🥬
Spinach
Bloomsdale
Leafy GreensDirect Sow
☀️
Sun
full sun
💧
Water
Every 3 days
🌱
Germination
10 days
🕐
Days to harvest
40 days
📏
Planting depth
0.5 inches deep
↔️
Row spacing
8 inches
When to Plant
Direct sow in early spring or fall
Growing Guide
Soil: rich, moist · pH 6.0–7.5
Spinach is a cool-season crop that prefers rich, moisture-retentive, slightly alkaline soil (unlike most vegetables). Work in 2–3 inches of compost. Soil pH below 6 causes tip burn — lime if needed.
- Direct sow as early as 4–6 weeks before last frost — spinach is very frost-tolerant
- Sow ½ inch deep, 2 inches apart, then thin to 6 inches
- Bloomsdale is a savoy (crinkled) type — excellent flavor but slightly harder to wash
- Make succession sowings every 2 weeks until weather warms above 75°F
- Sow again in late August for fall harvest — fall spinach is the sweetest
Care
💧 Water every 3 days
🌿 Fertilize every 21 days
📐 Spacing: 3 inches apart · 8 inches between rows
Recommended sub-rows: 4
Harvest & Storage
Ready in 40 days with a harvest window of 21 days.
- Begin harvesting outer leaves when plants are 4–6 inches tall
- Never take more than ⅓ of the plant at once for continued production
- Once a flower stalk appears (bolting), harvest the whole plant immediately — flavor deteriorates rapidly
Storage
Refrigerate unwashed in a bag lined with a paper towel to absorb moisture. Fresh spinach keeps 5–7 days. Blanch and freeze excess harvest for use in cooked dishes.
Companion Planting
Grows well with:
strawberrygarlicpea
Essential Tools
- Sharp scissors (leaf harvesting)
- Row cover (extends both spring and fall season by 4–6 weeks)
Pests & Diseases
- Leaf miners (Liriomyza): pale winding trails inside leaves — remove affected leaves; row covers prevent egg-laying
- Downy mildew: grey fuzz on underside of leaves — choose resistant varieties and ensure good airflow
- Spinach crown rot: plants collapse at soil level — avoid overwatering; improve drainage