![]() ![]() One key to successfully growing spinach is to plant the seeds when soil temperatures are cool. You can grow spinach in a container, but choose varieties specifically suited to it, a container large enough for it, and a nutrient-rich soilless potting mix. If you are following intensive gardening plans, such as Mel Bartholomew's square foot gardening, plant 9 seeds per square foot. Sow the seeds ½ inch deep two inches apart, in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. ![]() Mature spinach has a long taproot, so loosen the soil to between 12 and 18 inches. Mini-till or spade the ground and level it off with a rake. Prepare the planting bed by amending the soil with rich compost or aged manure. Spinach likes full sun but will tolerate partial shade. A raised bed with good drainage is perfect for growing an early spring crop since the soil warms quickly and can be worked following just a few warm days. Always check the seed packet for specific varietal recommendations. For best results, use fresh seeds as the germination rate for this crop deteriorates quickly. Select a variety of spinach for growing and a garden area for planting. Spinach is versatile in the kitchen and packs a powerhouse of nutrients: iron potassium magnesium vitamins A, B6, B9, C and E and lutein. Spinach stores well in the refrigerator or can be blanched and frozen for later use. The many varieties of spinach include smooth-leaf, savoy or curly leaf, arrowhead, and savory. No one likes to thin their plants but trust me, a poor harvest will be more devastating than killing a few now.Spinach ( Spinacia oleracea) is a vitamin-rich, delicious, leafy green that is best grown in the cool weather of either spring or fall. Thinning plants is never easy but it must be done! Overall the best advice for thinning plants is simply, be ruthless. Check out this post to learn about when we thin corn plants.Water your plants after thinning to ensure any that may have been disturbed re-establish well.To avoid damaging other plants roots as you thin you can just use scissors to cut your plants off as close to the ground as possible rather than pulling them.If your plants have to compete with each other for nutrients they’ll be less productive and more prone to disease and pest issues. While you can sometimes grow plants closer together than recommended if you are meticulous in your soil management and add a lot of amendments it’s not a always a good idea. Properly spaced plants will get enough nutrients. In some areas you may be able to provide plenty of water to thinly spaced plants however if you experience any droughts it’s always better to have a safety buffer. Plants that are properly thinned will get adequate water. You want to keep your best plants for a productive harvest and if you choose to save seed you’ll know you’re saving from plants that performed the best from the start. When you thin plants you should thin any that show any signs of weakness or disease. Thinning also helps ensure healthy plants. If plants don’t have plenty of air circulation they can be prone to pest and disease issues. It ensures plants have proper air circulation. Avoiding thinning will leave you with spindly carrots and thumbnail size beets. For example, root vegetable harvests will suffer tremendously without optimum space. Some vegetables can be grown in small areas if they get enough other resources such as plentiful water and nutrients however there’s always a limit. Thinning ensures growing plants have adequate space. As plants grow they compete for resources and this can weaken them and hurt your harvests. Ultimately though plants will need to be thinned. Thinning is important for plants to grow well but in the beginning competing with other plants can make your seedlings more vigorous. Secondly many plants thrive with a little competition in the beginning. First and most obviously, starting more seeds will ensure you get a harvest even if you have less than ideal germination. While you may be tempted to plant to your desired spacing and avoid thinning altogether this is not ideal. However it is an incredibly important step if you want a good harvest. Thinning isn’t the most labor intensive job but it feels sad to kill plants I’ve worked hard to keep healthy. There’s nothing I dread more than having to thin my seedlings. Everyone complains about weeding but that may not be the worst gardening job. ![]()
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