Wilted Spinach Salad Recipe. And if you plant them too late, your spinach wont produce a harvest before the first frost arrives in the fall. Upright, long-standing, slow to bolt. The seedlings should be thinned so that they are 6-8 inches apart. Before settling them in the garden, harden-off transplantsplace them in their containers outdoors in a sheltered place a few days ahead of planting them. Fertilize with a commercial food that contains plenty of nitrogen or use an organic fish emulsion or cottonseed meal. Plant your seeds about 1 inch (2.5 cm) apart to allow proper growth. Harvest herbs and dry them in a cool, dry place. Control aphids with insecticidal soap. But the department, now led by Commissioner Tyler. The ideal daytime temperature for growing spinach is 50 to 70F, so it's well suited to growing in the spring or fall. Its easier to harvest and eat fresh greens when they are practically right in front of you. Sometimes the grit does not wash out completely despite repeated attempts, and a gritty salad is the result. Dr. Pepper Strawberries & Cream Is Tearing Us Apart. Spinach is a cool-season vegetable that prefers sunny locations and fertile, well-drained soil. Sow spinach seed in rows 12 inches apart, and thin to 1 plant every 6 inches. [Accessed Sep 10, 2014]. Anytime soil temperatures are over 75F (24C), move it into the shade to be safe. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 42,684 times. Harvest mature green peppers and tomatoes before frost gets themit may not come until November, but be ready. Covering the plants with cheesecloth or using commercial row covers is the only way to protect them. One must choose the site and the proper cultivar and provide care throughout the year to be successful. Agricultural Research 46(6): 26. What Do Spinach Seedlings Look Like? Spinach is versatile in the kitchen and packs a powerhouse of nutrients: iron; potassium; magnesium; vitamins A, B6, B9, C and E; and lutein. Let your seeds germinate in their permanent pot indoors for around 3 weeks before putting them outside. Spinach takes about 45 days to mature. If watering is necessary to get a stand, open the furrow for seed, pour in water, plant seed, and cover. This often allows for successive plantings depending upon your climactic region. Spinach needs consistent moisture, so be sure to water frequently. resources. The thick, russet-skinned potatoes sold in the grocery store do not grow well in the South and should be avoided. Grow the plants under lights or in the greenhouse, and transplant them into the garden when they are large enough to handle, 3 or 4 weeks before the frost-free date. Pre-soak seeds to increase germination rates, and plant each seed inch deep and 2-4 inches apart. Step 2: Find your monthly temperature averages for the year You can find your location's average temperatures by day/month in the US on websites like weather.com. Plan the garden to include various vitamin groups. We have faculty and staff in every county across the state that are available to assist you. Space your spinach plants so they get good air circulation, and try to keep water off the leaves in the evening. Keep in mind that when soil temperature is low, nitrogen is limited. If you mulch very lightly with straw, spinach plants will survive winter fine and will grow rapidly in spring until they get too hot in May. Recent updates, initiatives and programs from UGA Extension. There are 15 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. I'm Paul. Once the days warm up and the temperature reaches the 80F, spinach will want to bolt. Leaf miners are small larvae that live in and eat the leaves of plants. Growing spinach in a pot or other container is ideal. Plant the following no later than the dates indicated below: In order to calculate the planting date, determine the frost date and count back the number of days to maturity plus 18 days for harvest of the crop. Spinach is a cool-weather crop that can produce in spring or fall. Marie's garden writing has been featured in newspapers and magazines nationwide and she has been interviewed for Martha Stewart Radio, National Public Radio, and numerous articles. Sow seed directly in the garden in late July or early August, or transplant seedlings in September. If you're in a subtropical or tropical climate, place your containers in a spot with lots of shade. Sow the seeds inch deep two inches apart, in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. Soil should have a pH of at least 6.0 but, ideally, it should be between 6.5-7.5. Beyond thinning, no cultivation is necessary. I'm a dad, and I love gardening. Some varieties are better suited for Georgias climate than others. Every year does not conform to the average, so you should use your own judgment about advancing or delaying the time for each job, depending on weather conditions. Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep in containers. It can be grown on the window sill, right outside the kitchen door or on a balcony. It will even germinate in soil temps in the 40s but much slower. It can tolerate a light frost, but heavy freezes will kill the plant. In Georgia, the best time to plant spinach is in the spring, after the last frost has occurred. Spinach is a great addition to salads, soups, sauts, and stir-fries. Space spinach plants 12 inches apart in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0. Spinach can be grown from seed or starts. More detailed information can be found in The Georgia Fruit & Vegetable Book by Walter Reeves and Felder Rushing. However, they have some clear differences. Plants can survive a light frost, but a hard freeze will kill them. Any person that uses the translated site does so at that persons own risk. Start off the growing season right by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter into your native soil. You can slightly delay this by planting in the partial shade of taller plants. Then, place it in a plastic bag and store it in the refrigerator. Keep the strongest seedlings and cut the weaker sprouts to the ground. By signing up you are agreeing to receive emails according to our privacy policy. Watch out for flea beetles, spider mites, and aphids feasting on spinach leaves. Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is an annual leafy green vegetable that grows best in cool weather. Watch out for insects, especially cutworms, plant lice (aphids), and red spider mites. Most types aren't great for hotter areas, or regions outside of USDA zones 3-9. Amend the soil with compost and reuse the bed for the next warm-season vegetable crop, such as beans or peppers. Also, look for varieties that can take the heat if you live in a warmer region. In Georgia, the best time to plant spinach is in the spring, after the last frost has occurred. Also plant cucumbers, squash, and snap beans. Spinach Germination Time When planted in the right soil, spinach seeds germinate very quickly. Gently pull out all weeds when they are small so as not to disturb the spinach roots. Well-draining soil is important for spinach to grow well in pots. Off-Grid with Curtis Stone 44K views 5 years ago 5 Fast Growing Veggies You Can Harvest in Under 1 Month Epic Gardening 3.6M views 2 years ago How To. 16 PROVEN Ways to Get Rid of Aphids on Decumaria (2023), Here is the BEST Time to Harvest Hyssop in Nebraska (2023 Guide), 10 BEST Grapes to Grow in Louisiana (2023 Guide), Use a heat mat to ensure the gardening pot remains at 70 degrees Fahrenheit, Use a grow light to control how much light your spinach seeds receive, Water your seeds with a spray bottle to ensure your seeds are not overwatered. One key to successfully growing spinach is to plant the seeds when soil temperatures are cool. Check on your compost pile and make sure it is ready for use in the spring. Visit Cut Cancer Risks with Spinach for recipes using spinach. Lee, J. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. I am using my own pods with Spinach Americana and it is doing fabulously. Does This Dr. Pepper Really Taste Like Bourbon? Mulching the young plants will help keep the soil moist and cool and will also discourage weeds. You might want to risk planting out a few of the more tender crops and keeping them covered during bad weather. Because it is such a fast grower, spinach is also a heavy feeder. Plant seeds inch deep, 2-3 weeks before the last frost in the spring. This is because the plant will bolt quickly and the seeds won't germinate in hot soil temperatures above 85 degrees. It does best in milder temperatures (ideally 15-20C/60-70F), as cold or hot, dry conditions can cause it to start flowering prematurely (bolting), putting an end to harvests. Spinach also can be frozen for later use. Knowing your first and last frost dates will help you start your vegetable seeds at the right time. Adding a layer of mulch around the plants also can help to maintain soil moisture. UGA Extension offers a wealth of personalized services Recommendations are to plant spinach about four to eight weeks before your average last frost date in the spring and six to eight weeks before the average first frost date in the fall. Using the planting schedules below will help you get the most out of your garden. When they are 2 inches (5 cm. Tyee (can be grown year-round), Teton, Indian Summer, and Catalina are the best choices. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Sow spinach indoors 6 to 8 weeks before the last average frost date in spring. But people have long found ways to smuggle water spinach into Georgia. Keep the plants growing, and water as needed to provide about 1 inch per week. Spinach can also be planted in the fall, about 6 weeks before the first frost is expected. Almost anything that grows in a garden can be grown in a container. Slow-growing spinach varieties mature best under warm conditions, whereas faster-growing varieties mature best under cooler conditions. Harvesting the leaves throughout the growing season is how you prune a spinach plant to keep it vigorous. Understanding the relationship of spinach to temperature is critical to achieving success. Specifically, you are going to need to watch when the last frost occurs. It doesnt take much to grow water spinachjust water and wet soil. Review the results of last year's garden and order the more successful varieties. New Zealand spinach, Tetragonia tetragonioides, is a summer substitute for spinach; there is only 1 variety. October is National Farm to School Month, and this year students will learn more about a leafy green that is packed with nutrition through the theme "Spinach to Win It." Farm to School Month is coordinated by Georgia Organics in partnership with University of Georgia Cooperative Extension and other institutions. It's best to pot in a container that will accommodate the plant's mature size, as spinach doesn't like its roots disturbed in repotting. If using Square Foot Gardening, plant 4-9 per square depending on the variety. Make a note about favorite varieties. To seed directly in the garden, chilling the seeds in the refrigerator for 2 weeks or soaking them overnight before sowing them will hasten germination, and covering the seeds with a board 4 7 days will keep the seed cool and moist until they sprout. Keep an eye on soil temperature during the summer and keep your plants in the shade when necessary. Plant your choices of the following warm-season or "frost-tender" crops: beans (snap, pole, and lima), cantaloupe, sweet corn, cucumbers, eggplant, okra, field peas, peppers, squash, tomatoes, and watermelon. Spinach needs around six weeks of cool temperatures to grow from seed to maturity. Sign up for our newsletter. The store will not work correctly in the case when cookies are disabled.