Spinach plants are cool season annuals in the Amaranthaceae family. They have dark green, arrow-shaped leaves that are edible and have a slightly sweet taste. The plant grows to a height of 12 to 15 inches and produces small, greenish-white flowers. Spinach is a nutrient-dense vegetable, and is a good source of vitamins A, C, and K, as well as several minerals. It is easy to grow, and can be harvested several times throughout the growing season.
Planning Your Garden With Spinach
As you plan your garden, it's important to think about the spacing, size, light, and nutrient requirements of all of your plant and how they'll grow together.
Some plants require more water than others, while other plants require dry soil. At the same time, some plants prefer full sun, and other plants need the shade to survive.
By studying what each plant requires and planning ahead where all of your plants will grow best, you can optimize your garden space.
| Life Cycle | Spinach is an annual. |
| USDA Zone | The USDA Hardiness Zone range for spinach is 3-11. |
| Cold Tolerance | Spinach is a cold hardy vegetable and can tolerate temperatures down to 20. |
| Days to harvest | The minimum number of days to harvest for spinach is usually around 45 days. |
| Average size | The average size of a full grown spinach plant is about 12-18 inches tall and 12-18 inches wide. |
| Spacing requirements | The best spacing for growing spinach is 4-6 inches between plants and 12-18 inches between rows. |
| Sun tolerance | Spinach is considered to be a shade-loving plant and does not tolerate full sun. It is best grown in an area that receives partial shade or filtered sunlight for most of the day. |
| Shade tolerance | Spinach is tolerant of partial shade but prefers full sun for optimal growth. It does best in temperatures between 45-75°F (7-24°C). |
| Water requirements | For optimal growth, spinach requires well-drained soil with a pH of 6.0 to 7.5. It should be watered regularly, but not excessively. The soil should be kept moist but not overly wet. It is best to water spinach in the morning so that the leaves have time to dry out before nightfall. |
| Fertilizer | The amount of fertilizer you should use when growing spinach depends on the type of fertilizer you are using and the soil conditions. Generally, a balanced fertilizer with an N-P-K ratio of 10-10-10 is recommended. Apply 1/2 to 1 pound of fertilizer per 100 square feet of garden space. |
| Soil pH | The optimum pH for growing spinach is 6.0 to 6.8. |
Why Spinach is Popular
People like to grow spinach because it is a nutritious and easy to grow vegetable. Spinach is packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants, making it an excellent choice for a healthy diet. It is also relatively easy to grow, as it is a hardy plant that can tolerate a variety of growing conditions. Additionally, spinach is a fast-growing crop, with many varieties ready to harvest in as little as 30 days.
Companion Plants For Spinach
Companion planting is a great way to maximize your garden space and get the most out of your plants. By planting certain plants together, you can help each other thrive. In some cases, you can even help each other repel pests.
Popular companion plants for spinach include:
Common Pests For Spinach
Plant pests are a common problem for gardeners. By understanding what pests are common for your plants, you can take steps to prevent them from damaging your plants.
When you grow spinach, keep an eye out for these common pests:
- flea beetles
- leaf miners
- slugs
- aphids
- beetles
USDA Zones
USDA zones are a popular way of determining which plants can grow in your area. Zones tell you when your average first and last frost date are, as well as how cold you can expect it to get in the winter.
Our site works best if you choose your zone from the list below. If you do not know your USDA zone, then you can use our zone map.
