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Varieties

Bloomsdale, Melody, Space, Tyee

Soil Preferences

Well-drained, clay loam; will tolerate wide range of loamy soils with pH range of 6.5 - 8.0.

Optimum Growing Conditions

Cool dry conditions; 65-75°F days, 40-45°F nights. Will withstand freezing temperatures (low 20's).

Establishment Methods

Planting Method Direct seeded
Optimum Time Soil temperature <100°F in seed zone and/or day time air temperature < 95°F
Seeding rate 5-10 lbs/acre (high seeding rate when planting in high temperature soils)
Approx seed/oz 120-400
Seeding depth 0.25 - 0.5"
Seedling spacing 3-6 plants/foot of seed row
Normally 2-4 seed rows on 40" raised bed
Baby leaf - 15-30 seed rows on 80" wide bed with 1-2" in-row spacing (may require approximately 2,000,000 seed/acre

Fertility/Fertilization

Rates presented as actual lbs/acre N2, P2o5, and K2o (base actual rates applied on soil test results).
Generalized rate: 120 - 75 - 80 lb/acre
N*100-150 lbs
75-100 lbs applied pre-plant
20-30 lbs after each cutting
Use tissue analysis to determine supplemental N rates
P75-100 lbs banded 2" below seed at planting
K70-100 lbs (not normally needed in most spinach production areas of Texas)
* Ammonium nitrate is very stable and least likely to evaporate. Urea and ammonium sulfate evaporate if not incorporated.

Water/Irrigation

Low to moderate demand: 10-15". If soil moisture is low, irrigate after each cutting. Overhead sprinkler irrigation not advisable as it may increase incidence of foliar diseases.

Pest Management

Spinach Diseases and Common Name of Fungicidal Controls
DISEASE FUNGICIDE* OMRI LISTED FUNGICIDE**
Cercospora leaf spot azoxystrobin, copper sulfate, pyraclostrobin, copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide,
Damping-off thiram, fludioxonil,
Downy mildew (blue mold) acibenzolar-s-methyl, azoxystrobin, fenamidone, fluopicolide, fosetyl-Al, mandpropamid, mefenoxam, metalaxyl, potassium phosphite, pyraclostrobin, sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, streptomyces lydicus, Bacillus pumilus, Bacillus subtilis, clove, rosemary and thyme oil, copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide, extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis, hydrogen dioxide, neem oil, potassium bicarbonate,
Nematode 1,3-dichloropropene, chloropicrin, metam-potassium, metam-sodium, sesame oil, azadirachtin
White rust acibenzolar-s-methyl, azoxystrobin, azoxystrobin, copper sulfate, fenamidone, fluopidolide, fosetyl-Al, mefenoxam, metalaxyl, potassium phosphite, pyraclostrobin, copper hydroxide, cuprous oxide, extract of Reynoutria sachalinensis,
Spinach Insect Pests and Common Name of Insecticidal Controls
INSECT INSECTICIDE* OMRI LISTED INSECTICIDE**
Aphid Acetamiprid, Bifenthrin, Cypermethrin, Diazinon, Dinotefuran, Imidacloprid, Malathion, Permethrin, Petroleum oil, Potassium salts of fatty acids, Sodium tetraborohydrate decahydrate, Spirotetramat, Thiamethoxam, Zeta-cypermethrin Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Neem oil,
Armyworm Cypermethrin, Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Cyfluthrin, Cypermethrin, Endosulfan, Flubendiamide, Thiodicarb, Zeta-cypermethrin Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis, Pyrethrins, Spinosad,
Beetle Azadirachtin, Pyrethrins
Cutworm Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Cyfluthrin, Cypermethrin, Diazinon, Flubendiamide, Methoxyfenozide, Permethrin, Zeta-cypermethrin Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis,
Grasshopper Beta-cyfluthrin, Bifenthrin, Carbaryl, Cyfluthrin, Diflubenzuron, Dinotefuran, Zeta-cypermethrin Azadirachtin, Garlic Juice Extracts, Kaolin
Looper Bifenthrin, Cypermethrin, Petroleum oil, Zeta-cypermethrin Azadirachtin, Bacillus thuringiensis, Garlic Juice Extracts, Pyrethrins
Webworm Bacillus thuringiensis, Garlic Juice Extracts, Pyrethrins
Weeds and Common Name of Herbicidal Controls
WEED HERBICIDE* OMRI LISTED HERBICIDE**
Preplant incorporated Corn gluten meal
Preemergence (prior to spear emergence)
Postemergence carfentrazone, sethoxydim, glyphosate, pelargonic acid, clethodim, clopyralid d-limonene, clove oil, cinnamon and clove oil

* The above is a partial listing of controls intended as examples. Some labels may have been revoked since the publication of this guide. Refer to product labels for specifics and use accordingly. Ensure that products with one of the listed active ingredients is registered for the crop it is to be used on. Failure to do the above may result in crop injury, death and/or citation for law violation. Humans, animals and the environment may also be adversely affected by misuse.
** As stated in §205.206 of the National Organic Standards, pest management decisions should follow a hierarchical approach, which should be defined in a farm's organic systems plan. Please ensure that you have followed the appropriate steps and any product to be used in certified organic production systems has been approved by your certifying agent.

Harvest

Days after plantingFresh Market - 45-60 days (20-30 to second cut)
Processing - 70-90 days
Normal methodFresh Market - Hand cut loose leaf or root cut
Processing - Machine cut
ContainersFresh Market - Bushel baskets
GradesGrades based on external appearance
Spinach leaves:
  • U.S. Extra #1
  • U.S. #1
  • U.S. Commercial
Bunched Spinach:
  • U.S. #1
  • U.S. #2
Packaging/HandlingFresh Market:
  • 25 lb bushel basket
  • Cardboard cartons
  • 45 lb plastic containers
Processing: canned or frozen
Anticipated yield/acre300-400 bushels

Transit Conditions

Fresh market - Containers are top iced and/or held at 90-95% RH. Very perishable: 10-15 days max shelf-life.

Processing - Layered with ice in bulk wagons or semi trailer. Best to transport at night if great distances need to be traveled. Do not leave in bulk wagons more than 24 hours as spinach is very perishable.

Comments/Production Keys