Spinach

Spinacia oleracea (spin-AH-see-ah awl-lur-RAY-see-ah)

Family: Amaranthaceae Non-native Herbaceous (1-3 ft)

Spinach is an edible, cool season, annual vegetable in the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae) that is widely grown for use as a leafy green in salads and cooked dishes. It is native from central Asia to southwest Siberia. It can be grown at home in containers or beds and tolerates areas too shady for most other vegetables to thrive. Spinach grows best in moist, rich, well-drained soil and in full sun to partial shade. It can tolerate 3 to 4 hours of sun a day, and some shade can be beneficial in hot weather. Plant seeds ¼ to 1/2 inch deep and thin seedlings to 2 to 3 inches apart. For spring crops, plant seed directly in the soil in early spring or start indoors eight weeks before the first frost for later transplant. For fall crops, start plants indoors early, or directly sow seeds after the hottest heat of summer has passed. For an extended harvest, plant seeds every one to two weeks. Plants are somewhat frost tolerant and can survive temperatures down to 20 degrees F. Spinach can be grown in containers as small as 1 gallon and as shallow as 4 to 6 inches. Harvest leaves at any size. Spinach plants will continue to grow new leaves after harvesting, especially when harvested small, allowing for continuous harvests throughout the season. Spinach grows best in the cool weather of spring and fall. It is sensitive to the increasing day length and heat that comes with summer, causing plants to "bolt" and send up flowering stalks; as this process stops leaf growth and makes them bitter, bolt-resistant cultivars are recommended if growing a spring crop in warm climates. Raw spinach leaves, while edible and safe to eat, contain oxalates that can prevent the absorption of iron and calcium. Cooking spinach in several changes of water can reduce the levels of oxalates. Insects, Diseases and Other Plant Problems: Insects that can harm spinach include aphids, cutworms, cabbage loopers, corn earworms, and diamondback moth caterpillars. Diseases that can harm spinach are downy mildew, white rust, and seedling damping-off. VIDEO Created by Laura Barth for "Vegetables, Herbs, Fruits, and Nuts," a plant identification course developed in partnership with Longwood Gardens.

Source: NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox ↗ NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox, 60 attributes.