Although newly growing Spinach sprouts look like juvenile seedlings of many vegetables, they can easily be distinguished if you pay close attention to the features!
Spinach seedlings develop from round or spherical seeds with sizes ranging from 2-3mm with glossy black color and smooth texture.
So, if you want to grow Spinach from seeds but are unknown about what spinach sprouts should look like, this article is definitely for you.
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Spinach Growth Stages
Usually, Spinach takes about 4-6 weeks from seed to harvest, and you can start the seed during late winter or early spring.
During the germination phase, temperature plays a vital role. In cool soil temperatures of 45⁰ F to 68⁰F, Spinach seeds successfully germinate within 5-10 days.
However, this depends upon the type of seed you sow, as older seeds take longer germination time than young seeds.
After germination, your Spinach will bear its first set of true leaves with complex structures within 7-10 days.
Before maturity, the Spinach plant goes through the reproductive stage bearing small flowers in the stalk and developing seed pods later.
Eventually, you will see your Spinach sprout turning into a mature Spinach plant within 40-50 days.
Thus, it’s good to harvest your Spinach during the vegetative stages when the leaves and stems are still delicate.
What Do Spinach Sprouts Look Like?
The Spinach sprouts that develop after germination looks very distinct, and you can easily differentiate it from a mature plant.
When the Spinach seeds first sprout, it bears oval-shaped cotyledon leaves that contain reserved energy for the plant.
Gradually, the cotyledon leaves start yellowing and drooping to bear the first set of elongated true leaves in clusters.
Those leaves are dark green in color, have a smooth texture, and come in a clump of 3-4 leaves.
Moreover, the true leaves look like a smaller version of mature Spinach leaves that increase in size as the plant matures.
Also, the stems are delicate, with a pale green color and a smaller size ranging from 2-4 inches before maturity.
When To Transplant Spinach Sprouts?
Before transplanting Spinach sprouts, you need to prepare a well-draining soil amending with organic compost.
Similarly, hardening off the seedlings by exposing them outdoors and providing 4-6 inches spacing before transplant will give the best results.
- Spinach sprouts are ready to transplant when the seedling becomes 4-6 inches tall.
- Remember to transplant only after 3-4 true leaves appear after the cotyledon stage.
- Only transplant the sprouts in early spring when the soil temperature is still cool.
- Transplanting the sprouts 3-4 weeks before the last frost date will help the seedling establish itself perfectly.
- Water the seedlings weekly ensuring the soil is moist but not soggy to prevent root rot.
Mulching around the base of the seedling and covering the sprouts with frost blankets will protect the sprout from excessive heat and cold.
From Editorial Team
Protect Your Spinach Sprouts From Extreme Condition!
Always treat your Spinach sprouts as a cool-season crop, as excessive heat will result in premature bolting and a bitter taste.
Moreover, apply the drip irrigation method to hydrate the seedlings as the sprouts are delicate, and the water force can easily damage them.
