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Do I need to soak spinach seeds before planting?
There’s nothing fancy you need to do before planting spinach seeds, no soaking nicking or cold stratification is necessary. If you want to try it, soaking spinach seeds before planting can help to speed up germination time. But, since you’ll be sowing them directly into your garden, pre-soaking is not necessary.
What is the best way to germinate spinach seeds?
Optimal soil temperature: 5-20°C (45-70°F). Seeds should sprout in 7-14 days. Sow seeds 1cm (1/2″) deep, 10 seeds per 30cm (12″), in rows 30-45cm (12-18″) apart. Thin to at least 5-8cm (2-3″) between plants, or further if you want larger leaves.
How many days does it take for spinach seeds to germinate?
Spinach seed germinates in 7 to 14 days at or near 70°F (21°C) but sometimes seed can take up to 3 weeks to germinate in cold soil. When sowing seed in summer for fall harvest, first place the seed in a folded damp paper towel placed in a plastic bag and also kept in the refrigerator for 5 days before sowing.
When should I start spinach seeds?
Sow spinach seed as early as six weeks before the last frost or as soon as you can work the soil. Prepare the soil the previous autumn, and you’ll be able to drop the seeds in barely thawed ground come spring. In areas with a long, cool spring, make successive plantings every 10 days until mid-May.
Does spinach need full sun?
Although it prefers full sun, spinach will still produce a respectable harvest in partial shade.
How do you prepare spinach for soil?
Spinach prefers well-drained, rich soil with a neutral pH. Add compost or composted manure to your beds to give your spinach the nutrients it needs to thrive. Spinach forms a long taproot, so it’s helpful to loosen the soil down to a foot or so.
Can you grow spinach in a container?
Growing spinach in a pot or other container is ideal. It allows you to harvest all of the delicious leaves for yourself before some other four-legged critter dines on your greens before you get to them. Growing spinach in a pot will also thwart nematodes and other soil borne pests and diseases.
How can I grow spinach faster?
It is advisable to sow the seeds half an inch deep into the soil with at least 3” – 4” of space between each seed. This will give the plants room to grow and expand their roots. During the germination process, ensure that the soil is moist to accelerate the process.
How do you grow spinach indoors?
Here are the steps for growing spinach indoors: Prepare the soil mix. Plant the seeds into the pots. Keep it at a cool temperature, especially if you live in a tropical climate. Water it regularly. Fertilize and mulch when necessary. Don’t forget to check for pests and diseases. Thin the leaves. Enjoy your harvest.
What seeds should be soaked before planting?
A short list of seeds that like to soak are peas, beans, pumpkins and other winter squash, chard, beets, sunflower, lupine, fava beans, and cucumbers. Most other medium-to-large vegetable and flower seeds with thick coats benefit from soaking.
How far apart should spinach be planted?
Time of Planting: Plant spinach outdoors as soon as soil can be worked. Sow in spring and late summer. Spinach tolerates cool weather. Special Considerations: When growing spinach for seed, increase spacing to 8-12 inches between plants in rows 22-30 inches apart, or to at least 12 inches on center.
How often should I water spinach?
Regular watering is essential in warm weather to prevent bolting. In general, spinach needs around 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water per week. Rather than a weekly deep watering, it’s better to water several times a week. Adding a layer of mulch around the plants also can help to maintain soil moisture.
How many seeds do you put in each hole?
Don’t exceed three seeds per hole. If more than one germinates, snip off extras at the soil line also. This prevents disturbance of the seedling roots on the one you’ll continue growing out when thinning. Don’t add more than one large seed to a hole.
What do you plant after spinach?
As spring drifts into summer vegetables like spinach, broccoli rabe, radishes, and peas will finish up, which means now is the ideal time to plant new vegetables in their place. This planting strategy is called succession planting and the goal is to plant food all summer long so you have a continuous harvest.
How long does it take spinach to fully grow?
Spinach is a cool-season crop that will flower or bolt when the sun is high and temperatures are warm. Most varieties mature in 37 to 45 days and can be harvested as soon as it is a rosette with five or six leaves.
Does spinach need lots of water?
Spinach is grown commercially on deep, loam soils. Similarly spinach needs lots of water but it also needs good drainage. Finally just harvest a few leaves at a time from each plant. This will allow the plants to continue producing all season.
What is the fastest growing vegetable?
1. Radishes. Radishes are one of the fastest vegetables, taking just three to four weeks to reach harvest time.
