spinach
 

took a chance to try something new along with my tomatos this year, Lowes had flats of spinach on display so i decided to try some --wish i'd done it years ago, it has been in the containers for 3 weeks and last night we picked enough for the 4 of us. tastes soooo much better than the super market stuff.

I love growing spinach- it's really easy to start from seed, too. The neighbors are always amazed at the taste of homegrown compared to what you get in the stores.

What kind of spinach? I have an extra bed (approx 5-inch high) that I need to figure out what to grow in it.

I sowed mine back in April and because of the cool spring it is behind schedule, but we should start harvesting soon. Looks to be a short season, I find my spinach always bolts between June 10-15, believe it is related to the very long day length. But it is always the foundation for lots of big salads we eat for dinner. Our lettuce harvest is about to get crazy, big salads every night! Now I just need to do a better job of late summer/fall lettuce and spinach for when the tomatoes, peppers and cukes are coming in non-stop.

going to have another Spinach Salad tomorrow!!

Between the Arugula, Lettuce, and Spinach, I'm all salad-ed out!! lol

I have one 4 ft row of each in raised beds and it's plenty for 5 of us. Salad every other night at least plus pickings for sandwiches and such.

LOVE the Greens in the Spring!!

Greg

I really like picking fresh arugula and spinach and chomping them right there.

jon:yes:;)

Hi
this was Bloomsdale Long Standing spinach --i am going to try some others this fall, i;ll let you know how they work out.
Bob

Bloomsdale is a great variety. There are also some Italian varieties that I have grown that are really good.

[QUOTE=better boy;412486]Hi
this was Bloomsdale Long Standing spinach --i am going to try some others this fall, i;ll let you know how they work out.
Bob[/QUOTE]

I'ld recommend you try Tyee for the fall...

Spinach and radish are two main early spring salad components here and late summer/early fall too.

Usually I grow Matador, Victoria and Zhirnolistnyi spinach and a wide number of radish varieties of many colors.
Zlatka (the one with yellow root, Czech CV) is my favorite radish.

Our spinach and lettuce are winding down. I have 8 gallons sized bags washed in the fridge and I need to pick and clean the rest this weekend. I like Giant Nobel spinach and sow in early March. We can usually keep picking until the beginning of June and then I plant beans in that spot. More greens in the fall. It's nice to be able to just walk past that area of the produce section in the store because we've got our own.:)

Just picked up 3 pkgs. of Tyee, now i can't wait till fall <s>

[QUOTE=RebelRidin;412507]I'ld recommend you try Tyee for the fall...[/QUOTE]


Do you grow fall crops in maryland? i'm not far behind you at the jersey shore and will have a free row for the first time this fall. usually its all tomatoes but tried a row of garlic this season.

What and when do you plant for the fall?

[QUOTE=TightenUp;412763]Do you grow fall crops in maryland? i'm not far behind you at the jersey shore and will have a free row for the first time this fall. usually its all tomatoes but tried a row of garlic this season.

What and when do you plant for the fall?[/QUOTE]


We'll start planting fall spinach starting around August 15th or later depending on timing of other plantings and weather outlook. I have to sow it thicker as germination is not as good. Keep it well watered (daily for me) to get it up in the heat.

I'll keep planting small batches through Sept./early Oct. Later plantings will overwintering under some row cover (lost some of these this last year due to the very cold winter). For these later plantings I like Tyee but also plant some smooth leaf varieties so we have a mix in the spring.

Good luck with yours!

I've had the best results with Olympia, Donkey, Tyee and Space- all hybrids, but if purchased in larger amounts and kept in a glass jar in the basement has been viable for 10+ yrs.!

I second Tyee for the fall. It grew very well for us last year. Nothing like home grown greens!

I grow spinach in the winter here. It has such a short harvest time for me. I really like Giant Nobel and the red spinach from Pinetree seeds. I think the red spinach is a hybrid but the Nobel is and heirloom. Spinach is super easy to save seeds. It seems to like a little higher pH than some things. Chard and lettuce also tolerate higher pH nicely.
I actually prefer chard for most of our greens and it will grow nearly year-round in Arizona. I plant some in the shade for hot months.
I'm experimenting with Amaranth. It's a workhorse in the heat and also does okay in cooler weather. I don't have seeds for any of the varieties popular for greens but the red grain variety I'm growing tastes just like spinach after being cooked.
I'm hoping amaranth can be my green for hot weather.

