Gardening 101: All Things Spinach

Spinach, like lettuce, is a vegetable that likes cooler weather. Spinach is also very nutritious, providing fiber, potassium, iron, protein, and calcium. It grows well in early spring and late summer. With the right weather, some types of spinach can be ready to harvest in just 40 days.

Growing

Plant seeds in early May for a spring harvest or in late July for a fall harvest. Space seeds 12-18 inches apart and cover with ½ of soil.
In the heat of summer, spinach tends to bolt, or go to seed, then stop growing. Replanting in late summer for a fall harvest may be a good idea, if this happens.
Try spacing out the time between planting seeds to produce spinach over a longer period.
Thin plants to 4 to 6 inches apart.
If your garden space is limited, spinach grows well in container gardens.

Harvesting

When spinach plants reach 4-6 inches in diameter, cut the whole plant at soil level.
You can also pick just the outer leaves of the plant when they are several inches long, giving the inside leaves more time to grow.
Spinach can become bitter the bigger the plant becomes.
Harvest in the cooler part of the day to make the harvested spinach last longer. It is best to use spinach the day you harvest it.

Suggested varieties

Avon
Bloomsdale Long Standing
Teton
Tyee

Happy gardening!

Information summarized from UW Extension publications by Katie Shockley, Writer/Editor, University of Wyoming Extension Communications & Technology.

Summer Strawberry Salad

Sweet, savory, tangy, and crunchy, this salad provides it all! Summer Strawberry Salad combines spinach and strawberries with a homemade dressing that wakes up your taste buds and bring a burst of flavor to your day. Yum!

Click the title to see the full recipe.

Additional Resources

Learn more about growing and harvesting spinach with these resources from the University of Wyoming Extension:

University of Wyoming Extension Publication: Gardening: Vegetables in Wyoming
Video: Container Gardens

Next up: Herbs [Coming August 14]

Previous issue: All Things Lettuce

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