Spinach
Spinacia oleracea · Amaranthaceae
📷 Rasbak · CC BY-SA 3.0
The gardener's calendar
Ideal time to plant spinach: set it out when the soil is neither frozen nor waterlogged, and water generously as it establishes.
ID card
- Foliage
- Deciduous, edible
- Flowering
- May to June
- Adult size
- 30 to 40 cm in height
- Growth
- Fast (6 to 8 weeks until harvest)
- Hardiness
- Semi-hardy, dislikes intense heat
- Origin
- Middle East and Central Asia
- Soil type
- Rich, well-drained, slightly alkaline
✓ Taxonomy verifiedSource: AI estimate · hardiness: reliability high.
Expert tips
The key tip
Spinach is a cool-season crop: sow in March-April or August-September for quick harvest (6-8 weeks). Rich organic soil, moderate moisture maintenance.
The common mistake
Sowing in May-June: it bolts immediately in the heat and becomes unsuitable for tender leaf consumption.
The pro's trick
Sow a winter variety ('Bloomsdale') in September to harvest leaves from November to April; much more productive than spring and better flavor quality.
Care
Regular watering
Keep the soil moist but not waterlogged, watering regularly, especially during the growth period. Water in the late afternoon at the base of the plant to prevent disease. Reduce watering in winter or during cool weather.
Sunny exposure
Place your spinach in full sun (minimum 6 to 8 hours) to promote good growth and optimal flavor. It tolerates light partial shade in summer, which can actually delay bolting during intense heat.
Harvesting and pinching
Pick the outer leaves once they reach a good size, starting 4 to 6 weeks after sowing. Pinch off flower stalks as soon as they appear if you want to extend leaf production. You can harvest the entire plant or gradually.
Soil preparation
Prepare a soil rich in organic matter (well-decomposed compost) and well-drained. Spinach prefers slightly neutral to alkaline pH. Avoid overly acidic or compacted soils.
Moderate fertilization
Add compost or balanced fertilizer at the time of sowing or planting. A light nitrogen boost mid-season can stimulate leaf growth without excess.
Health monitoring
Watch for powdery mildew and downy mildew, especially in humid conditions. Aphids and spider mites can also infest it. Prefer good air circulation and avoid prolonged moisture on the foliage.
Did you know?
Spinach owes its fame as an iron source to a 19th-century decimal error: a researcher allegedly misplaced the decimal point in a German nutritional analysis, multiplying its actual iron content by ten! Popeye later immortalized this myth. Nevertheless, spinach remains a very nutritious food, rich in magnesium, folates and vitamins.
Where to buy it
Plant in spring or early autumn, avoiding spells of intense heat. Pick a plant with healthy foliage and roots that are not exposed. Best time: March, April, May, September.
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Tips generated and checked by Viridia — adapt them to your local climate.