Latin Name: Spinacia oleracea
Main Uses: Culinary

Days to Maturity: 37 days to maturity
Exposure: Full sun to part shade
Height: 8 cm (3 inches)
Certified Organic: Ecocert Canada

Germination: 7 - 14 days in soil at 4° C or warmer.
Sowing Outdoors:  Sow outdoors once the soil has warmed to 4° C in the spring and then again in summer for fall harvests.
Seed Spacing: 1” and then thin to 2” apart.
Row Spacing: 12 - 18”.
Planting depth: 1/4”. Lightly press into the planting medium to ensure good soil contact. Water the seeds gently with a fine spray. Keep the soil evenly watered until the seedlings emerge.

Growing in Containers: Grows very well in larger containers and raised beds. If you have limited garden space, Spinach can be easily cultivated in a container/barrel.

Fertilizing (Containers): Add up to 25% quality compost to your potting mix. This plant loves a higher nitrogen fertilizer - diluted fish fertilizer is an excellent organic choice, applied weekly.

Watering (Containers): Water deeply when the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch. Check every day or two during very hot weather.

Growing in Mixed Planters: Well-suited for larger mixed planters. Think square-foot gardening!

Fertilizing (Garden): Plant in a garden bed recently amended with quality compost. Feed weekly with a higher-nitrogen organic fertilizer.

Watering (Garden): Water deeply to establish. Water mature plants weekly during hot weather.

Notes: Spinach is extremely hardy and tolerant of cold weather, but it is not drought tolerant or heat tolerant - it will bolt in hot weather.

Harvesting: Harvest leaves at any stage from baby to full size. Once Spinach starts to bolt it loses its flavour.

Garden Companions:
Companion Plants: Corn, Onions, and Tomatoes provide shade for Spinach. Strawberry, Celery, Cauliflower (and Brassicas), Eggplant, Leeks, Lettuce, Peas, and Radish are all compatible neighbours.
Avoid: Planting Spinach near Potatoes.
Pest/Disease Issues: Plant radishes near your spinach as leaf-miners (a common problem on spinach) prefer radish leaves over spinach.

Suitability for Indoors: Not well-suited for indoors, as cool conditions are required.