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IIIFolio · plant profile№ 638Amedicinal · edible
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Spinach

Spinacia oleracea
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Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) — botanical photograph
Pl. 638A — Spinacia oleracea
Spinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleraceaSpinacia oleracea
I

Prezentare

Spinacia oleracea, cunoscută sub numele de spinată, este un anual forb/herb nativ din regiunea Altay din Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan și Uzbekistan. Această plantă plăcute la lumină se dezvolte în condiții umide și poate crește bine în soluri de tip zahar, medie sau argilaș cu un pH între 7 și 7,5. Spinată este atât alimentară cât și medicinale, valorificată pentru conținutul nutrițional și utilizările tradiționale. Înălțimea și diametrul sa pot ajunge la aproximativ 0,3 metri și se propagează prin semințe plantezate direct sau prin transplant al semințelor plantezate cu trei săptămâni înainte de ultimul gheata. Caracteristicile sale distincte includ frunze verzi lucioase, adesea crinkle și profund lobate, făcând-o un membru reconoscibil al familiei Amaranthaceae.

Quick answers

What is Spinach?

Spinacia oleracea, cunoscută sub numele de spinată, este un anual forb/herb nativ din regiunea Altay din Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan și Uzbekistan. Această plantă plăcute la lumină se dezvolte în condiții umide și poate crește bine în soluri de tip zahar, medie sau argilaș cu un pH între 7 și 7,5.

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
Jump to full evidence →
Clinicaluses · safety · chemistry · dosagemedicinal profile
II

Beneficii și dovezi

1 claim · traditional-use context
Traditional-use context
These notes are presented as ethnobotanical context. No cited clinical references are catalogued for this plant yet.
  • 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.

    ▲ LimitedDigestion →
IV·b

Mixology suggestions

1 draft
Editorial drafts. These pairings are AI-suggested from traditional herbal lore. Always verify with a qualified herbalist before brewing.
Spinach support blend
general
tea
AI returned a direct ingredient list; normalized into one draft blend for editorial review.
Growingconditions · propagation · uses
V

Cultivare

Spinată se dezvolte în lumină ușoară până la medie și preferă soluri cu bine de rafare cu un pH între 7 și 7,5. Poate fi cultivată din semințe plantezate direct în exterior aproximativ trei săptămâni înainte de ultimul gheata sau prin transplant al plantezilor. Spinată este durabilă în zonele 4-8, făcând-o potrivită pentru regiuni temperat. Mențineți solul constant umed, dar nu apărat pentru a preveni rotul radicol. Această plantă anuală crește la o înălțime și diametru de aproximativ 0,3 metri și poate fi recoltată pentru frunzele sale peste întregul sezon de creștere.
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. 1

    What you'll need

    Spinach seeds, small pots or trays, soil, and a garden plot.

  2. 2

    Best time to plant

    Plant outdoors about three weeks before the last expected frost date in your area.

  3. 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. 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. 5

    First two weeks

    Keep soil consistently moist and provide light shade if temperatures are high.

  6. 6

    Ongoing care

    Water regularly, especially during dry spells, and mulch around plants to retain moisture. Watch for pests like aphids.

  7. 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.

VI

Edible & utility

Edible parts:leaves
Edible uses: Colouring
Other uses:Dye
Contextrange · companions · related
VII

Distribuție

4 native · 47 introduced
Distribution across4 continents· 4 native· 47 introduced
Europe5 regions
introduced (5)DenmarkGreeceNorwaySpainSweden
Asia15 regions
native (3)KazakhstanTurkmenistanUzbekistan
introduced (12)AfghanistanBangladeshChinaIndiaIranJapanLaosPakistanSaudi ArabiaSouth KoreaVietnamYemen
Americas2 regions
introduced (2)Dominican RepublicHaiti
Africa4 regions
introduced (4)AlgeriaLibyaMoroccoTunisia
Broader regions
native:Altay
introduced:Amur, California, Cayman Is., Connecticut, Czechoslovakia, East Aegean Is., Kriti, Lebanon-Syria, Maine, Marianas, Masachusettes, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Primorye, Rhode I., South Carolina, Tadzhikistan, Virginia, Washington
VIII

Garden companions

21 pairs
Plant near these

These plants help — by repelling pests, fixing nitrogen, attracting pollinators, or sharing space well.

Fagopyrum esculentum
Fagopyrum esculentum
Pollinator-friendly
Lower-confidence guild pairing: insectary flowers support pollinators, hoverflies, and parasitic wasps around mixed vegetable beds.
Allium cepa
Allium cepa
Pest repellent
Onions fit between spinach rows and help confuse aphids.
Chives
Allium schoenoprasum
Pest repellent
Lower-confidence guild pairing: aromatic foliage can confuse pests in dense polyculture beds when spacing and airflow are maintained.
Yarrow
Achillea millefolium
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.
Garlic
Allium sativum
Pest repellent
Lower-confidence guild pairing: aromatic foliage can confuse pests in dense polyculture beds when spacing and airflow are maintained.
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.
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.
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.
Strawberry
Fragaria × ananassa
Ground cover
Spinach and strawberries form a cool, low-growing ground layer.
Hyssop
Hyssopus officinalis
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.
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.

Neutral neighbours

Safe to grow nearby but no measurable benefit.

IX

Specimen gallery

1 image
Spinacia oleracea (Spinach) — botanical photograph
Spinach (Spinacia oleracea)
X

See also

8 related
XI

Explore further

Companion planting
Growing zone
XII

About this entry

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