How to Grow Spinach

Beginner-Friendly

Spinacia oleracea

A fast-growing cool-season green rich in iron and vitamins. Bolts quickly in heat — grow in spring and fall.

Last updated: June 2026

Days to Maturity
35–50 days
typical
Per Square Foot
9
Plant Spacing
10 cm / 4"
Sun
4+ hours
Water
1.0" / 25 mm
Fertilization
moderate feeder

Growing Notes

Direct sow 4–6 weeks before last frost. Provide afternoon shade in warm climates to delay bolting.

Varieties & Cultivars

9 cultivars in our database. Click any card to see growing details.

Flat-Leaf

(4)
Corvair
35–40 days Hybrid

upright habit; good for baby leaf; downy mildew resistant

Height
4–8" (10–20 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.1 oz (30 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
2–10
Seed saving
difficult
Seed viability
3 years
Matador
40–48 days Open-Pollinated

slow to bolt; good for baby leaf or full size

Height
4–8" (10–20 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.1 oz (30 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
2–10
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years
Regiment
35–42 days Hybrid

very uniform; good downy mildew resistance

Height
4–8" (10–20 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.1 oz (30 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
2–10
Seed saving
difficult
Seed viability
3 years
Space
28–35 days Hybrid

very fast growing; good for succession planting

Height
4–8" (10–20 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.1 oz (30 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
2–10
Seed saving
difficult
Seed viability
3 years

Savoy

(3)
Bloomsdale Long Standing
40–50 days Open-Pollinated

sweet rich flavour; slow to bolt

Height
6–10" (15–25 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.1 oz (30 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
2–10
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years
Giant Winter
45–50 days Open-Pollinated

overwinters in mild climates; sweet after frost

Height
6–10" (15–25 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.1 oz (30 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
2–10
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years
Tyee
35–45 days Hybrid

very bolt resistant; good for spring and fall

Height
6–10" (15–25 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.1 oz (30 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
2–10
Seed saving
difficult
Seed viability
3 years

Semi-savoy hybrid

(1)
Blaze
40–50 days Hybrid

bolt resistant; dark green leaves; reliable summer spinach

Height
6–12" (15–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.9 oz (55 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years

Semi-savoy type

(1)
Melanos
40–50 days Open-Pollinated

cold hardy; good for early spring and fall; good flavour

Height
6–12" (15–30 cm)
Yield / plant
—
Avg fruit
1.8 oz (50 g)
Support
none
Harvest
cut-and-come-again
USDA Zones
3–10
Seed saving
easy
Seed viability
3 years

Companion Planting

What to grow alongside spinach, and what to keep apart.

Plant With

Kale : Both cool-season greens; spinach fills space beneath kale
Pepper : Spinach provides ground cover under pepper plants
Peas : Peas provide shade that keeps spinach cool; fix nitrogen
Lettuce : Both cool-season greens with complementary growth habits
Garlic : Garlic deters aphids from spinach
Tomato : Spinach thrives in the shade of tomato plants
Beet : Both thrive in cool weather and complement each other
Broccoli : Spinach fills space between broccoli plants
Strawberry : Spinach fills space between strawberry plants in early spring; complementary root depths
Asparagus : Spinach grows well in partial shade of asparagus ferns; complementary harvest windows
Radish : Radishes break soil crust for spinach seedlings
Brussels Sprouts : Spinach provides living mulch between tall brussels sprouts stalks
Cabbage : Spinach uses space between cabbage plants
Cauliflower : Spinach fills space between cauliflower plants
Cilantro : Both cool-season crops; cilantro attracts beneficial insects
Leek : Spinach provides early ground cover between slow-growing leeks
Onion : Onion scent deters pests from spinach
Eggplant : Spinach provides ground cover under eggplant
Artichoke : Spinach fills space beneath tall artichoke plants in cool weather

Keep Apart

Square Foot Spacing

9 per sq ft

4" apart (3×3 grid)

View full spacing chart →

Ready to grow spinach?

Plan your garden with exact spacing and zone-specific planting dates. An AI companion helps with the rest.

Start Planning Free →