Can we form a "Spinach Growers Support Group"?

[JerryHaskins]

I used to grow big, delicious spinach, and my parents did too, when I was a kid---but for the last 5 or 6 years my spinach has had from 0 to 5% germination. And when it did germinate, the plants have only gotten about the size of a 50-cent coin.

I have done soil tests; I have fertilized; I have bought soil in bags; I have added my own compost; I have ordered seeds from 'Seeds from Italy' (a great vendor by the way); I have replanted my beds and planted skips over and over.

I love fresh, home-grown spinach, but I am considering signing a "No More Spinach Planting" pledge.

Who's with me on this?

Maybe we could form "Spinach Growers Anonymous" and call each other when we feel an urge to plant spinach again.

OK, maybe I'll try planting it just ONE more time . . .

[kayrobbins]

I gave up on spinach a few years ago. It does not tolerate heat and humidity and even though I tried growing it in the winter we can often get 80 degrees for a few days at a time even in winter. I switched to Tatsoi because it has a similar texture and it thrive here.

[Labradors2]

I haven't grown spinach in years as I switched to Swiss Chard. Much more resilient and it doesn't bolt when the weather heats up. It keeps going until the frost hits it.

Linda

[RickyD]

Had a great crop last 2 years in fall and early spring in Oxford, Kale, Spinach, Lettuce. This fall was too dry it did not grow out as well even though I watered it. Putting in a better Drip irrigation setup this year. Some you win....

[hoefarmer]

I always had trouble with Spinach Seed Germination until I used seed from Pinetree Gargen seeds and watered every/day.

[JerryHaskins]

Thanks for the feedback.

I may give Tatsoi a try.

I have done kale and Swiss chard, but would like to grow spinach.

RickyD, I have folks who live in Oxford. It's a great place. (I am in Vicksburg.) What's your secret to growing spinach in Mississippi?

[jmsieglaff]

Originally Posted by kayrobbins

I gave up on spinach a few years ago. It does not tolerate heat and humidity and even though I tried growing it in the winter we can often get 80 degrees for a few days at a time even in winter. I switched to Tatsoi because it has a similar texture and it thrive here.

Kay, does Tatsoi have similar flavor too? We like our spinach mostly raw in salads. Our spinach crop here in the north is always good the spring, albeit a relatively short season, but I have struggled with fall spinach for years and I may just throw the towel in on fall spinach and just do fall lettuce.

[4season]

I don't have germination problems but the leaves often get yellow with cucumber mosaic virus. The cultivar unipack 101 is listed as tolerant. Most cultivars list resistance to things I have no problem with.

[imp]

Having not grown anything for the 6 year drought, when it broke, I planted a fall garden with a 8 x8 plot of Tyee spinach. It came up so thickly and all of it, I was giving it away to several families as well as eating it by the bagfull here. It's still going, but very slowly after the snow, so is the chard. I will be turning it under soon, the spinach and probably the chard too, and re planting other things in those beds.

Our seed was from E & R and several years old, which is why I sowed it thckly- and it all came up.

[JLJ_]

Originally Posted by JerryHaskins

I used to grow big, delicious spinach, and my parents did too, when I was a kid---but for the last 5 or 6 years my spinach has had from 0 to 5% germination. And when it did germinate, the plants have only gotten about the size of a 50-cent coin.

I have done soil tests; I have fertilized; I have bought soil in bags; I have added my own compost; I have ordered seeds from 'Seeds from Italy' (a great vendor by the way); I have replanted my beds and planted skips over and over.

I love fresh, home-grown spinach, but I am considering signing a "No More Spinach Planting" pledge.

Who's with me on this?

Maybe we could form "Spinach Growers Anonymous" and call each other when we feel an urge to plant spinach again.

OK, maybe I'll try planting it just ONE more time . . .

This might help with germination

http://www.tomatoville.com/showpost....34&postcount=8


This article talks about priming, too, and a few other things

https://www.growveg.com/guides/getti...arden-spinach/

camochef, from that first link above, has been spending more time on spinach lately, I think, but he rarely posts these days, and when he does is more likely to post over on tomatoville's "sister" forum idigmygarden.com -- might be worth taking a look over there for spinach info, too.

[Gardeneer]

Like key, I gave up on spinach a few years ago.
I rather grow chard. It has better texture, more productive , easy to grow and wont' bolt readily.
YMMV

Gardeneer

[jillian]

I am going to try New Zealand this year. It is supposed to be bolt resistant and larger than regular spinach. I also grow chard, I love my greens.

[Worth1]

I grew a bumper crop of it one year and that was it.
I prefer chard simply because the stuff will last forever here where I live.
I have seen chard plants half the size of a small car.

Worth

[kayrobbins]

Originally Posted by jmsieglaff

Kay, does Tatsoi have similar flavor too? We like our spinach mostly raw in salads. Our spinach crop here in the north is always good the spring, albeit a relatively short season, but I have struggled with fall spinach for years and I may just throw the towel in on fall spinach and just do fall lettuce.

Yes, that is why I grow it. If you pick the leaves when they are young for salads it is very similar to baby spinach. You can let it get bigger and cook it but I prefer it small for salads.

[gssgarden]

For me in Charlotte, germination has always been slow. I can't figure out why. Always later than I want it to be but I let it be and get plenty for the family in one 4 ft row. I plant in Spring and Fall. Fall crop always go a lot further than the Spring crop.

LOVE a Spinach salad with Red onion, Boiled egg, and Creamy Italian dressing!

Greg