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Post by binnylou on Mar 14, 2019 23:34:41 GMT -5
I struggle with growing spinach. I remember reading a post shared by camochef from 2015. I think I'm going to try again.
This is what camochef had to say about priming spinach seeds.
Last year I learned that soaking spinach seeds make a great difference in time to sprout. Cuts it in half. This is particularly true with fall plantings. The method is called priming and it requires soaking them for 24 hours then drying them on paper towel and storing them in a cool place for about a week before planting. Saves roughly 10 days waiting for them to sprout.
Enjoy!
Camo
I forgot to mention placing seed in a sealable plastic bag or airtight container after drying them.
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Post by datgirl on Mar 15, 2019 5:49:45 GMT -5
binnylou,brownrexx posted about priming spinach seeds too. I've started doing it and have a lot of success with it.
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Post by dave9354 on Mar 15, 2019 9:13:48 GMT -5
Be sure to use fresh seed. I put mine in wet paper towels inside a plastic sandwich bag and into the refrigerator for a week. Then a warm place and check for sprouting. Then I plant the sprouts in 4 inch pots. Then into the garden when it warms up.
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Post by binnylou on Mar 15, 2019 11:43:22 GMT -5
I've started doing it and have a lot of success with it. Glad to hear this, datgirl. Maybe there is hope for me to grow spinach. I'd like to get away from store bought salad greens for a while. |
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Post by binnylou on Mar 15, 2019 12:21:16 GMT -5
dave9354, Dave, do you grow just for using fresh or do you put some in the freezer? IF I have success, I'd like to get some into the freezer. IF...
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Post by lisaann on Mar 15, 2019 17:33:42 GMT -5
dave9354, datgirl, binnylou, Guess what, I just peeled back the tarp in Bed 1 and planted Early Hybrid and Bloomsdale STRAIGHT from the pack of 2016 seeds from the farm store in town when I got home from work, along with some onion sets. March 15th is my plant day for stuff like that and peas. No pea planting till tomorrow. One time I did a test along side Rexx. She primed and dried and I did the paper towel trick, you know sprouting the seeds in paper towels? We did the same variety, the same day. I didn't leave the spinach in the paper towel till it sprouted. I only left it there the time allotted for priming. She then did the drying and I planted in the pot. Of course mine were up in 2 days. She left hers dry, and then planted and it took 6 days to sprout. I still vote for the make wet in paper towels for 2 days, then plant, or go ahead and presprout in the towel. OR, think of another cool idea to play with! I love this stuff!
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Post by binnylou on Mar 25, 2019 12:45:48 GMT -5
Spinach seeds are ready to plant. Raised bed is still frozen, except the top two inches. Will my spinach seeds mind that the bed is frozen below?
I keep asking what Mother Nature would do, and I think she would go ahead and plant them. What say you?
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Post by datgirl on Mar 25, 2019 17:15:22 GMT -5
I say plant.
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Post by Mumsey on Mar 26, 2019 3:09:44 GMT -5
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Post by desertwoman on Mar 26, 2019 8:44:45 GMT -5
I don't grow spinach but I say plant 'em.
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Post by binnylou on Mar 26, 2019 16:13:41 GMT -5
I planted half of the prepped spinach seeds. If there’s any hungry little critters waiting for the first food delivery, there’s no way that I’m giving them all at one time. If the bed remains undisturbed after a few days, I’ll plant the rest of them.
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Post by kasey on Mar 26, 2019 16:37:50 GMT -5
Last year I was going to prime some spinach and put them in the freezer for a quick chill. Yep, forgot 'em. got them out the next day, thawed and planted. I think they nearly all grew. Came up in 4 days.
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Post by datgirl on Mar 26, 2019 17:20:31 GMT -5
The spinach I planted outside on March 9th is coming up. Hopefully whatever was eating the spinach last year has moved on.
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Post by SpringRain on Mar 30, 2019 12:51:12 GMT -5
Does anyone grow New Zealand spinach? If I remember correctly, it's less subject to heat than other varieties. (I'm anticipating another scorching summer).
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Post by dave9354 on Apr 1, 2019 17:24:04 GMT -5
binnylou,I usually plant my first batch in spring for fresh eating. In August I will start a batch for fall. Whatever is left at the end of the season goes into freezer bags and I use it in soups and stews all winter.
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