Tips for Successful Spinach Planting

By: Angela Judd | January 26, 2025

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a nutrient-packed, cool-season crop that can be enjoyed fresh or cooked. However, planting spinach can be challenging if you don’t pay close attention to timing, variety selection, and temperature. I’ve learned this from experience: my family eats spinach faster than it grows! That’s why I plant more than I think we’ll need, and I also choose different locations—one that’s sunny in cooler weather and one with partial shade as temperatures rise. By spreading out my spinach planting areas, the crop grows a bit slower in shadier spots but lasts longer into spring.

Use this guide to discover how to plant spinach from seed, care for your plants, and harvest consistently. You’ll also find tips for growing spinach in hot climates and answers to common questions like “How do I plant spinach in containers?”

Introduction
When to Plant Spinach
Plant Spinach in the Right Location
Planting Spinach from Seed: Choosing the Best Varieties
How Do I Plant Spinach Correctly?
Caring for Spinach After Planting
Harvesting Spinach: When and How to Pick Your Spinach
How to Store Spinach After Harvesting
Tips for Planting Spinach in Hot Climates
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ
Sources for Additional Reading and Health Information

Introduction

Spinach is often called a “superfood” because it’s loaded with nutrients like iron, calcium, and vitamins A and C. How to plant and grow spinach successfully involves choosing the right time of year, knowing when to plant spinach indoors or outside, and giving it the care it needs to thrive. In the following sections, you’ll learn how to plant spinach step by step, from seed selection to harvesting techniques.

Harvesting Spinach_ When and How to Pick Your Spinach (2)

When to Plant Spinach: Planting Dates and Guidelines

Timing is essential when planting spinach to ensure a healthy and abundant harvest. Here are the key guidelines to help you plan your spinach planting effectively:

Optimal Soil Temperatures for Germination

Germination Range: Spinach seeds sprout best when the soil temperature is between 45°F and 75°F (7°C to 24°C).
Ideal Temperature: The perfect soil temperature for spinach seeds to germinate is around 70°F (21°C), promoting healthy and rapid growth.

Transplanting Seedlings Outdoors

Readiness for Transplant: Spinach seedlings that are started indoors typically become ready for outdoor transplanting after 3 to 4 weeks. At this stage, the seedlings should be strong enough to handle the outdoor environment.

Cold Climates

Initial Transplant: Move your spinach seedlings outdoors approximately 4 weeks before the last frost date in your region. This timing allows the plants to establish themselves before the colder weather sets in.
Early Sowing: Plant spinach seeds directly into the garden as soon as the soil is workable in the spring. This ensures that the seeds have enough time to grow before the temperatures rise.
Late-Season Planting: For a late fall harvest, sow spinach seeds 2 to 4 weeks before the first expected frost. This timing helps the plants mature before the cold weather arrives, allowing you to enjoy fresh spinach even as the season changes.

Warm Climates

In hot areas like the low desert of Arizona, plant spinach during cooler months
- Start seeds indoors from August to January.
- Transplant or plant seeds outside from September to mid-February.

Aim for at least six weeks of cool weather for healthy growth. Add shade cloth to prolong the season if you see temperatures rising quickly in spring. Get ideas for adding shade to your garden here.

Plant Spinach in the Right Location

Spinach can handle full sun when it’s cool outside, but partial shade helps prevent bolting in warmer conditions.

Soil Preparation:
- Spinach prefers moist, fertile soil with a neutral to slightly alkaline pH (about 7.0).
- Work 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) of compost into the topsoil before planting spinach. I like to add worm castings before planting as well. Learn about the benefits of worm castings in this guide.
Companion Planting:
- Grow spinach near radishes, strawberries, or garlic. Avoid potatoes or pumpkins, which compete for nutrients. Get more ideas for cool-season and warm-season companion plants in this guide.
- Low-growing crops like lettuce or spinach benefit from the shade provided by cucumber vines. For more great pairings, check out this post on what to plant with cucumbers.
Crop Rotation:
- If possible, wait two years before planting spinach (or its relatives like beets or Swiss chard) in the same spot to reduce pests and diseases. Learn how to grow beets in this guide. Get tips for planting Swiss chard here.

Planting Spinach from Seed: Choosing the Best Varieties

Explore different spinach varieties to find what works best in your garden.

(Click on the spinach name for seed options.)

Smooth-Leafed Spinach:
- Matador – Dark green, smooth leaves, easy to clean.
- Giant Noble – Large, thick leaves, perfect for salads or cooking.
- Longstanding – Fast-growing and weather-tolerant new spinach with juicy thick leaves and especially tasty mild sweet flavor.
- Catalina – Fast growth and bolt resistant. Smooth leaves.
Savoy (Crinkly Leaves):
- Bloomsdale – Heirloom variety with curled leaves, very hardy but harder to wash.
Good for Containers:
- Little Hero – Crisp, but tender-textured smooth leaves.

For hot climates, consider heat-tolerant “spinach-like” greens such as Longevity spinach, New Zealand spinach or Malabar spinach, which can withstand higher temperatures better than traditional spinach. Learn how to grow Malabar spinach in this guide.

