Spinach

Spinach is a leafy green vegetable that grows best in cool weather. Spinach, like most dark green leafy vegetables, contains vitamins A and C, potassium and folic acids.

Spinach is one of the most satisfying cool-weather crops to grow, producing large yields of vitamin-rich, dark green leaves that are excellent for salads and for cooking. Since both hot weather and long days trigger spinach to bolt (send up a seed stalk) quickly, the secret to success with this crop is to start sowing seeds as soon as possible in spring, to make small, frequent plantings during late spring and summer.

Spinach does best when growing in moist, nitrogen-rich soil. If you have grown peas it will be sufficient for the soil, as pea plants roots make the soil rich in nitrogen. Spinach plants form a deep taproot; for best growth, so, loosen the soil at least 1 foot deep before planting.

Spinach seed doesn’t store well, so buy fresh seeds every year. Sow them ½ inch deep and 2 inches apart in beds or rows. If the weather isn’t extremely cold, seeds will germinate in 5 to 9 days. Spinach produces beautifully in cool fall conditions, but it’s tricky to persuade the seed to germinate in the hot conditions of summer. Sow seeds heavily, because the germination rate drops to about 50 percent in warm weather, and water the seed beds frequently—even twice a day, as we had said before watering helps to cool the soil.

Spinach can be harvested in the cut and come again method of harvesting. Cut individual leaves, starting with the older, outer leaves, and letting the young inner leaves remain and continue growing for a later harvest.

If you cut about an inch above the crown or base of the plant, it is very likely the plant will send out a new flush of leaves.