How to Grow Spinach Even Your Kids Will Eat

Growing Spinach: Start in Spring or Fall

Spinach is a cool-season vegetable—plant early spring or late fall; it bolts (flowers/goes to seed) in summer heat. Sow after frost danger passes in well-drained soil, full sun. Plant seeds 1 inch apart in rows 8–10 inches wide. Thin to every other plant at 2–3 inches tall; eat thinnings. Keep soil moist, weed early to avoid root disturbance. Plant again in late summer/early fall for a second crop until frost.

Two types: savoy (crinkled leaves) and smooth-leaf (easier to clean). "Baby spinach" refers to small-leaf varieties or any spinach harvested young.

How to Grow Spinach in Pots

Shallow roots make spinach ideal for containers. Use soilless potting mix (garden soil is too heavy). Follow same sowing instructions. Keep in full sun, water to maintain moist but not soggy soil. Allow soil to barely dry between waterings.

Harvesting Spinach Leaves

Two methods:

1. Snip outer leaves as they reach usable size, never taking more than half the plant at once. Allows continuous growth.
2. Cut entire plant at base, then remove leaves individually.

Spinach Nutrition and Use

One of the most nutrient-dense foods: fat-free, low-calorie, high fiber, high vitamins A and C, good iron, folate, magnesium. Use raw in salads, smoothies (adds nutrition without flavor), stir-fries, soups, stews, dips, omelets, quiches, and with potatoes.

Learn the basics of cooking spinach