Spinach
Spinach bolts quickly (produces flower stalks) under long-day and warm-weather conditions. This explains why the crop is produced mostly in the spring or fall when temperatures are cooler and the hours of daylight are shorter. Varieties differ in their susceptibility to bolting.
Growing Spinach
Early/ Mid-season
Unipack 121, Spalding1, C26061.
Late
Unipack 121, C2-6061.
1 = smooth leaf
See your seed dealer for the most recent variety recommendations.
Muck soils provide needed organic matter and high moisture content. Sandy loams may be used. A pH of 6.2 to 6.9 is optimum for good growth.
Use only seed that has been hot-water-treated. Using seed treated with Thiram or captan seed protectants is also an option.
Use a precision seeder to space seed 3 – 8 cm apart in rows which are 25 cm apart. This method will require 3 to 5 kg/ha (1.2 to 2 kg/acre) of seed. If a precision seeder is not used, allow for 17 kg/ha (6.8 kg/acre) of seed.
A soil test is necessary to determine phosphate and potash requirements. Use the Vegetable Production Guide: Nutrient Management (PDF) for recommendations based on soil test results.
On muck soils, broadcast and disc in 35 kg/ha (14 kg/acre) nitrogen and the required phosphate and potash.
On mineral soils, broadcast and disc in 70 kg/ha (28 kg/acre) nitrogen and the required phosphate and potash.
Plants should be dry.
By Hand
With knife or Dutch hoe below rosette and above first feeding-roots.
By Machine
Before plants are too large, otherwise roots may be dragged up as well.
Spinach Weed Management
A clean seed-bed is important. Shallow cultivation will control weeds. The stale seed-bed technique as described in the Vegetable Production Guide: Pest Management (PDF, 1.2 MB) will control the first flush of weeds. See tables below.
Product | Rate | PHI* | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Select(clethodim) Group 1 |
125 - 190 mL/ha (50 - 75 mL/acre) | 14 |
|
Centurion(clethodim) Group 1 |
125 - 190 mL/ha (50 - 75 mL/acre) | 14 |
|
Poast Ultra(sethoxydim) Group 1 Note: No longer produced |
Annual grasses (incl. volunteer cereals): 320 mL/ha (130 mL/ac)
Annual grasses & quackgrass suppression: 470 mL/ha (190 mL/ac)
Quackgrass: 1.1 L/ha (445 mL/ac) |
15 |
|
Lontrel XC(clopyralid) Group 4 |
174 mL/ha (70 mL/ac)
Apply in 200 L/ha (80 L/ac) of water at 200 to 275 kPa |
21 |
|
Aim EC(carfentrazone-ethyl) Group 14 |
37 to 117 mL/ha (15 to 47 mL/acre) Apply in 100 L/ha (40 L/acre) of water |
1 |
|
*PHI = Pre-harvest interval
BUFFERS – Refer to product label for buffer requirements, and consult the Vegetable Production Guide: Pesticide Regulations and Safety (PDF).
PESTICIDE GROUP DETAILS – see the Vegetable Production Guide: Pesticide Toxicity Table (PDF).
Spinach Insect Management
Aphids are small (<2 mm), green or black, sucking insects that feed on the growing point and the undersides of leaves.
Control
See table below for control options.
