How to Grow Spinach and Mesclun Mixes
Mesclun: a term for a mix that may consist of some or all of the many varieties of young green and red lettuces, endives, mustards, kales and arugula.


From the Old Farm Community Gardeners


Giant Noble, Correnta and Tyee Spinach.................Wild Mustards, Mesclun Mix, Arugula and Red Kale


Quick Tips

  • Choose a very sunny location, 8 hours or more of direct sun per day.
  • Plant in well prepared soil. The soil can have 50% more organic material added than you would for other vegetables.
  • Spinach and some of the seeds in the Mesclun Mix should be planted in mid April or as soon as the ground can be worked.
  • Giant Noble Spinach is an early producer, Correnta provides small leaves excellent for salads, and Tyee Spinach is slow to bolt.
  • Plant just two to three short rows (3 feet long) at this time. Some gardeners plant long rows that produce more lettuce than they can use before it bolts. Staggered plantings are best.
  • Plant an addtional two or three rows every two weeks until June 1st.
  • Harvest often and harvest the outer leaves first. The plants will grow back to produce more.
  • When the spinach starts to grow tall and the leaves start getting smaller, harvest quick. This is called bolting (going to seed). That plant will quickly continue to deteriorate in quality. It is best to remove it.
  • After June 1st you are done planting spinach for the summer.
  • For a fall crop plant spinach again the last week in August.
  • For a continuous summer supply of salad greens try some of the "heat tolerant and bolt resistant" lettuce mixes. Plant a few small rows every two weeks throughout the summer.
  • Most greens are more tender in the cool months however you can plant mesclun mixes throughout the summer.
  • Mesclun mixes when planted in late August will give you an abundant fall harvest.


    Left to right: Red Giant Mustard, Red Russian Kale and Mesclun mix

    Special Tip for Extra Early Spinach
    Plant Giant Noble Spinach or Nordic IV (these varieties grows fast and tender in this arrangement) the first week in April under a plastic tunnel (as shown below). Keep the tunnel completely closed and check to make sure it stays moist. By May 15th you will be harvesting spinach before anyone has even started planting!

    Noble Spinach is hard to find. Go on-line and "google" Noble Spinach.



    Good Luck and Happy Gardening!

    We can be contacted at: larrys80917@comcast.net

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