Spinach
Spinacia oleracea
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Pl. 638A — Spinacia oleracea
Spinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleracea
IOverview
Overview
Spinacia oleracea, commonly known as spinach, is an annual forb/herb native to the Altay region in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This light-loving plant thrives in moist conditions and can grow well in sandy, medium, or clay soils with a pH between 7 and 7.5. Spinach is both edible and medicinal, valued for its nutritional content and traditional uses. It reaches a height and width of about 0.3 meters and is propagated through direct seeding or transplanting seeds sown three weeks before the last frost date. Its distinctive features include light green leaves that are often crinkled and deeply lobed, making it a recognizable member of the Amaranthaceae family.
Quick answers
What is Spinach?
Spinacia oleracea, commonly known as spinach, is an annual forb/herb native to the Altay region in Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. This light-loving plant thrives in moist conditions and can grow well in sandy, medium, or clay soils with a pH between 7 and 7.
What is Spinach used for?
Traditionally used for digestion. Each claim is evidence-rated — see Section II for full citations.
Best for
Top 1 evidence-ranked use of Spinach
Clinicaluses · safety · chemistry · dosagemedicinal profile
IIBenefits & evidence
1 claim · 0 sources
Benefits & evidence
1 claim · 0 sources- Traditional-use note: Spinach appears in herbal sources around after-meal comfort traditions, often as a decoction. PlantSage presents this as ethnobotanical context, not as medical advice.
Traditional context only. This reviewed claim keeps the original low confidence level, but avoids treatment, disease, dosage, or guaranteed-effect language.
IV·bMixology suggestions
1 draft
Mixology suggestions
1 draftEditorial drafts. These pairings are AI-suggested from traditional herbal lore. Always verify with a qualified herbalist before brewing.
Spinach support blend
generaltea
AI returned a direct ingredient list; normalized into one draft blend for editorial review.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
VCultivation
Cultivation
Spinach thrives in light to moderate sunlight and prefers well-draining soil with a pH of 7-7.5. It can be grown from seeds sown directly outdoors about three weeks before the last frost or by transplanting seedlings. Spinach is hardy in zones 4-8, making it suitable for temperate regions. Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged to prevent root rot. This annual plant grows to a height and width of about 0.3 meters and can be harvested for its leaves throughout the growing season.
Light
7/10
Water
Moist
Soil
Light (sandy), Medium, Heavy (clay)
Hardiness
4-8
Life cycle
Annual
Habit
Forb/herb
Mature size
0.3 m × 0.3 m
Soil pH
7–7.5
- Propagation
- Seed - direct sow, Seed - transplant
- Sow outdoors
- 3 weeks prior to last frost date
- Germination
- 2 weeks
For first-time growers
How to grow Spinach for the first time
7steps
Start with easy-to-grow spinach for a rewarding first gardening experience.
- 1
What you'll need
Spinach seeds, small pots or trays, soil, and a garden plot.
- 2
Best time to plant
Plant outdoors about three weeks before the last expected frost date in your area.
- 3
Soil and container prep
Prepare loose, well-draining soil with a pH between 7 and 7.5. Ensure containers are at least 30 cm deep.
- 4
Sowing or transplanting
Direct sow seeds 1-2 cm deep in rows spaced about 30 cm apart. Thin seedlings to 15 cm apart after they emerge.
- 5
First two weeks
Keep soil consistently moist and provide light shade if temperatures are high.
- 6
Ongoing care
Water regularly, especially during dry spells, and mulch around plants to retain moisture. Watch for pests like aphids.
- 7
Harvest or pruning
Pick outer leaves when they reach 15 cm in size, leaving inner leaves to continue growing. Prune any yellowing leaves to encourage new growth.
