Spinach

Basic Information

Seed Number

176

Seed Name

Spinach

Variety

Unknown

Category

Vegetable

Plant Family

Amaranthaceae

Plant Type

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)

Planting Method

Direct Sow

Seed Status

In Seed Bank

Created

2026-08-14 00:50:34

Updated

2026-08-19 15:35:29

Planting Information

Start Planting Date

Mar 15

Last Recommended Planting Date

Sep 15

Plantable Months

March, April, May, August, September

Indoor Start

Not recorded

Direct Sow

Mar 15 – Sep 15

Transplant

Mar 24 – Apr 30

Indoor Start Weeks Before Frost

Not Recommended

Transplant Weeks After Frost

Not recorded

Germination Days

5–21 days

Harvest/Maturity

Not recorded

Succession Planting

14 days

Growing Conditions

Ideal Soil Temperature

45-70°F

Planting Depth

1/2 in

Plant Spacing

4-6 in

Row Spacing

18-30 in

Thin-To Spacing

4-6 in

Sun Requirements

Full sun to partial shade

Water Needs

Maintain consistent moisture for rapid tender leaf growth

Soil Preference

Fertile, well-drained soil high in organic matter; approximately pH 6.0-7.0

Minimum Container Size

6-8 in deep

Plant Height

Not recorded

Perennial/Biennial Status

Annual

Container Friendly

Yes

Trellis/Support Needed

No

Frost Tolerant

Yes

Heat Tolerant

No

Drought Tolerant

No

Pollinator Friendly

No

Medicinal

No

Garden Uses

Companion Planting

Storage

Seed Source/Brand

Cornell Garden-Based Learning; MSU Extension

Packet Year

Not recorded

Quantity Notes

Not recorded

Purchase Date

Not recorded

Expiration Year

Not recorded

Storage Box

Not recorded

Container

Not recorded

Envelope

Not recorded

Row

Not recorded

Slot

Not recorded

Storage Notes

Not recorded

Notes

Original Planting Method: Direct sow
Outdoor / Direct Sow / Transplant Window: Mar 15 – May 1; Aug 10 – Sep 1
Germination Time: About 7–14 days
Days to Harvest / Bloom: Variety unknown; commonly about 35–50 days
Container Friendly: Yes, 6+ in deep
Pollinator Friendly: Low; spinach is mainly wind-pollinated when flowering
Medicinal / Herbal Use: Culinary leafy green
Perennial?: No; annual
Succession / Reusable Notes: Sow every 1–2 weeks during cool spring/fall periods.
Zone 6B Notes: Best in early spring and late summer/fall; avoid midsummer sowing.
Companion Plants: Peas, radishes, lettuce, brassicas, onions
Avoid Planting Near / Watch Outs: Exact bolt resistance is unknown. Heat and long days trigger bolting and can reduce germination.
Sources: Cornell Garden-Based Learning: https://gardening.cals.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene4c19.html | MSU Extension: https://www.canr.msu.edu/resources/garden_planning_calendar

[[RESEARCH ENRICHMENT START]]
Zone 6B: Spinach is a cool-season crop. Direct sow as soon as soil is workable in spring and again in late summer for fall harvest. Avoid relying on midsummer plantings because long days and heat trigger bolting.
Germination: Spinach germination varies strongly with temperature. Seed may take about 3 weeks near 50°F but only around 5-10 days under warmer, still suitable conditions. Germination declines sharply when soil becomes too hot.
Harvest: Harvest outer leaves individually or cut entire plants before flowering begins. Exact maturity is left null because the cultivar is unknown.
Seed Saving: Spinach is wind-pollinated and typically has separate male and female plants. Isolation from other flowering spinach varieties is required to maintain a strain.
Special Care: The cultivar is unknown, so no variety-specific maturity, leaf texture, bolt resistance or mature size is assigned.
Research Source: University of Minnesota Extension — https://extension.umn.edu/vegetables/growing-spinach-and-swiss-chard — spinach cool-season culture, 4-6 inch spacing, 18-30 inch rows, soil requirements and transplant guidance
Research Source: Cornell University — https://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene4c19.html — 6-10 day typical emergence, approximately 3-week emergence at 50°F and reduced germination at high temperatures
[[RESEARCH ENRICHMENT END]]