Spinacia oleracea 'Tyee'
vegetableTyee is the long-standing benchmark semi-savoy spinach, a fast-growing F1 hybrid with thick dark green leaves that are slightly rumpled, upright, and clean of soil splash. Bred for resistance to bolting in summer heat and downy mildew races 1 and 3, it is a reliable workhorse for both spring and fall cropping and is widely recommended by cooperative extension programs for home gardens.
Sun
full sun
Water
Every 2 days
Harvest
~42 days
Difficulty
easy
Lifecycle
annual
One season, then done
Spacing
3-4 in. apart
Planting Depth
Seed 1/2 in. deep
Soil pH
6.5-7.0
Soil Type
Rich, moist, well-draining
Hardiness Zones
Zones 2 – 10
Grown as an annual — this range is its winter hardiness, but you can grow it for a single season in any zone.
When to Fertilize
At sowing and again when plants are 2 in. tall
Fertilizer
Balanced 10-10-10 or 5-10-5 side-dress
Direct sow spinach 4 to 6 weeks before the last spring frost and again in late summer for a fall crop; spinach germinates best in cool soil between 45 and 70F and stalls above 80F. Sow seed 1/2 inch deep and thin seedlings to 3 to 4 inches apart in rows 12 to 18 inches apart. Keep the soil consistently moist - dry soil triggers bolting. Side-dress with nitrogen when plants are about 2 inches tall to push leafy growth, and provide afternoon shade as temperatures rise.
spring planting
Start seeds indoors
Mar 18
Transplant outdoors
Mar 18
Projected first harvest
Apr 29
fall planting
Direct sow
Sep 15
Projected first harvest
Oct 27
Good neighbors that attract beneficial insects or deter pests
Proactive ways to stop trouble before it starts — tap a name with an arrow for its full guide
Cover seedlings with floating row cover before the flies arrive in spring; squash visible larval tunnels by hand
Hose off colonies and let ladybugs build up; aphids worsen if plants are stressed by drought
Set traps or grit barriers in the cool damp of early spring and fall, when slugs hit spinach hardest
Choose downy-mildew-resistant varieties like Tyee, give plants airflow, and water at the base in the morning
Begin pinching outer leaves once plants have 5 or 6 full leaves, about 25 to 32 days for baby leaf or 40 to 45 days for full size. Cut-and-come-again works well: take outer leaves and leave the center crown to keep producing. Once a center stalk starts to elongate the plant is bolting and the leaves will turn bitter - harvest the whole plant at that point.
Spinach is one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables, very rich in vitamin K (about 483 mcg per 100 g raw, well above a full daily value), folate, vitamin A, vitamin C, manganese, and magnesium. Iron levels are real but absorption is limited by the spinach oxalate content; pair raw spinach with a vitamin C source like lemon or pepper for better uptake, or cook to break down oxalates.
For educational and informational purposes only — HomeSown is not medical, health, or other professional advice. Always positively identify any plant before handling or eating it; some plants, and some parts of otherwise-edible plants, are toxic. Consult a qualified professional before consuming or otherwise using any plant, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medication, or have a health condition.
spring planting
fall planting