Growing Spinach in South Carolina

Planting Dates

• South Carolina has three growing regions: Piedmont in the northwest, including Cherokee and Union counties; Central, comprising Aiken and Lexington counties; and Coastal, including Beaufort and Williamsburg counties. Spinach is a hardy vegetable able to tolerate temperatures of 15 to 20 degrees Fahrenheit. However, spinach planted when the weather is too warm might not germinate or will go to seed quickly. Therefore, two crops of spinach -- a spring and a fall -- can be grown. In Piedmont, the spring crop can be planted from mid-February through mid-March; in Central, from Feb. 1 to 25; and in Coastal, from Jan. 1 to Feb. 25. In all regions, begin planting autumn spinach on Sept. 15 through, in Piedmont, Sept. 30; in Central, Oct. 20; and in Coastal, Nov. 10.

Recommended Varieties

• Spinach varieties grown in South Carolina are primarily semi-savoy cultivars. Savoy and semi-savoy cultivars are distinguished from other spinach types by their puckered or crinkly leaves, as opposed to smooth-leaf varieties. To minimize potential growing problems, varieties that offer high levels of disease or pest resistance are also recommended. For example, the savoy variety “Tyee” offers strong disease resistance, and “Winter Bloomsdale” is tolerant of mosaic virus. Look for varieties resistant to downy mildew, a common fungal infection. Other cultivars recommended for South Carolina include “Melody” and “Space.”

Soil Requirements

• Spinach grows well in moist but well-drained soil, rich in nitrogen and with a pH from 5.8 to 6.5. If you are unsure of your soil pH and nutrient levels, carry out soil testing. Seeds can be planted after the soil has thawed; as the weather -- and soil -- warms, ground temperature becomes increasingly important because spinach seeds should not be planted in soil warmer than 70 degrees F. Spinach plants will develop a long primary root, so before planting, dig at least a 1-foot hole and loosen the soil around it.

Ongoing Care

• Growing spinach requires regular, deep watering to a depth of 6 inches. To reduce fungal disease risk, water in the early morning to allow vegetable leaves to dry before nightfall. Keep soil moist, as well as control weeds and minimize chance of bolting, by mulching with hay, straw or grass clippings. If the temperature climbs above 80 degrees F, use shade cloths to protect spinach from the heat. When possible, harvest your fall crop after a frost, advises Mother Earth News; this increases sugar production in spinach leaves, improving flavor.

Potential Pests

• Spinach growers in South Carolina need to watch out for aphids, cutworms, cabbage loopers, corn earworms, leaf miners and diamondback moth caterpillars, all of which can attack growing plants. Aphids and leafhoppers are particularly important to control because they can pass viruses from one plant to another. Fungal diseases such as downy mildew are also common problems in the Southeast.