How to Germinate Spinach

Plant spinach either right away in the spring, as soon as you prepare the garden soil, or in the early fall, once the heat of summer has gone. Spinach is a cool-season crop that can withstand an air temperature as low as 20 degrees F and prefers soil temperature to be between 38 and 60 degrees F. Spinach grows well in a variety of soil types, but is very sensitive to the soil's pH level. Use a soil test kit to test your soil; then make any adjustments necessary to achieve a pH level between 6.4 and 6.8. Plant fresh spinach seeds each year to obtain the best growing results.

Things You'll Need

• Refrigerator
• Garden hose

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Instructions

1. • 1

     Place the spinach seeds in the refrigerator for one to two weeks before planting them. This is especially important for any fall planting you do, to produce an early winter crop.

   • 2

     Sow the spinach seeds in rows, with 12 to 15 seeds for every 1 foot of row length. Space the rows 12 inches apart. Cover the spinach seeds with 1/2 inch of soil and press down with your hands so the seeds have a firm soil contact.

   • 3

     Keep the soil moist, but not overly wet, until the spinach seeds germinate, which should happen within a week or two. Then, cut back to 1 inch of water every seven to 10 days.