Welcome to the World of Spinach: The Beginner-Friendly Green That’s delicious and Nutritious!
Whether you’re an apartment dweller with no space or a homeowner with an enormous outdoor garden, spinach is here to brighten your meals and boost your growing experience.
In this post, we’ll walk you through everything you need to know to grow this versatile leafy green both indoors and outdoors. You’ll also get some recipe ideas to put your harvest to good use. By the end, you'll feel ready to add the freshness of home-grown spinach to all your favorite dishes.
Why Grow Spinach?
Spinach is the multitasker of the leafy green world! Not only does it add a mild, earthy flavor to your meals, but it’s also packed with nutrients like iron, calcium, and vitamins A and C. Spinach is fast-growing, low-maintenance, and can thrive in small spaces, which makes it ideal for container gardens and compact urban areas.
Beginners love spinach because it’s nearly foolproof, while experienced gardeners appreciate its quick growth cycle and resilience.
Fun fact: Spinach grows well in cooler temperatures, so it’s perfect for early spring and fall. It even tolerates a light frost, making it a fantastic choice for both early and late gardening seasons.
Tips for Beginners
Start small: Spinach doesn’t need much space! You can start with a small pot indoors or a section of your garden bed.
Cool temps are best: Spinach loves cool weather and partial sunlight. It thrives in early spring and fall when temperatures are moderate.
Good drainage: Spinach likes well-draining soil, especially in containers.
Harvest often: Regular harvesting encourages new leaf growth and keeps the plants from getting too tall or leggy.
Types & Varieties of Spinach
Spinach comes in three types, and among those types, there are several varieties, each with unique characteristics. Here’s the rundown.
Types:
Savoy Spinach
Known for its dark green, crinkly leaves, savoy spinach has a robust flavor and holds up well in cooking. This variety is hardy and tolerates cooler temperatures, making it ideal for outdoor planting.Varieties of Savoy Spinach:
Bloomsdale- classic spinach found in most grocery stores
Regiment- has a really short seed-to-harvest time, about 40 days
Escalade- easy to grow and blot and mildew resistant
Flat-Leaf Spinach
Flat-leaf spinach is the classic variety often seen in grocery stores. Its smooth, tender leaves are easy to wash and great for salads and smoothies.Varieties of Flat-Leaf Spinach:
Red Tabby- has a cool red spine and freezes well
Woodpecker- resistant to downy mildew and grows super fast, a little under 4 weeks!
Flamingo- the leaves are 10” (25.4 cm) of crimson beauty, oh and it’s also resistant to downy mildew
Semi-Savoy
A hybrid between savoy and flat-leaf, semi-savoy spinach has slightly crinkled leaves and a more compact growth habit. It’s resistant to disease and works well in both indoor pots and outdoor gardens.Varieties of Semi-Savoy Spinach:
Kolibri- grows very fast, you will be able to harvest in about 30 days. It’s really good for continuous harvest.
Okame- a slow bolting variety that can take the hot (but not too hot) weather
Indian Summer- disease and bolt-resistant with cute baby spinach-like leaves
Choosing the Right Type & Variety
Consider your climate and culinary preferences when selecting a variety. For crisp, hearty leaves, go with savoy; if you’re looking for tender, salad-friendly greens, flat-leaf spinach is ideal.
Planting Spinach Indoors
When to Start: Spinach can be grown indoors year-round if kept in a cool spot, away from direct heat sources. It does best in a bright windowsill or under grow lights.
Directions:
Choose a pot 6”-8” (15.25- 20.32 cm) deep with drainage holes.
Fill it with a well-draining potting mix.
Sprinkle seeds about ½” (1.27 cm) deep and 4”-6” (10-15.25 cm) apart. Cover with a thin layer of soil. It is very important to plant your seeds at the correct depth because not doing so may prevent them from germinating.
Water lightly but consistently—keep the soil moist but not soggy. A good rule of thumb is to stick your finger about an inch (2.54 cm) in the soil to feel for moisture. If your finger is wet, don’t water; if it’s dry, give it some water.
