Space Spinach

Spinacia oleracea
(37 days) F-1 hybrid. Regularly sells more than 3,500 packets per year. Produces the kind of vigorous big thick wavy mostly smooth slightly savoyed leaves that market growers love and restaurant chefs adore. Relatively long-standing when sown in early spring. Vigorous at all times, it was the quickest to mature from a fall planting. Upright growth results in good clean dark green leaves with a juicy sweet taste. We’ve heard rumors of Space’s intended demise so stock up, don’t Space out on ordering seed! Resistant to DM 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 8, 11, 12, and some resistance to CLS. Cold-hardy. ④

2510 Space

Item	Discounted From	Quantity
A: 1/4oz for $3.50
B: 1/2oz for $5.00
C: 1oz for $7.00
D: 4oz for $14.00
E: 1lb for $37.00
K: 5lb for $142.00

Additional Information

Spinach

1,500–2,800 seeds/oz. ¼ oz packet sows 30–50 ft; 1 oz plants 120–200 ft.
Days to maturity are from date of direct seeding.

Culture: Very hardy, spinach prefers cool temperatures. Planted as soon as the ground can be worked in spring to avoid early bolting. Minimum germination temperature 35°, optimal range 45–65°. Spinach seed will not germinate in soil temperatures above 85°. For fall crop try late July–Aug. sowing; to overwinter, sow late Aug.–Sept. Heavy nitrogen requirements, but avoid applying high-nitrogen fertilizers shortly before harvest to prevent high nitrate levels in the leaves.

Pick large leaves often for heavier production. Smooth-leaved spinach is easier to wash than the semi-savoyed type and is increasingly preferred. Heat, crowding and long day-length (over 14 hours) trigger premature bolting. To retard bolting, avoid hot-weather planting, use wider spacing and irrigate or use shade cloth.

The use of disease-resistant and hardy varieties, cold frames, row covers and hoophouses has made spinach into a nearly year-round crop. Growers should rely on Space or Oceanside for winter production.

Diseases:

BM: Blue Mold
CLS: Cladosporium Leaf Spot
CMV: Cucumber Mosaic Virus
DM: Downy Mildew

Downy Mildew (DM) is caused in spinach by Peronospora farinosa f. sp. spinaciae. This pathogen evolves new races at a fast clip, challenging breeders and growers worldwide to keep up. Resistant varieties are the main management tool. While formerly considered Somebody Else’s Problem, spinach DM has popped up here and there in the Northeast on a seemingly random cross section of spinach varieties. Most cases have been in protected winter crops. Researchers such as Dr. Meg McGrath of Cornell, along with regional seed companies, are tracking these occurrences with hopes of more knowledge before it becomes a major problem. Stay tuned! Until then, good info and visual spinach-disease primers can be found here.

Germination Testing

For the latest results of our germination tests, please see the germination page.

Our Seeds are Non-GMO

All of our seeds are non-GMO, and free of neonicotinoids and fungicides. Fedco is one of the original companies to sign the Safe Seed Pledge.