Spinach Seeds

Fresh spinach seed germinates readily at 38-40F and may be planted with good results when soil temperatures are 50 to 60 F. Higher temperatures reduce seed germination. Soil temperatures above 85 F will inhibit seed germination. Spinach seed rapidly loses viability. Fresh seed should be purchased each year. Spinach should be planted in rows 1 to 2 feet apart. The seed should be placed 1/2 inch deep and planted to have one plant every 3 to 4 inches after thinning.
Spinach requires a soil pH of 6.0 - 6.5 and will not grow well if pH is below 6.0. Indications of possible soil pH problems include poor seed germination, yellowing and browning of the margins and tips of seedling leaves, browning of roots, and generally slow growth or death of the plants. If soil pH is too high, leaves may show a generalized yellowing or chlorosis.
Spinach is adapted to a range of soil types, from light and sandy to silty clay loams. In heavier soils, spinach should be grown on raised beds to improve drainage for the shallow-rooted plants. Seedling damping off can be reduced by use of raised beds. After seeding, the soil should be kept uniformly moist. When irrigating the garden, apply water in the morning so that the foliage is dry before dark. Apply sufficient water to moisten the soil to a depth of six inches. A uniform supply of soil moisture is required to produce high quality, tender spinach.

Spinach growth starts slowly and then accelerates during the final 21 days before harvest. If a soil test has not been taken, broadcast 5-10-10 fertilizer at 30 pounds per 1,000 square feet before planting. Spinach should be side-dressed once during the growing season with ammonium nitrate at 1 pound per 100 feet of row or calcium nitrate at 2 pounds per 100 feet of row. A total of approximately 150 lb/A of actual N is recommended, usually applied 1/2 preplant and 1/2 as a broadcast application 3-4 weeks after seeding. Spinach requires fairly high boron (B). Most soils in Nebraska supply adequate boron for spinach. Spinach plants can become stunted with dark roots and small, flattened, yellow leaves when boron is deficient. An application of 1 pound of boron (10 lb/A of borax) broadcast before seeding should eliminate the problem in subsequent years. NEVER use boron unless needed and then only in the recommended amounts. Boron is highly toxic to many other garden plants including snap beans, cucumbers, peas and strawberries.
Emergence rate varies depending upon soil temperature; time from planting to harvest also is highly temperature dependent. Generally, most varieties can be harvested 45 to 50 days after planting. Spinach can be harvested from the time the plants have five to six leaves until just before seedstalk formation.

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