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Why is my spinach growing tall?
In the spring, plants will grow tall and bloom (called bolting) as soon as the days are longer than 14 hours. Heat also speeds up bolting, since spinach prefers temperatures between 35 and 75 degrees.
How deep do spinach leaves grow?
Sow them one half inch deep and two inches apart in beds or rows. If the weather isn’t extremely cold, seeds will germinate in five to nine days. Spinach produces beautifully in cool fall conditions, but it’s tricky to persuade the seed to germinate in the hot conditions of late summer.
Does spinach grow vertically?
Many gardeners interested in vertical vegetable-growing techniques are planting Malabar spinach (Basella alba), a substitute for “true” spinach (Spinacia oleracea). The Malabar variety is a vine, capable of reaching 30 feet under the right conditions, and, unlike traditional spinach crops, thrives in hot weather.
Should I cut the flowers off my spinach?
Once spinach sends up flower stalks, its leaves become tasteless or bitter, making it inedible. You can plant a new spinach crop after the hot weather ends in fall. You can pinch off the flower buds in an attempt to slow the bolting process, but this is usually a losing battle.
How often should spinach be watered?
About 1″ of water per week is ideal for spinach, but in slightly warmer weather you may want to bump that to 1.5″. Regular, shallow waterings are better than one heavy watering.
How big do spinach plants need to be?
How big do spinach plants get? Why is it important to know how big the spinach plants get? In fact, they can grow up to about a foot high. The best way to find out this is to ask someone who knows how the plants grow. Usually you can find out the size of the spinach plants by visiting different vegetable gardens or by asking.
What should the temperature be for spinach plants?
Mature spinach plants can tolerate temperatures as cold as 20°F (-6.7°C), but it is best to protect plants from freezing weather by covering the bed with a portable plastic tunnel or row cover. Spinach will bolt in temperatures greater than 75°F (24°C). If the weather warms, try protecting spinach under shade cloth set over a frame.
What’s the best way to grow spinach quickly?
Keep the soil evenly moist throughout the growing season to grow spinach quickly. Avoid splashing muddy water onto leaves; mulch around plants with straw or chopped leaves to avoid getting soil on leaves. Side dress plants with compost tea or a dilute solution of fish emulsion every two weeks during the growing season.