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Spinach, Page 4

Picking Spinach Leaves, Weeding, and Adding Wood Ash

Yesterday I decided to pick some of the spinach leaves that were getting quite large outside.  I like picking the leaves when they get large enough that they can be used for a sandwich.  You can pick them small and toss them into a salad, but I prefer larger darker leaves rather than small paler ones.

One thing you need to keep in mind is not picking too many leaves because this could cause them to go to seed very quickly and that would end your spinach season.  So to prevent this from happening I always leave a couple of large leaves on the plant.

This way you are not shocking them with removing too much of the leaves.  As long as you keep feeding them they will continue to produce delicious green foliage.  Here are some pictures I took of before and after cutting the leaves. (more…)

Plant Progress and Some More Alyssum Added

I want to share with you some of the progress that I have been having with my plants and some that I have added in order to maximize my time.

So far my plants are doing really good and it will soon be time to leave them out overnight and then into the garden soil they will go soon after.  Right now during warm days I have been placing them outside on a table that can hold much of my early plantings.

I also added some more flowers to addition to the ones that I started growing a month ago.  Alyssum is one of those flowers that I love to grow as much as possible because of the numerous beneficial insects it attracts.  Bees love them lady beetles, flower flies, hover flies, and so much more. (more…)

Transplanting Spinach Into The Garden

Today we are finally going to discuss transplanting spinach into the garden.  It is a very simple process to complete once you know exactly how to perform this task.  I like to transplant them a certain way which I have been doing for over a decade since I started growing these healthy leaves.

It only takes about an hour to accomplish, but if you are new to this then it might take a little bit longer.  Once you start doing you will inevitably get used to it and you will become a master at moving these plants into your home garden.  It all starts with making some holes using a large shovel which you can see here. (more…)

Hardening All Your Spinach Plants Outside

Before setting your plants outside in their permanent home there is one important step you need to proceed with.  You need to make sure that you acclimate your spinach plants to the weather and temperature changes that it will face in the garden.  People who forget this step usually end up with a poor harvest and wonder why it happened.  Hardening is something that all gardeners face especially if you grow your plants inside or if you buy them from your local greenhouse.

So far I have only placed a couple of spinach plants outside to get used to the weather and cooler temperatures.  I have recently placed the rest of them to acclimate to these conditions that will make the transition from inside to outside permanently easier.  You will be doing this for all your plants, but right now the temperatures are still too cold to begin placing anything else outside. (more…)

Begin Acclimating Your Spinach to Outside Conditions

Whenever planting inside the one thing that plants lack is the ability to adjust to ranging temperatures, wind, rain, and other conditions.  If you plant inside like myself, then you will know that they are not exposed to these elements until you eventually place them outside.  Before placing them in the ground you first must “harden off” your plants before cultivating them in your garden.

By hardening your plants you are basically getting them used to the elements in which they will be exposed to throughout the season.  It is an important process that you must utilize to become a better gardener.  If you do not apply this process your plants may get shocked by the sudden conditions that it could die or produce very poor results. (more…)

Spinach Has Started to Sprout

It has been a couple of weeks since I planted spinach seeds, but it is now starting to pay off. The first couple of seeds are starting to sprout and popping out of the soil. It might take another week or so before the rest of the seeds start growing.

Spinach is one of those plants that does take a while before they start sprouting all at once. It can take up to three weeks before they are all through the soil. This is where patience is a virtue and something you must have when gardening. Time is essential and by planting them early gives you a buffer just in case many of them do not sprout.  (more…)

Time To Begin Planting Spinach Indoors

Spinach is always the first plant of the season to be grown indoors prior to spring. Since I live in zone 6 it wouldn’t be smart to plant them outside because it is still too cold even for spinach. I like to start them inside because this will allow them to develop quickly and healthy before placing them in the garden.

Since they will be inside I needed to make sure that I start them in a slightly cooler place then any other plants. I happened to place them in the basement because it usually remains around 50 degrees Fahrenheit through the entire winter. (more…)