Before we dive into learning how to grow spinach, I have some exciting news! On September 14th we reached 100 students in the Leafy Greens Container Garden Course! It’s not surprising as it is designed for those who don’t have the time or space to put in a raised bed garden. Making it the perfect introductory gardening course for anyone, no matter their gardening experience.
I am excited for the future of the Leafy Greens Container Garden & the Abundance Garden Courses. It’s time to bring gardening to the 21st century so that we can enjoy the highest quality produce filled lifestyles affordably. My mission is to see a high performance garden in every backyard and today we are just one small step closer to that goal! Now, are you ready to learn how to grow spinach the high performance garden way? Let’s get started!
Spinach is a wonderful green to grow in the garden. Spinach is a green leafy vegetable rich in iron and vitamin C that can be enjoyed fresh or cooked. It is a fast growing plant and in most areas you can get multiple crops in the growing season. It can be grown almost year round with some protection. This super-cold-hardy vegetable is a tender crop that can be planted in very early spring as well as fall and winter. In the summer you can grow spinach, planted in succession, in the shade with some protection from the sun. Spring and fall it will grow in the main garden and in the winter it will grow in a cold frame.
Spinach has similar growing conditions and requirements as lettuce, but it is more versatile in both its nutrition and its ability to be eaten raw or cooked. It is higher in iron, calcium, and vitamins than most cultivated greens, and one of the best sources of vitamins A, B, and C.
There are some pests you will need to watch out for who will really like your spinach. Aphids can get on spinach and whitefly too. Leaf miner can cause some damage. Garden snakes can inhabit the spinach patch. I once went out to the spinach patch to pick some leaves for dinner. I reached down to grab a leaf and a garter snake’s head was sticking up out of the leaves on the top of the plant. He was wrapped around the stem of the spinach peering out at the world. My biggest phobia is snakes. This was one of those screaming and running for your life scenes. Needless to say we had green beans for dinner that night.
The best time to start harvesting your spinach is at about 6 to 8 weeks. The plants will have at least six leaves 3 to 4 inches long. Spinach tends to bolt and get bitter when temperatures soar, so harvest time is important to get the best leaves.
Fresh spinach can be kept in the refrigerator for ten to fourteen days. The best temperature to keep spinach is 41 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit. Bundle the stems together lightly and place them in a paper towel in a plastic bag. Handle spinach leaves gently as they are prone to bruising.
These unique spinach recipes are from some of the best paleo food bloggers out there. These unique recipes will give you some fresh ideas for eating your spinach besides a salad or a saute. If you try one of these out send me an email about how it went. I would love to hear all about it!
- Spinach & Pumpkin Savory Pancakes –this recipe is from the Merry Maker Sisters. Their blogs are funny and their recipes unique to the Paleo community. They are a must read for your Paleo journey!
- Spicy Cool Spinach & Cilantro Sauce – do you need a sauce for your fish? This recipe from Paleoista embodies her whole foods approach to eating Paleo and is a must try for your next fish dinner.
- Spinach, Butternut Squash and Pesto Cauliflower Crust Pizza – Danielle Walker’s cookbook is constantly used in my kitchen. This auto-immune protocol friendly pizza looks delicious!
Have any questions about how to grow spinach? Or do you have a favorite spinach recipe? Send me an email at lynn(at)paleogardening.com and tell me all about it. I would love to hear from you! Stay tuned for next week’s leafy green!
Until next time may your garden be easy, fun, productive and always organic!
Lynn
The weekly leafy green is just a taste of what you can find in our latest online high performance gardening course- the Leafy Greens Container Course. In this online course I will show you how to grow the most variety and nutrient dense greens you have ever had. Learn more about how you can enjoy these leafy greens today!
