Did you know that when you harvest spinach, it grows back for continuous harvests? All you need to do is pick the right leaves at the right time and the plants will keep sending up new foliage for more harvests every few days.
Soil, Planting, and Care
Spinach grows most quickly in well-drained soil rich in organic matter such as compost or composted manure and with a pH of 6.5 to 7. A simple way to improve your existing soil is to mix 3 inches of aged compost-enriched Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® All Purpose In-Ground Soil with the top 6 inches of existing soil. In order to grow spinach twice a year, plant it about 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost in the spring, and again 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost in the fall. Space plants 12 inches apart; this gives leaves room to reach full size. Perhaps the easiest growing option is to plant spinach in pots filled with premium quality potting mix, such as Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® All Purpose Container Mix which will provide roots with just the right environment for strong growth.
For the most tender leaves, encourage spinach to grow fast and without interruption by fertilizing regularly with a water-soluble fertilizer like Miracle-Gro® Performance Organics® Edibles Plant Nutrition that feeds the soil along with the plants for better growth. (Be sure to follow directions.) This plant food works in tandem with great soil to help you achieve the best possible spinach harvest.
In the spring, plants will grow tall and bloom (called bolting) as soon as the days are longer than 14 hours. Heat also speeds up bolting, since spinach prefers temperatures between 35 and 75 degrees. Our variety is slow to bolt, which is a real bonus for gardeners who dont have the luxury of long stretches of mild weather.
Because it bolts in the lengthening days of spring, spinach is an especially popular crop for fall, when days are short and cool. Plants are very cold-hardy, tolerating temperatures as cold as the teens to low 20s once they are well established. This quality makes them great for overwintering over in zones 8 and southward.
In cold climates, some gardeners plant spinach in a cold frame or cover plants with hay and leave them all winter; theyll be first to produce a very early spring harvest.
Heat and long days will end your crop, so plant as mentioned above. Pests that enjoy spinach include flea beetles, spider mites, and aphids, which feed on the leaves. Diseases that attack plants are downy mildew (a mildew that may appear during cool, moist weather) and white rust (which causes white spots on the leaves). For instructions on how to fight back against these pests and diseases, contact your local Extension agency.
Spinach leaves are ready to harvest as soon as they are big enough to eat. Harvest by removing only the outer leaves and allowing the center leaves to grow larger; this will allow the plant to keep producing. Picking the outer leaves also gives the advantage of briefly delaying bolting. In spring, when plants are about to bolt, pull the entire plant at once to enjoy the leaves before they become bitter.
Quick Guide to Growing Spinach
- Plant spinach during the cool weather of spring and fall.
- Space spinach plants 12 inches apart in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0.
- Start off the growing season right by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter into your native soil.
- Check soil moisture often or consider using a soaker hose to keep moisture levels consistent.
- For tender and rapid leaf production, feed regularly with a water-soluble plant food.
- Harvest spinach starting with the outermost leaves once leaves are large enough to eat.
Do spinach leaves grow back?
FAQ
How many times can you harvest spinach?
Does spinach grow back after harvesting?
How many spinach does one plant produce?
What to do with spinach after it bolts?
Do spinach leaves regrow?
In order to allow your plant to regrow its leaves, you should take special care when you are harvesting leaves for the first time. If you accidentally cut and damage the growing point in any way, your plant will fail to regrow and, thus, be unable to provide you with more spinach leaves.
Is it safe to consume spinach daily?
The health benefits of spinach include skin care, improved eyesight, regulated blood pressure, stronger muscles, atherosclerosis, heart attacks, and neurological disorders. It also helps in bone mineralization and exerts anti-ulcerative and anti-cancerous benefits. Even though, spinach has many health benefits, it´s important to prefer the organic version because of the high level of pesticides, being one of the top list of the “Dirty Dozen” fruits and veggies that contain the highest levels of pesticides.
How long does spinach take to grow back?
While harvesting spinach leaves, leave the crown part of the plant with few leaves. You can harvest leaf by leaf, depending on your need or use a sharp knife to cut the all leaves. But, ensure you leave the growing point unharmed. Spinach plant takes around 4 weeks to grow back after cutting or first harvest. How Many Times Can You Regrow Spinach?
How often can you grow spinach?
When grown in well-drained soil, as well as alluvial soil, you can ensure the proper growth and development of your spinach. Harvest season is all year round, with the exception of the winter season or the months of December to February. When harvested the right way, you can regrow this crop twice or even thrice.