Q&A for How to Grow Spinach

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Can I pull off the leaves then start again with the same roots?

Andrew Carberry, MPH
Food Systems and Gardening Expert
Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.

Andrew Carberry, MPH

Food Systems and Gardening Expert

Expert Answer

You can harvest the outer leaves and let the inner leaves mature. If you harvest all the leaves at once, the plant will die.

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Question

How far down should I plant spinach?

Andrew Carberry, MPH
Food Systems and Gardening Expert
Andrew Carberry is a Food Systems Expert and the Senior Program Associate at the Wallace Center at Winrock International in Little Rock, Arkansas. He has worked in food systems since 2008 and has experience working on farm-to-school projects, food safety programs, and working with local and state coalitions in Arkansas. He is a graduate of the College of William and Mary and holds a Masters degree in public health and nutrition from the University of Tennessee.

Andrew Carberry, MPH

Food Systems and Gardening Expert

Expert Answer

The optimal depth for planting spinach seeds is from between 1/2 an inch to an inch deep in the soil.

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Question

What do spinach plants look like when they have grown past harvesting?

Amy Harrison

Top Answerer

Their leaves will begin to turn yellow. You want to harvest your spinach before then. Spinach can be chopped once at the base and it may begin to sprout again for another harvest, if you're lucky.

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Question

What bugs should I look out for?

Community Answer

Caterpillars, wireworms, crown mites, aphids, and leafminers are the most frequent problem causers, and pains should be taken to eliminate them.

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Question

What can I do once it has bolted?

Community Answer

I make "sag". It's a semi-spicy Indian dish made from washed, steamed and then pureed spinach leaves. Recipes vary -- some add boiled small potatoes and lots of fresh chopped tomatoes.

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If I am thinning the plants, can I replant the ones I remove?

Community Answer

Yes, as long as the weather is fairly cool and they have some soil with their roots. Water the new transplants thoroughly and gently, and maybe give them a shade cloth. They may take a while to recover from being transplanted but will soon provide more spinach.

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Question

How many days does it take spinach to reach maturity?

Community Answer

If you’re providing proper amounts of water, fertilizer, compost (potting mix) and neem oil (in the case of any diseases), it will take 6 to 8 weeks to grow from seed to harvest.

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Question

What bugs or viruses do I have to look out for?

Community Answer

Caterpillars, wire worms, crown mites, aphids, leaf miners, and many more.

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Question

Does spinach ever grow like a vine?

Community Answer

A type of spinach called Malabar spinach does grow like a vine. Its leaves taste similar to the regular spinach and can be used in cooking in the same manner.

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Question

How do I grow spinach in the winter?

Community Answer

Spinach grows in hot months, typically.

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Question

Can I grow spinach in rain gutters?

Anna Rich

Community Answer

Yes, just make sure to put holes at the bottom of the gutters so that the soil can drain properly.

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Question

Are there any colors of spinach besides green?

Community Answer

No, spinach is always green, but it does turn yellow when the leaves are about to fall off.

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Question

Is spinach still edible after it has bolted?

Community Answer

Once spinach has bolted, it will become tasteless or bitter, making it inedible.

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Question

Can I grow spinach in a pot at home? What temperature should it be at?

Community Answer

Provide the plants shade if temperatures exceed 80ºF. Plant your container grown spinach in pots that are 6-12 inches (15-30 cm) across, in soil amended with compost to aid water retention. Place in full sun. The soil pH should be around 6.0 to 7.0.

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