Be strong to the finish and eat your spinach! If you haven't grown spinach before, the freshness and quality of homegrown will win you over. 'Bloomsdale' is an early 1800's, dependable, open-pollinated variety. For growing tender, baby greens in as little as 28 days, you can sow seeds just 1" apart. Very nutritious—lots of vitamins A and C and iron. Grows great in a container too!

Days to Maturity: 28–45 days

Family: Amaranthaceae

Native: Southwest Asia

Hardiness: Frost-tolerant annual

Exposure: Full sun to part shade

Plant Dimensions: 6"–8" tall

Variety Info: Very dark green, thick, curled leaves. 'Bloomsdale' was introduced in the early 1800s. It is a vigorous grower, slow to bolt, and has tender, rich-flavored leaves.

Attributes: Good for Containers, Frost Tolerant

When to Sow Outside: RECOMMENDED. 4 to 6 weeks before your average last frost date, and when soil temperature is above 40ºF; ideally 50°–75°F. Successive Sowings: Every 3 weeks until 4 weeks before your average first fall frost date. If mulched, spinach can overwinter in sub–zero temperatures. Soil temperatures above 85ºF halt germination. Mild Climates: Sow in fall for cool-season harvests.

When to Start Inside: Not recommended; roots sensitive to disturbance.

Days to Emerge: 5–10 days

Seed Depth: ½"

Seed Spacing: A group of 3 seeds every 6"

Row Spacing: 12"

Thinning: When 2" tall, thin to 1 every 6"

Harvesting: Pick individual leaves from outer edges of plant as they become big enough to use or cut the whole plant 1" above the ground; new leaves will be produced. When picking individual leaves, also removing the leaf stem at the same time is best; this reduces vulnerability to disease during die-back and conserves plant energy. Harvest before the plant sends up a flower stalk (bolting). Just prior to bolting, leaves take on an "arrowhead" shape, adding small keel shapes to the base of the leaf.