How to Grow Spinach in the Desert

If you think you can't grow spinach in the desert, consider that Arizona, with areas that sit atop the Sonoran desert, produced 6 percent of all spinach in the United States, making it the number 4 producer in the country, in 1997. The key to success with growing spinach in the desert is to grow it during fall and winter, when temperatures are coolest. Choose varieties that are less prone to bolt should the weather turn hot. "Bossa Nova" and "Polka" are two that are commonly grown in Arizona, according to the USDA Regional IPM Centers.

Rototiller
Sand
6-4-1 fertilizer
Garden fork

Instructions

- 1
  Wait until temperatures remain below 80 degrees Fahrenheit to plant spinach. The ideal temperature range for the plant is between 50 and 70 degrees.
- 2
  Remove all weeds, rocks and other debris from the spinach bed and till the soil to a depth of 10 inches. If you have caliche, also known as hardpan, which is a common soil condition in the desert, you may need to rent a rototiller to break through it.
- 3
  Add a 3-inch layer of sand to the bed if you have heavy soil. Also mix in 3 lbs. of 6-4-1 fertilizer per 100 square feet. Blend the amendments into the top 6 inches of soil. Water the soil to a depth of 6 inches.
- 4
  Plant the spinach seeds 1/4 inches deep and 3 inches apart.
- 5
  Keep the soil moist at all times. Most of the spinach plant's roots are in the top 4 inches of soil, so don't allow this area to dry out.
- 6
  Fertilize the spinach seedlings 30 days after sprouting by digging a 3-inch deep trench, 4 inches to the side of each row. Sprinkle 6-4-1 fertilizer into the trench, at the rate suggested on the fertilizer package, cover it with soil and water to a depth of 4 inches.
- 7
  Inspect the spinach plants for insects. If you are unable to identify a pest, or need information on how to control it in your region, consult with the county cooperative extension agent in your region.

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