How Do I Plant Spinach Correctly?

One key to spinach planting success is ensuring proper seed depth and spacing:

Seed Depth: Sow each seed ½ inch (1.3 cm) deep.
Spacing: Plant seeds 2–4 inches (5–10 cm) apart. Thin seedlings later to 4–6 inches (10–15 cm).
Succession Planting: Sow seeds every 2–3 weeks for a continuous supply of fresh spinach leaves.
Square Foot Gardening: Plant 4–9 spinach seeds per square foot, depending on the variety.

Personal Tip: I always plant more than I think I’ll need because my family goes through spinach at record speed!

Caring for Spinach

Spinach is low-maintenance but needs consistent care:

Watering:
- Keep soil consistently moist but not waterlogged. Mulching helps conserve moisture and keeps weeds down. Learn more about mulching in this guide.
Fertilizing:
- Spinach loves compost (or vermicompost) tea or seaweed extract every couple of weeks. Learn how to make your own vermicompost tea in this guide.
Pest Management:
- Common pests include leaf miners and aphids. Use row covers to prevent infestations and remove any damaged leaves promptly.

Harvesting Spinach: When and How to Pick Your Spinach

Regular harvesting encourages new growth, so harvest your spinach often. When and how you harvest spinach can make a big difference in flavor:

Cut-and-Come-Again:
- Snip outer leaves when large enough to eat, leaving the center leaves to continue growing. Learn more about cut-and-come-again harvesting here.
Whole Plant Harvest:
- If you see flower buds forming in the center of the plant it is bolting. Cut the entire plant at the base to save what’s left before the leaves turn bitter.

spinach bolting — Flower bud indicates spinach is bolting

Storing and Using Spinach

Once you’ve harvested your spinach, there are plenty of ways to enjoy this nutritious leafy green:

Eat It Fresh: Spinach leaves are perfect for salads or sandwiches. Their mild flavor and tender texture make them an easy way to boost the nutrients in your meals.
Sauté: Lightly cooking spinach in a bit of olive oil with garlic or onions is a quick, tasty way to serve it as a side dish. You can also add sautéed spinach to pasta, omelets, or casseroles for extra flavor and vitamins.

Storing Fresh Spinach

Refrigeration: Gently rinse the leaves to remove any dirt or grit, then pat them dry. Store spinach in a perforated plastic bag in the refrigerator. It typically stays fresh for up to 10 days.
Avoid Crushing: Place spinach on top of other produce or in a designated spot where it won’t be squashed. Bruised leaves spoil faster.

Preserving Spinach

Freezing: Blanch spinach leaves in boiling water for about 30 seconds, then plunge them into ice water. Pat dry and freeze in airtight containers or freezer bags. Frozen spinach is great for soups, smoothies, and casseroles.
Freeze-Drying: If you have a freeze-dryer, this method preserves spinach’s nutrients and flavor. Store freeze-dried spinach in sealed containers or bags for long-term use. Learn more about freeze-drying in this guide.

Tips for Growing Spinach in Hot Climates

Growing spinach in hot summer climates comes with its own set of challenges:

Timing:
- Plant during cooler months, or start seeds indoors to give them a head start.
Shade:
- Consider partial shade or use a shade cloth when daytime temperatures soar.
Heat-Tolerant Varieties:
- Tyee, Indian Summer Hybrid, and other slow-bolting varieties can handle mild heat better than standard types.
- Try growing Longevity or Malabar spinach. Heat-loving spinach alternatives.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Can I Grow Spinach in Containers?

Yes! Use a container at least 6–8 inches (15–20 cm) deep with good drainage. Keep soil moist and fertilize regularly. Learn more about container gardening in this guide.

Q2: How Often Should I Water My Spinach?

Aim for consistently moist soil. In cooler weather, water once or twice a week. In hot conditions or with containers, water more frequently. This guide shares more tips for how to water your garden.

Q3: How Do I Prevent Bolting?

Bolting happens when it’s too hot or the days get very long. Plant spinach early in spring or late in summer, choose slow-bolting varieties and use shade cloth if needed. Learn more about how to add shade to your garden in this guide.

Q4: What Pests Should I Watch Out For?

Leaf miners, aphids, and slugs are the main culprits. Prevent them by using row covers, encouraging beneficial insects, and removing any damaged leaves. Get more pest control tips in this guide.

Q5: Why Is My Spinach So Small?

Spinach may stay small if the soil is poor, the weather is too hot, or the plants are overcrowded. Thin seedlings to the recommended spacing and improve soil quality with compost.

Q6: Can I Grow Spinach Year-Round?

In mild climates, yes. In very hot regions, you’ll likely need a break during peak summer and start again when temperatures cool. Learn about crops that love hot summers in this guide.

Sources for Additional Reading and Health Information

WebMD – Spinach: Health Benefits & Nutrition

Cleveland Clinic – Benefits of Spinach

Now that you know how to plant and grow spinach—from timing and location to variety selection and harvest—give it a try in your garden. If you found this helpful, please share it with fellow gardeners, and check out my other guides for more tips on growing healthy, delicious veggies. Happy spinach planting!