Need help with fall spinach

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milesdt Pulaski, GA Sep 04, 2011

I'm planting spinach for the first time. I read that spinach seeds don't germinate well in hot soil. I am borderline zone 8/9, coastal Georgia. We are still in the 90's here. I try to soak the soil every day with drip hose to cool down the soil, but no sign of germination yet. It's been 10 days. Should I give it more time or go ahead and reseed? Other suggestions?

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NatureLover1950 Vicksburg, MS(Zone 8a) Sep 05, 2011

I've never planted spinach while it was in the 90's so I'm not sure about the heat factor. I normally wait till late September. There's a chart of approximate germination times in the site below that might be useful.

http://www.heirloomseeds.com/germination.html

Hope you get some spinach to grow--can't beat home grown.

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paradacrades Hilliard, FL(Zone 8b) Sep 05, 2011

I live on the border of zones 8 and 9 myself. Technically, I am zone 8b, but 9a is only about 25 miles away. I usually plant my spinach in October. It does take a little longer for spinach to germinate than other greens. With the heat we have been having, if the seeds you already planted do not germinate, you might want to wait until it cools down a bit. Visit the link below for a detailed calendar of what you could plant, and when. The calendar is for North Florida, but since our zones are so similar, it should apply to your area as well. Good luck.

http://nassau.ifas.ufl.edu/horticulture/landmatters/neflvegplantguide.doc

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rwaterspf1 Durham, NC(Zone 7b) Sep 05, 2011

according to my seed packet from Johnny's for Tyee Spinach "Summer sowing in hot soil over 85F risks low or erratic germination". I grow it indoors under lights and it usually takes 5 or 6 days to come up.



Vaughn

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milesdt Pulaski, GA Sep 05, 2011

According to the document from U. of Fla, the only times to plant spinach in this area are Oct. and Nov. So maybe I'll wait a while and try again. Thanks.

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LiseP San Antonio, TX(Zone 8b) Sep 07, 2011

Check out this chart (mid-page) on temperature's effect on germination rate for spinach.

http://tomclothier.hort.net/page11.html

Wish I'd taken my own advice, I see that I planted mine too soon. Two cooler days after all those weeks in the 100s, and I got excited to start fall planting, lol!

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Gymgirl SE Houston (Hobby), TX(Zone 9a) Sep 07, 2011

So, LiseP,
If I understand the chart correctly, sowing spinach seeds at the optimum SOIL temperature of 50 degrees should result in a 91% germination rate, with seedlings declaring (emerging) within 12 days?

Yes? No?

Linda

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LiseP San Antonio, TX(Zone 8b) Sep 07, 2011

Yes, that's the way I read it.

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Gymgirl SE Houston (Hobby), TX(Zone 9a) Sep 07, 2011

SUH-WEET!!! Thanks for posting the link!

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