Spinach is a cool-season vegetable. Growing spinach is a fantastic way to enjoy fresh, nutritious greens straight from your garden. Can you grow spinach in Phoenix? Yes, but only during the cooler months.
Spinach is a fast growing plant making it perfect for beginner gardeners. It doesn’t take much space, so it can be grown in containers, raised beds or directly in the ground. Spinach can be used in a variety of dishes including salads, smoothies and baking (think frittatas and quiches).
When to Plant Spinach in Phoenix
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September – February
Spinach is a cool-season crop, so don’t try to grow it through the Phoenix summer. September is a good time to start your fall crop. You can also succession plant spinach in October, November, December, January and February.
Spinach is a cool-season vegetable. Spinach plants prefer a soil temperature to be between 50°F and 60°F degrees.
Spring Planting
Plant your spinach seeds as soon as the soil can be worked in December usually around 4-6 weeks before the last expected frost date.
Fall Planting
For a fall harvest, sow spinach seeds 6-8 weeks before the first expected frost. This timing allows the plants to establish before the cold weather sets in.
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How to Plant Spinach in Phoenix
Sow seeds under a half an inch of soil and space 6 inches apart and in rows 12 inches apart. Seedlings should appear in two weeks.
Spinach grows best in cool weather and can tolerate some shade, especially in warmer climates. The ideal temperature for spinach is between 45-75 degrees.
In Phoenix, provide some afternoon shade can help prevent the plants from bolting and going to seed prematurely. Once temperatures start climbing, spinach can quickly bolt. It will produce a tall central stalk. The leaves become less tender. Instead of focusing on the leaf growth the plant shifts toward producing flowers and seeds. The spinach will be more bitter tasting at this point.
Amend the soil with compost to improve fertility and drainage. Ensure the soil is loose and well-aerated.
Plant seeds directly in the garden, spacing them about 1 inch apart and covering with 1/2 inch of soil. Water gently to settle the soil.
Spinach will sprout in 7-14 days. Plant 6-8″ apart.
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Which Spinach Should You Grow?
Spinach comes in several varieties, each with unique characteristics. If you’re growing spinach for salads: choose a savoy variety has the best flavor. If you’re growing for freezing or cooking a smooth-leaf variety is better.
Savoy Spinach or Crinkly Leaf Spinach
This type features crinkly, dark green leaves that are highly textured. It is cold-hardy and can withstand frost, making it ideal for early spring and late fall planting. Some varieties include: Bloomsdale, Tyee, and Regiment.
Smooth Leaf Spinach
With smooth, flat leaves, this type is easy to clean and ideal for fresh salads and cooking. Smooth-leaf varieties grow quickly and are less prone to bolting in warmer weather. Some varieties include: Tundra, Space, and Corvair.
Semi- Savoy Spinach
A hybrid between savoy and smooth-leaf spinach, semi-savoy varieties have slightly crinkled leaves. They offer good disease resistance. Some varieties of semi-savoy spinach includes Regal and Avon.
What to Plant with Spinach
Companion planting involves growing certain plants together for mutual benefit. Spinach benefits from companions that help deter pests and improve growth. Good companions for spinach include: Lettuce, peas, radishes and strawberries.
Both lettuce and spinach have similar growing conditions. Growing peas next to spinach can help improve the nitrogen in the soil. Strawberries.and radishes both grow well with spinach.
How to Care For Spinach
Light Requirements: Spinach needs full morning sun or about 6-8 hours of sun a day and in Phoenix afternoon shade can help prevent the plants from bolting and going to seed prematurely.
Soil Requirements: Prefers fertile well-drained loose soil. Spinach prefers slightly acidic pH. The soil pH range of 6- 7 is ideal. Spinach thrives in well-drained, fertile soil rich in organic matter. Adding compost or aged manure to the soil will improve its structure and fertility, ensuring healthy spinach growth.
Water Requirements: Spinach likes consistent moisture. Provide 1″ of water per week or as needed. Aim to keep the soil consistently moist, providing about 1 inch of water per week. Adjust your watering schedule based on rainfall and temperature. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely, as this can stress the plants and reduce yields.
When to Harvest Spinach in Phoenix
Spinach is a relatively fast-growing crop. Depending on the variety and growing conditions, you can expect to harvest your spinach within 30-45 days from planting.
Baby spinach leaves are ready to pick in about 20 days, making it a quick and rewarding crop for any garden.
Spinach is ready to harvest when the leaves are large enough to eat. Harvest the outer leaves first, allowing the inner leaves to continue growing for multiple harvests.
How to Harvest
You don’t harvest the whole plant. Use a pair of scissors or garden shears to cut the outer leaves about an inch above the base. Continue harvesting regularly to encourage new growth. Once the plant bolts, harvest the remaining leaves right away. Otherwise they will taste bitter.
Spinach seeds can be purchased at your local nursery, home improvement store or you can purchase spinach seeds online.
More Phoenix Vegetables
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