Growing spinach

Types

Clemson HGIC 1320 (South Carolina): spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a hardy, cool-season crop that can be planted in early spring or fall throughout South Carolina. Clemson’s sheet states it can survive temperatures of 20 °F without injury. Type notes on their sheet — not a cultivar mill. Clemson’s attributed hardiness wording — not a planting-safety promise.

Timing

Clemson HGIC 1320 (South Carolina): plant spinach in early spring. The optimum soil temperature for spinach seed germination is 70 °F. Soil temperature above 85 °F will inhibit seed germination. Timing on their sheet — not a national plant date.

Spacing

Clemson HGIC 1320 (South Carolina): plant spinach seed in rows 1 to 3 feet apart, spacing seed 2 inches apart in the row. Plant seed ½ inch deep and firm the soil over the seed. Seed can also be broadcast on 12-inch wide beds. Spacing on their sheet — not a BioArva average.

Limit

South Carolina HGIC 1320. 20 °F hardiness stays Clemson’s attributed wording. Not fertilizer.

Types

Maryland Extension (Maryland): hardy annual; can withstand heavy frosts in spring and fall. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea). Two types of common spinach — smooth leaf and savoy leaf. New Zealand spinach is a different plant. Type notes — not a cultivar mill. Maryland’s attributed hardiness wording — not a planting-safety promise.

Timing

Maryland Extension (Maryland): sow seed early in the spring after soil temperatures have reached 45 °F. Days to maturity 28 to 55 from seed. Maryland timing — not a national plant date.

Spacing

Maryland Extension (Maryland): 3 inches apart in rows or equidistantly in wide rows or beds. Spacing on their sheet — not a BioArva average.

Limit

Maryland spinach garden page. Hardy-annual wording and 45 °F stay Maryland. Not fertilizer.

Timing

UMN Extension (Minnesota): to direct seed spinach for a summer crop, sow seeds as soon as the soil is workable in the spring. For a fall crop, sow seed two months before the average first frost date. Minnesota timing — not a national plant date.

Spacing

UMN Extension (Minnesota): plant seeds one-fourth to one-half inch deep, in rows 18 to 30 inches apart. Thin spinach to two to four inches apart. Spacing on their sheet — not a BioArva average.

Limit

Minnesota spinach sheet. Workable-spring timing and 2–4 in thin stay Minnesota. Not fertilizer.

Types

Illinois Extension (Illinois): Illinois contrasts crinkled-leaved and plain-leaved spinach; its sheet says crinkled leaves tend to catch soil during rainfalls. Type notes — not a mill.

Timing

Illinois Extension (Illinois): the first planting can be made as soon as the soil is prepared in the spring. If the soil was prepared in the fall, seeds can be broadcast over frozen ground or snow cover in late winter and they will germinate as the soil thaws. Illinois timing — not a national plant date.

Spacing

Illinois Extension (Illinois): sow 12 to 15 seeds per foot of row. Cover ½ inch deep. When the plants are one inch tall, thin to 2 to 4 inches apart. The rows may be as close as 12 inches apart. In beds, plants may be thinned to stand 4 to 6 inches apart in all directions. Spacing on their sheet — not a BioArva average.

Limit

Illinois spinach page. Crinkled-versus-plain contrast stays Illinois. Not fertilizer.