Product | Rate | PHI* | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Admire 240 F(imidacloprid)
Group 4
|
Pre-transplant
|
21
|
|
Admire 240 F(imidacloprid)
Group 4
|
Post-transplant
field drench: 6.0 mL per 100 mL row (see Rate Conversion Chart of label for row spacing calculations)
|
21 |
|
Admire 240 F(imidacloprid)
Group 4
|
Foliar spray: 200 mL/ha (80 mL/acre) |
7 |
|
Assail 70 WP(acetamiprid)
Group 4 |
56 to 86 g/ha (23 to 35 g/acre) Apply in 200 L/ha (80 L/acre) of water |
7 |
|
Actara 240 SC(thiamethoxam)
Group 4
|
375 to 625 mL/ha
(152 to 253 mL/acre)
|
N/A |
|
Actara 25 WG(thiamethoxam)
Group 4 |
105 g/ha Apply in 100 L/ha (40 L/acre) of water) |
7 |
|
Closer SC(sulfoxaflor)Group 4C |
100 to 150 mL/ha Apply in 100 L/ha (40 L/acre) of water |
3 |
|
Sivanto Prime(flupyradifurone)
Group 4D
|
500 to 750 mL/ha |
1 |
|
Fulfill 50 WG(pymetrozine)
Group 9B Note: Registration expires May 6, 2024 |
193 g/ha Apply in 100L/ha (40L/acre) of water. |
14 |
|
Versys(afidopyropen) Group 9D |
100 mL/ha (40 mL/acre) Apply in 100 L/ha (40 L/acre) of water |
0 |
|
Movento 240SC(spirotetramat)
Group 23 |
220 to 365 mL/ha Apply in 300 L/ha (120 L/acre) of water |
3 |
|
Exirel(cyantraniliprole)
Group 28
|
500 to 1500 mL/ha Apply in 100 L/ha (40 L/acre) of water |
1 |
|
Beleaf 50 SG(flonicamid)
Group 29 |
120 to 160 g/ha (50 to 65 g/acre) Apply in 94 L/ha (38 L/acre) of water |
0 |
|
*PHI = Pre-harvest interval
BUFFERS – Refer to product label for buffer requirements, and consult the Vegetable Production Guide: Pesticide Regulations and Safety (PDF).
PESTICIDE GROUP DETAILS – see the Vegetable Production Guide: Pesticide Toxicity Table (PDF).
These insects feed on leaves, leaving holes which can make the crop unmarketable.
Control
When damaged leaves are first seen, apply one of the products from the table below.
Product | Rate | PHI* | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Delegate WG(spinetoram)
Group 5 |
140 to 200 g/ha (60 to 80 g/acre) |
1 |
|
Entrust 80(spinosad)
Group 5
Used in organics
|
109 g/ha (44 g/acre) |
1 |
|
Entrust(spinosad)
Group 5
Used in organics
|
364 mL/ha (147 mL/acre) |
1 |
|
Success(spinosad)
Group 5 |
182 mL/ha (74 mL/acre) |
1 |
|
Minecto Pro(abamectin/ cyantraniliprole) Group 6 & 28 |
370 mL/ha (150 mL/acre) Apply in 200 L/ha (80 L/acre) of water |
7 |
|
XenTari WG(Bacillus thuringiensis, subsp. aizawai)
Group 11
Used in organics
|
500 to 1000 g/ha
(200 to 400 g/acre) Apply in 500 L/ha
(200 L/acre) of water
|
0 |
|
Coragen(chlorantraniliprole)
Group 28 |
250 mL/ha Apply in 100 L/ha (40 L/acre) of water |
1 |
|
Harvanta 50SL(cyclaniliprole)
Group 28
|
0.8 to 1.2 L/ha
(324 to 485 mL/acre) Apply in 200 to 1000 L/ha (80 to 400 L/acre) of water
|
1 |
|
Bioprotec CAF(Bacillus thuringiensis)
|
1.4 to 2.8 L/ha Use 300 L/ha (120 L/acre) of water |
0 |
|
Dipel 2X DF(Bacillus thuringiensis)
Used in organics |
275 to 550 g/ha (110 to 220 g/acre) |
0 |
|
Loopex(Autorgrapha californica)
|
2.5X1010 to 1X1011 PIBs/400L of water | 0 |
|
Intrepid(methoxyfenozide)
Group 18 |
300 to 600 mL/ha (120 to 240 mL/acre) Apply in 300 L/ha (120 L/acre) of water |
1 |
|
Exirel(cyantraniliprole)
Group 28
|
250 to 500 mL/ha Apply in 100 L/ha (40 L/acre) of water |
1 |
|
*PHI = Pre-harvest interval
BUFFERS – Refer to product label for buffer requirements, and consult the Vegetable Production Guide: Pesticide Regulations and Safety (PDF).
PESTICIDE GROUP DETAILS – see the Vegetable Production Guide: Pesticide Toxicity Table (PDF).
White maggots of a small fly feed inside the leaves, causing colourless blotches.
Control
Use successive seedings and when the mines first appear, spray with one of the products in the table below. Leafminers infest weeds as well, so keep fields and headlands weed-free.
