Growing Spinach Made Simple – A Cool-Season Favorite

Happy National Spinach Day! At Sow and Reap Gardens, we believe in growing food that’s simple, rewarding, and good for both you and the earth. Spinach is one of the easiest leafy greens to cultivate, thriving in cool weather and providing nutrient-packed greens for your table. Whether you’re a seasoned gardener or just getting started, this guide will help you grow spinach with ease!

Types of Spinach: Which One Will You Grow?

Spinach comes in several varieties, each with its own strengths:

• Savoy Spinach – Deep green, crinkled leaves with a rich flavor. Cold-hardy and great for fresh eating or cooking.

• Semi-Savoy Spinach – A hybrid between savoy and smooth-leaf varieties, offering easier cleaning and disease resistance.

• Flat-Leaf Spinach – Smooth, tender leaves perfect for salads, soups, and smoothies. Grows quickly and is easy to wash.

• Heat-Tolerant Spinach: ‘Malabar’ & ‘New Zealand’ – While true spinach prefers cool temperatures, these heat-tolerant alternatives thrive in summer and can be grown when regular spinach would bolt.

How to Grow Spinach

Spinach is a cool-season crop, thriving in early spring and fall. Here’s how to grow your own:

1. Choose the Right Time – Plant spinach in early spring (as soon as the soil is workable) and again in late summer for a fall harvest.

2. Planting – Sow seeds ½ inch deep and 2 inches apart in rows about a foot apart. Spinach germinates best in soil temperatures between 40-75°F.

3. Sun and Soil – Prefers full sun to partial shade. Use well-draining, nutrient-rich soil with plenty of compost.

4. Watering – Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Mulching helps retain moisture.

5. Harvesting – Start harvesting baby leaves in about 3-4 weeks. Cut outer leaves first so the plant continues producing.

Best Heat-Tolerant Spinach Varieties

Spinach tends to bolt (go to seed) in warm weather, but if you want to grow greens during the summer, try these:

• Malabar Spinach– Not a true spinach, but it thrives in heat, producing thick, vining leaves that can be eaten like spinach.

• New Zealand Spinach – A great substitute that tolerates heat and drought while offering a similar taste and texture to traditional spinach.

• Bloomsdale Long Standing – A true spinach variety that resists bolting longer than most.

The Good Neighbor System: Friends & Foes of Spinach

Companion planting helps spinach thrive. Here are its best garden friends and foes:

Good Neighbors (Companion Plants):

✔️ Strawberries – Helps shade the soil and retain moisture.

✔️ Radishes – Loosens the soil, making room for spinach roots.

✔️ Beans & Peas – Fix nitrogen in the soil, boosting spinach growth.

✔️ Carrots & Onions – Improve soil health and deter pests.

Bad Neighbors (Avoid Planting Near Spinach):

❌ Potatoes – Competes for nutrients and space.

❌ Fennel – Inhibits spinach growth.

❌ Beets – Both are heavy feeders and can deplete soil nutrients.

Spinach is one of the easiest and most nutritious greens you can grow. Whether you plant traditional cool-season varieties or opt for heat-tolerant alternatives, you’ll enjoy fresh, homegrown greens nearly year-round.

Ready to start your garden? Let Sow and Reap Gardens help you with personalized garden consultations and planting plans.