Care:
Place your pot in a bright spot, ideally with some morning sunlight. We like to place ours in a bright east-facing window in the kitchen, where there is no direct sunlight but bright light most of the day.
Spinach prefers cooler temps and about 4-6 hours of indirect light daily.
Water as needed. When the top inch of soil feels dry to the touch.
Harvesting
Start harvesting once the spinach leaves are at least 4-6 inches tall (usually in about 3-4 weeks). Snip the outer leaves at the base, leaving the center intact so new leaves can keep growing. Regular harvesting can help prevent the plant from bolting, which is when a plant goes to seed, and the leaves become bitter.
Planting Spinach Outdoors
When to Start: Spinach grows well in cooler weather, so you can plant it outside in early spring as soon as the soil is workable, or in late summer for a fall crop. If you live in a mild climate, you may be able to grow spinach in the winter as well. Here in Coastal Southern California, we rarely get under 45°F (7°C), which is on the colder side of the temperature tolerance for spinach but still doable.
Directions:
Choose a partially shaded location with well-draining soil.
Plant seeds about ½” (1.27 cm) deep, spacing them 2”-3” (5- 7.5 cm) apart. Once they've sprouted, thin seedlings to 4”-6” (10-15.25 cm) apart.
After planting, water thoroughly but gently to ensure the soil is moist, and the seeds stay in place.
Care:
Water regularly, keeping the soil evenly moist but not saturated.
Spinach is hardy, but keep an eye out for weeds that can compete for nutrients.
For an extended harvest, succession plant every 1-2 weeks for a continuous supply. Succession planting is sowing fresh spinach seeds before the current plants are ready to harvest.
Harvesting
Once your outdoor spinach leaves reach 4-6 inches tall, you can begin harvesting. As with indoor spinach, snip the outer leaves at the base, and the plant will continue to produce. For the best flavor, harvest in the morning when the leaves are crisp and cool.
Spinach Recipes Ideas
Now that you’ve got a bounty of spinach, let’s get cooking! Here are a couple of simple, tasty ways to use your harvest:
Spinach Pesto: Blend fresh spinach leaves with olive oil, garlic, nuts (like pine nuts or walnuts), Parmesan cheese, and a squeeze of lemon juice. Use it as a pasta sauce, sandwich spread, or veggie dip.
Sautéed Garlic Spinach: Heat olive oil in a skillet, add minced garlic, and cook until fragrant. Toss in a few handfuls of fresh spinach, and cook until just wilted. Season with salt and pepper for a quick, healthy side.
Spinach Smoothie: For a refreshing, nutrient-packed smoothie, blend spinach with banana, Greek yogurt, a splash of almond milk, and a handful of berries. It’s an easy way to get your greens in!
Simple AIP Basil Pesto Recipe
By Healing Autoimmune.com (The site is no longer available, but enjoy this easy recipe anyway!)
Prep Time:10 min
Cook Time: 0 min
Total Time:10 min
Ingredients
1⁄4 cup (60 ml) olive oil
3 cloves garlic peeled and roughly chopped
1 cup (226 g) fresh basil leaves
1⁄2 cup (113 g) flat-leaf parsley leaves
2 tsp (9 g) nutritional yeast flakes
1 Tablespoon (15 ml) freshly squeezed lemon juice
Salt
Directions
Slow-roast garlic with olive oil and sea salt.
Place the basil, parsley, nutritional yeast flakes, and the remaining olive oil into a food processor or blender. Add the warm garlic.
Blend until smooth, scraping down the sides of the bowl.
Add lemon juice and salt. Mix well.
Store in a sealed container in the fridge for no longer than 4 days.
Nutrition Facts
Amount Per Serving
Calculate Nutrition Facts
Calories 129 Total Fat 14 g Total Carbohydrate 1 g Dietary Fiber 0 g Sugars 0 g Protein 0 g
Final Thoughts
Spinach is the perfect starter plant for anyone beginning their gardening journey. Its fast growth, versatility, and nutrient-packed leaves make it a must-have in every gardener’s collection. So, why not give it a try? Grab some seeds, a pot, or a patch of soil, and start growing your own spinach today!
With love and gratitude,
Janet & Jennifer
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