Spinach

Spinacia oleracea · Vegetable

A quick, cool-season leafy green ready to pick within weeks of sowing. It grows best in the mild days of spring and autumn; long, hot days make it bolt to seed. Sowing small batches regularly gives a steady supply of tender leaves.

Spinach — Photo: Rasbak, CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons

💧WaterEvery 2–3 days, keep evenly moist (estimated)

☀️LightFull sun to partial shade

🐾PetsGenerally safe in small amounts

Care at a glance

Light: Full sun to partial shade; shade helps in warm weather
Water: About 1 in per week; keep soil evenly moist
Soil: Fertile, moist, well-drained, pH 6.5–7.5
Temperature: Best 50–70 °F; tolerates light frost
Spacing: 3–6 in in the row, 12 in between rows
Container: At least 6 in deep; window boxes work
Harvest: Baby leaves in 25–30 days, full size 40–50 days (estimated)
Lifespan: Annual

When?

Sow outdoors 4–6 weeks before your last spring frost and again from late summer for an autumn crop. In mild winters sowings can continue through the cool season (estimated).

Step by step

Sow seeds 1/2 in deep directly where they will grow; spinach dislikes transplanting.
Keep the soil moist until seedlings appear, usually in 7–14 days.
Thin seedlings to 3–6 in apart; eat the thinnings.
Feed with a nitrogen-rich fertilizer or compost for lush leaves.
Mulch to keep soil cool and moist as days warm up.
Harvest outer leaves as needed or cut the whole plant just above the base.
Sow a new batch every 2–3 weeks while temperatures stay cool.

Common problems

Plants send up a flower stalkBolting from heat and long days; sow earlier or later and pick promptly.

Yellow patches with purple-gray fuzz belowDowny mildew; space plants wider and water at the base.

Pale, slow growthNitrogen shortage or cold soil; feed lightly with compost or fertilizer.

Winding trails inside leavesLeaf miners; remove affected leaves and cover crops with fine mesh.

Pets

Not listed by the ASPCA; generally not considered a concern for cats and dogs in small amounts, though it is high in oxalates. Pets with kidney or bladder problems are best kept from eating it. If in doubt, ask your vet.

Similar plants

Lettuce Radish Pea

Sources

ASPCA — Toxic and Non-Toxic Plants

This page is general guidance; no pesticide doses are given.