VIEdible & utility
Edible & utility
Edible parts:leaves
Edible uses: Colouring
Other uses:Dye
Contextrange · companions · related
VIIDistribution
4 native · 26 introduced
Distribution
4 native · 26 introducedDistribution across4 continents· 4 native· 26 introduced
Europe3 regions
introduced (3)DenmarkGreeceSpain
Asia9 regions
native (3)KazakhstanTurkmenistanUzbekistan
introduced (6)ChinaIndiaIranJapanLaosSouth Korea
Americas2 regions
introduced (2)Dominican RepublicHaiti
Africa2 regions
introduced (2)AlgeriaLibya
Broader regions
native:Altay
introduced:Cayman Is., Connecticut, East Aegean Is., Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Czechoslovakia, Maine, Marianas, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio
VIIIGarden companions
21 pairs
Garden companions
21 pairsPlant near these
These plants help — by repelling pests, fixing nitrogen, attracting pollinators, or sharing space well.
Strawberry
Fragaria × ananassa
Ground cover
Spinach and strawberries form a cool, low-growing ground layer.
Allium cepa
Allium cepa
Pest repellent
Onions fit between spinach rows and help confuse aphids.
Anise Hyssop
Agastache foeniculum
Pollinator-friendly
Lower-confidence guild pairing: insectary flowers support pollinators, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps around mixed vegetable beds.
Borage
Borago officinalis
Pollinator-friendly
Lower-confidence guild pairing: insectary flowers support pollinators, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps around mixed vegetable beds.
Pot marigold
Calendula officinalis
Pollinator-friendly
Lower-confidence guild pairing: insectary flowers support pollinators, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps around mixed vegetable beds.
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
Pollinator-friendly
Lower-confidence guild pairing: insectary flowers support pollinators, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps around mixed vegetable beds.
Fagopyrum esculentum
Fagopyrum esculentum
Pollinator-friendly
Lower-confidence guild pairing: insectary flowers support pollinators, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps around mixed vegetable beds.
Hyssop
Hyssopus officinalis
Pest repellent
Lower-confidence guild pairing: aromatic foliage can confuse pests in dense polyculture beds when spacing and airflow are maintained.
Garlic
Allium sativum
Pest repellent
Lower-confidence guild pairing: aromatic foliage can confuse pests in dense polyculture beds when spacing and airflow are maintained.
Chives
Allium schoenoprasum
Pest repellent
Lower-confidence guild pairing: aromatic foliage can confuse pests in dense polyculture beds when spacing and airflow are maintained.
Artemisia dracunculus
Artemisia dracunculus
Pest repellent
Lower-confidence guild pairing: aromatic foliage can confuse pests in dense polyculture beds when spacing and airflow are maintained.
White Clover
Trifolium repens
Living mulch
Lower-confidence guild pairing: low ground covers protect soil, reduce bare patches, and can be cut back if they compete.
Radish
Raphanus sativus
Trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
Nasturtium
Tropaeolum majus
Trap crop
Lower-confidence guild pairing: trap crops can draw aphids or flea beetles away from the main crop when monitored and removed if overloaded.
Seaport goosefoot
Chenopodium opulifolium
Pest repellent
Spinach can deter pests that might otherwise target Seaport goosefoot.
✶ AI suggested
Keep away from these
Avoid planting nearby — competition, allelopathy, or shared pests/diseases.
Fennel
Foeniculum vulgare
AllelopathicResource competitor
Management warning: fennel is traditionally grown apart because it can inhibit neighbouring crops and disrupt guild balance.
Jerusalem artichoke
Helianthus tuberosus
Resource competitor
Management warning: vigorous spreaders or allelopathic plants are best isolated from productive beds unless contained.
Spearmint
Mentha spicata
Resource competitor
Management warning: vigorous spreaders or allelopathic plants are best isolated from productive beds unless contained.
Neutral neighbours
Safe to grow nearby but no measurable benefit.
IXSpecimen gallery
1 image
Specimen gallery
1 imageXSee also
8 related
See also
8 relatedPlants you might compare or use together — scored by shared family, common use cases, and growing requirements.
shared use cases
Different families, similar therapeutic role — good for comparing.
XI
Explore further
Companion planting
Health goals
Compare with similar plants
Growing zone
XII
About this entry
- Last updated
- Citation
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