How to grow Spinach
in the US

Spinach, eh? Cracking stuff. It's proper versatile in the kitchen, and it’s one of the easiest things to grow on the plot, to be honest. You can get a quick crop from it, which is always nice, especially when you're chuffed for fresh greens.

Sowing

Spinach likes cooler weather, so timing is key to avoid it bolting too soon. For Zones 3-4, sow in April, May, July, and August. Zone 5 can start in March, April, May, then August, September. If you're in Zone 6, March, April, August, September is good. Zones 7-8 can sow February, March, April, September, October. And for those warmer Zones 9-10, you're looking at January, February, March, September, October, November, December. Sow seeds directly outdoors about half an inch (1-2 cm) deep, spaced an inch (2.5 cm) apart, in rows about 12 inches (30 cm) apart. You can sow a small batch every couple of weeks for a steady supply, you know what I mean.

Growing on

Once your spinach seedlings are up and growing a bit, you'll want to thin them out. Aim for plants to be about 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) apart, that gives them room to spread out properly. If you started any indoors, get them outside once the weather settles, after your last frost date, or keep them in a cold frame. Spinach does pretty well in containers too, especially if you're a bit short on space, just make sure the pot is big enough for them to grow.

Looking after it

Spinach loves a bit of consistent moisture, so keep the soil damp, especially in dry spells. If it dries out, it'll likely bolt to seed, and then you've lost your crop. A good layer of mulch around the plants helps keep the moisture in and keeps the weeds down, which is always a bonus. You don't usually need to feed it much, but a general liquid feed won't hurt if the soil looks a bit poor.

What goes wrong

You might find leaf miners making squiggly lines on your leaves, or aphids having a go. Flea beetles can munch holes too. Keep an eye out for downy mildew, it's a fungal problem that can hit in damp conditions. Good air circulation helps, and if you see pests, just pick them off or use an organic spray if it's really bad. Netting can help keep the critters off, like I say, prevention is often easier.

Harvest

You'll be harvesting your first spinach leaves in about 40 days from sowing, sometimes quicker. Just snip off the outer leaves as you need them, letting the inner ones grow on. This way you get a longer harvest from each plant. If you get a proper glut, it freezes well, or you can use it fresh in all sorts of cracking dishes. Just store it in a cool, dry place, or pop it in the fridge when you bring it in.