[QUOTE=gssgarden;412299]going to have another Spinach Salad tomorrow!!

Between the Arugula, Lettuce, and Spinach, I'm all salad-ed out!! lol

I have one 4 ft row of each in raised beds and it's plenty for 5 of us. Salad every other night at least plus pickings for sandwiches and such.

LOVE the Greens in the Spring!!

Greg[/QUOTE]

Me,too!
Anybody need a few zucchinis? Mine have gone insane. And, we had more arugula than we could possibly eat before it bolted. Lettuce is almost done but I planted a late batch in some shade and it's still going.

[QUOTE=BucksCountyGirl;413051]I second Tyee for the fall. It grew very well for us last year. Nothing like home grown greens![/QUOTE]

I think we're in similar zones - when/how do you start your Tyee for fall?

I am growing Bloomsdale, New zealand and will be starting Malabar when I get seed. I am rediscovering spinach.

jon:yes:

row cover ??
 

What is best to use for row cover --Hay

[QUOTE=luigiwu;413197]I think we're in similar zones - when/how do you start your Tyee for fall?[/QUOTE]

I believe I direct seeded my Tyee in September last year. We had quite a long stretch without a killing frost and it performed well.

I use light weight spun material (row cover) which I buy from Johnny's Seeds.

I grew two large patches of Bloomsdale this spring. It was excellent till it bolted in the warmer weather.
I managed to save a mason jar full of seed from the plants. I planted more in August, (a much larger patch), Then the beginning of this month I planted 25 more rows, all from saved seed. The August planting is just ready for picking. Will be a little while till the latest patch is ready. I love good spinach!
Enjoy!
Camo

I love growing spinach. I use several varieties and succession to extend harvest. Plus chard and kale for variety, sometimes mustard,too.

My friend grew an early crop of spinach in the farm greenhouses this year - it was amazing. So tender and sweet, it made me want to grow some.
So I saw a packet of "King of Denmark" in the hardware store this summer for 99 cents. Bought it, thinking you fool! There isn't even a year stamped on it.
Last week of August I finally sowed them, thinking... to be or not to be?
Couldn't believe it, great germination! Hope they get good growth in before Halloween.:wait:

I always direct sow spinach and lettuce. I find them both easy to grow.
I love home grown spinach but I also love chard. Chard gives me a much longer season so it gets planted more. I once had a chard plant live 2 1/2 years without bolting. It had a root the size of my wrist. It finally died in a record heat wave in August in Phoenix.

I have grown wonderful spinach in years past but lately my raised beds (which do great with everything else) just do not seem to germinate spinach well. I have also tried starting it in peat pots and such. I have also tested the seeds in a zip lock bag with a moist paper towel in the bag.

Lately my spinach seeds just don't germinate well. I get maybe 10% to 20% germination.

I have read all the tips about (a) always use new seeds, (b) refrigerate them first, (c) etc.

I am trying some seeds from seeds from "Seeds from Italy" this fall based upon someone's recommendation.

If anyone has a sure-fire tip on getting spinach to germinate, I'd love to hear it.

I see lots of trays of Bonnie's spinach plants for sale in stores with all 9 little spots filled with pretty little spinach plants; so I know it can still be done.

PS: Love your forum. Thanks for allowing me in.

I plant large blocks of spinach in early spring and late summer. In a well prepared bed scatter seed on the surface. Punch this seed down with an iron rake and tamp in well. Spinach seed does not keep too long for me. I buy fresh seed every year. Two varieties that produce big crops are Space and Melody. If you can dedicate an area for just spinach it can be kept wet to allow for a good stand. If you can get seed in the ground in October you'll be picking in early Dec. My fall spinach will over- winter if we get enough snow to protect it. It comes out of dormancy in March and gives a good crop. It might be tough to grow spinach in Mississippi from May to September. Spinach needs cool temps. or it will bolt. Hope this helps.

if nothing else Seeds from Italy give a lot of seed for your $. Yeah, cold weather is a must. f you concerned, soaking seeds a bit before planting makes it faster germinating but a bit harder to sprinkle. You can mix it then with wet sand.