Spinach
Spinacia oleracea
Spinach is a fast-growing, cool-season leafy green that forms a low rosette of dark green leaves. It grows quickly in cool weather and bolts in heat, so it is best sown in spring and fall.
- Light
- Full sun to part shade
- Water
- Keep soil moist
- Difficulty
- Easy
Got a plant like this?
Identify any plant from a photo, free.
Overview
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is a leafy annual in the Amaranthaceae family, originally cultivated in ancient Persia. It reached Europe in the Middle Ages and is now a staple leafy green grown worldwide.
It grows as a low rosette of dark green leaves and matures quickly, often in 40 to 50 days. Like lettuce, it is a cool-season crop that bolts rapidly in long, hot days.
Leaf types range from smooth (flat-leaf) to crinkled (savoy), with semi-savoy in between.
How to identify it
Spinach forms a compact rosette of smooth-stemmed, deep green leaves.
- Leaves: Oval to arrow-shaped, smooth or crinkled (savoy), deep green, on slender stalks
- Habit: Low rosette, 6 to 12 inches across before bolting
- Flowers: Small, inconspicuous greenish flowers on a tall stalk when bolting; plants are male or female
- Roots: Shallow taproot
- Seeds: Small, round or prickly depending on variety
Care & growing
Spinach is quick, hardy, and easy in cool weather.
- Light: Full sun in cool seasons; part shade slows bolting in warm weather
- Water: Keep soil consistently moist for fast, tender growth
- Soil: Rich, well-draining soil with plenty of nitrogen; pH 6.5 to 7.0
- Temperature: Cool-season; thrives 50 to 70 F and tolerates light frost. Bolts in heat and long days.
- Feeding: Nitrogen-rich feeding supports lush leaves
- Propagation: Direct sow seed in early spring and again in late summer for fall; successive sowings extend the season.
Habitat & origin
Spinach originated in ancient Persia (modern Iran) and was carried to India, China, and later Europe along trade routes. There is no truly wild form matching the cultivated plant.
It is grown across temperate regions of the world during cool seasons, in home gardens, market plots, and commercial fields, and is well suited to cold frames and early or late plantings.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my spinach bolt so quickly?
Spinach bolts in response to warm temperatures and lengthening days. Sow it early in spring or in fall, choose bolt-resistant varieties, and pick leaves promptly.
Can spinach survive frost?
Yes. Spinach is cold-hardy, and with protection it can overwinter in many regions for an early spring crop.
How do I pick spinach so it keeps growing?
Take the outer leaves individually, leaving the central growing point intact, and the plant will keep producing new leaves for several weeks.
Is bagged spinach the same as garden spinach?
Often it is the same species, just harvested young as baby spinach. Some greens sold as spinach, like New Zealand or Malabar spinach, are entirely different plants.
Spinach guides
In-depth guides for identifying, growing, and caring for Spinach.
