Use this guide on how to grow spinach to add this cold-hardy vegetable to your garden this spring.
How to Grow Spinach
Spinach is one of my favorite vegetables because it adds so much to every recipe you use it in. It is chock full of nutrients and iron-rich. Growing spinach is fairly easy and it is one of the first crops of the spring because it grows best in cool weather. If you are interested in growing your own spinach this year in your home garden, check out these tips on how to grow spinach.
How to Start Spinach Seedlings
Spinach can be started as seedlings indoors or directly sown into the ground. They are easy to start both ways and which way you choose will depend on what region you live in as well as how cool the current temperatures are as well as other timing. You might also consider succession planting for a longer harvest with spinach. It takes about 40 days from seed to harvest.
If you choose to start them indoors, they can be transplanted with a little extra care given to their root structures. For More Information on how to start spinach from seed indoors and direct sow, check out this post.
How to Transplant Spinach Seedlings
Because spinach has tender root systems that can be very delicate, you will want to use extra care when transplanting them. This can be easily accomplished by transplanting the entire amount in the container used to start seedlings.
You will also want to make sure you plant spinach in nutrient-rich soil that is full of nitrates. This can be done with a good mixture of compost, manure and even extra bone meal added as you prepare the soil for transplant. Also, if you have more than one plant growing, you should thin them out a bit. Don’t pull them out, as this could damage the roots of the other plants.instead pinch them off with your fingernails or use nail scissors.
For more information on how to transplant spinach, check out this post.
How to Avoid Pests and Problems with Spinach
The most common spinach pest is one that is a pest to most plants in your garden. That is, the aphid. The good news is, they can be taken care of with just a good squirt from your hose.
A problem some people run into is shocking or ‘bolting’ your spinach. This usually happens because they were improperly transplanted (that is, not enough care was given to the root system) or they were planted too late and it is too hot out. Both of these can be prevented by planting early enough and taking extra care.
How to Harvest Spinach
Harvesting spinach is super easy and you can even harvest early for the ‘baby’ version. Depending on what you are using it for, you can harvest it at different stages. To harvest, I like to simply snip it off or pinch it off with my nail. Baby spinach is excellent in salads and has a nice milder flavor. Just take the outer leaves and you can have some later harvest as well.
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