly humus organic soil.

Replant every two weeks for a continual crop. Plant seed thickly and thin regularly for baby spinach.

Never let your spinach dry out.

You may continually harvest from the lower leaves until the plant is spent.