Product | Rate | PHI* | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Assail 70WP(acetamiprid)
Group 4 |
86 g/ha Apply in 200 L/ha (80 L/acre) of water |
7 |
|
Actara 240 SC(thiamethoxam) Group 4 |
375 to 625 mL/ha (152 to 253 mL/acre) |
N/A |
|
Citation 75WP(cyromazine)
Group 17 Note: Registration expires December 16, 2023
|
188 g (2.5 soluble bags)/ha (76 g (1 soluble bag)/acre Apply in 200 L /ha (80 L/acre) of water |
7 |
|
Coragen(chlorantraniliprole)
Group 28 |
250 to 375 mL/ha (100 to 150 mL/acre) Apply in 100 L/ha (40 L/acre) of water |
1 |
|
Exirel(cyantraniliprole) Group 28
|
1000 to 1500 mL/ha Apply in 100 L/ha (40 L/acre) of water |
1 |
|
Harvanta 50SL(cyclaniliprole) Group 28 |
1.2 L/ha |
1 |
|
*PHI = Pre-harvest interval
BUFFERS – Refer to product label for buffer requirements, and consult the Vegetable Production Guide: Pesticide Regulations and Safety (PDF).
PESTICIDE GROUP DETAILS – see the Vegetable Production Guide: Pesticide Toxicity Table (PDF).
Spinach Disease Management
(Peronospora)
Large pale-yellow spots grow together to cover all or part of the leaves, first the lowest ones, then throughout the plant. Grey to violet mould on the underside of the yellow spots can be visible. Sometimes the whole plant decays and dies.
Control
- The varieties recommended above are resistant to the common races of downy mildew.
- Practice a three-year or longer crop rotation.
- If a seed-lot contaminated with downy mildew must be used, it should be hot-water-treated. Consult the Vegetable Production Guide: Planting (PDF) for instructions.
- Plant on well-drained fertile soil.
- If a spray program becomes necessary, see table below for chemical control options.
Product | Rate | PHI* | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
Copper 53W(tri-basic copper sulphate)
|
2.5 kg/ha (1.0 kg/acre) |
1 |
|
Ridomil Gold 480 SL(metalaxyl-M & S-isomer)
Group 4
|
1 L/ha (400 mL/acre) |
N/A |
|
Quadris(Azoxystrobin)
Group 11 |
1.125 L/ha (450 mL/acre) |
7 |
|
Reason 500SC(fenamidone)
Group 11 |
400 mL/ha (160 mL/acre) |
2 |
|
Pristine WG(boscalid & pyraclostrobin)
Group 7 & 11 |
1.6 kg/ha (650 g/acre) |
0 |
|
Revus(mandipropamid)
Group 40 |
400 to 600 mL/ha (160 to 240 mL/acre ) Apply in at least 100 L/ha (40 L/acre) of water |
1 |
|
Zampro(ametoctradin & dimethomorph) Group 40 & 45 |
1.0 L/ha (400 mL /acre) Apply in 200 L/ha (80 L/acre) of water |
0 |
|
Presidio(fluopicolide)
Group 43 |
292 mL/ha (118 mL/acre) Apply in 200 to 1000 L/ha (80 to 400 L/acre) of water |
2 |
|
Orondis(oxathiapiprolin)
Group 49
|
175 to 350 mL/ha (70 to 140 mL/acre Apply in 110 L/ha (45 L/acre) of water. |
0 |
|
*PHI = Pre-harvest interval
BUFFERS – Refer to product label for buffer requirements, and consult the Vegetable Production Guide: Pesticide Regulations and Safety (PDF).
PESTICIDE GROUP DETAILS – see the Vegetable Production Guide: Pesticide Toxicity Table (PDF).
RootShield WP (Trichoderma harzianum Rifai strain KRL-AG2) is a biological fungicide for the suppression of Root Rot in greenhouse vegetable transplants. When applied to transplants, greenhouse planting mix or soil, the product grows into plant roots as they develop to protect roots against Pythium, Rhizoctonia and Fusarium.
Suppression
- Suspend RootShield WP using a spray volume of 30 to 45 g/100 L and apply at the rate of 55 to 110 g per cubic metre (loose) of greenhouse potting mix, soil or planting beds.
- Apply using hand-held backpack or ground spray equipment.
- Becomes active when soil temperatures are above 10 degrees C and is not effective while soils remain cold.
- More effective at suppression of root rot in neutral or acidic soils.
- Should be used within 12 months of the date of manufacture.
- Contains the allergens wheat and sulfites.
- Approved for use in organics.