Palco Spinach (Organic, F1 Hybrid 38 Days)

It is very difficult to find a spinach adaptable enough to tolerate hot weather but this variety fits the bill. A quick grower with beautiful spoon-shaped leaves that is both bolt resistant and resistant to downy mildew. We found it to be the best growing spinach in our trials this summer. Tasty full-sized or baby. Harvest the baby leaves to encourage more new growth. Last one to bolt in the heat, remained appetizing.

PLANTING

Spinacia oleracea

Germination: 7-14 days

Germination Temperature: Optimum soil temperatures 50-70ºF

Seed Sowing Depth: 1/2" deep

Sowing Indoors: 3-4 weeks before planting out in early to mid spring. Provide 50-65ºF soil temperature. Sow 2-3 seeds per cell/pot. Sowing into individual biodegradable peat/cow pots reduces root damage when transplanting. Transplant after last frost, 6-12" apart.

Sowing Outdoors: Start in early spring when soil temperature is over 50ºF. Sow a few seeds every 1-3", thin to 6-12" for full sized plants. Sow heavy seeded rows, 30 seeds per foot, every 10-14 days for baby greens using the Pinetree spinach mix or larger 1000 seed packet. Sow in mid to late summer for fall harvests.

How much does a packet plant: Small packet= 6-10 feet, large packet = 80-100 feet for mature plants or 20-25 feet for baby greens 

Harvest: Starting with baby greens at 3” or the entire plant before it bolts.

Tips: Plant in fertile soil, amended with compost or well rotted manure and keep well watered. Sow in the fall and cover with mulch for an early spring crop.