Spinach germination time

jjocsak 3/4/2014, 2:20 pm

I planted Bloomsdale from seed indoors and it's been 9 days and nothing sprouted yet.
It's in the same tray as my onions and they started coming up in 4 days.
Does this variety take a long time to germinate.

They are in a room that is about 70 deg.
The soil is moist and the seeds are from SSE.

I know the packet says 7-14 days but just checking with those have more experience.

Thanks
Jeff

**donnainzone5** 3/4/2014, 2:24 pm

If I'm not mistaken, spinach germinates best in cooler temperatures--but not too cold!

**camprn** 3/4/2014, 2:40 pm

**donnainzone5** 3/4/2014, 2:44 pm

Oops! I guess my memory is failing. Time for a refresher course in germination times.

Thanks, Camp!

jjocsak 3/4/2014, 2:57 pm

Yea 9 days and no germination. According to that chart it should have been 5-6 days.

Jeff

**donnainzone5** 3/4/2014, 3:05 pm

The Bloomsdale I planted last fall took forever to germinate, then keeled over and died. Nevertheless, I think one or two seeds may have survived our harsh winter and finally are trying to sprout.

**camprn** 3/4/2014, 3:07 pm

jjocsak wrote:Yea 9 days and no germination. According to that chart it should have been 5-6 days.

Jeff

What is the temperature of the growing mix. How old were the seeds? ACcording the package the seeds came in, there is still 5 days left of the germination window. Please have patience.

jjocsak 3/4/2014, 3:08 pm

Temperature is 70 and the seeds are packed for 2014.

Yes patience....not one of my strong points

Jeff

quiltbea 3/4/2014, 4:16 pm

I always give spinach 7-14 days to germinate. Maybe you sowed them a little too deep and they are taking longer.

**camprn** 3/4/2014, 4:41 pm

jjocsak wrote:Temperature is 70 and the seeds are packed for 2014.

Yes patience....not one of my strong points

Jeff

patience is a requirement in gardening. Wink

**gwennifer** 3/4/2014, 6:39 pm

I've always had a terrible time with spinach germinating! But seeds are cheap. If you've got extra, sow some more in each of the spots you're already waiting for some. That way if in another week your originals don't make an appearance, you're just one week behind your planting schedule, not two. If they do decide to show up, you can always snip off any of the new ones that pop up later! What a Face

**walshevak** 3/4/2014, 7:02 pm

gwennifer wrote:I've always had a terrible time with spinach germinating! But seeds are cheap. If you've got extra, sow some more in each of the spots you're already waiting for some. That way if in another week your originals don't make an appearance, you're just one week behind your planting schedule, not two. If they do decide to show up, you can always snip off any of the new ones that pop up later!

+1 I've resown spinach many times. That's why I always put in a 6/9 pack of starts and then sow my seeds in another set of squares. This also helps to extend the harvest period. Never have been able to get a good germination of spinach started indoors.

Kay

jjocsak 3/5/2014, 7:35 am

Thanks for the comments, there is hope 1 seed germinated.

Jeff

Yardslave 3/5/2014, 12:19 pm

Spinach seeds need to be kept cold to germinate. I start my seeds in a 6 pack container that spends a week in the vegetable drawer of my refrigerator. Then they are brought out and set in a cool space in my garage until I see one emerge. From there, they go under the grow lights until I see a second set of leaves. They are then ready to be transplanted. I've tried planting them directly into beds with only minimal success shown in a shaded bed, the rest didn't make it. I think that they didn't like the temperature fluctuations...keep 'em cool.

jjocsak 3/5/2014, 12:29 pm

Yardslave wrote:Spinach seeds need to be kept cold to germinate. I start my seeds in a 6 pack container that spends a week in the vegetable drawer of my refrigerator. Then they are brought out and set in a cool space in my garage until I see one emerge. From there, they go under the grow lights until I see a second set of leaves. They are then ready to be transplanted. I've tried planting them directly into beds with only minimal success shown in a shaded bed, the rest didn't make it. I think that they didn't like the temperature fluctuations...keep 'em cool.

Very interesting technique, I may try that. Cool seems to be the key.

Jeff

**camprn** 3/5/2014, 1:41 pm

jjocsak wrote:
Yardslave wrote:Spinach seeds need to be kept cold to germinate. I start my seeds in a 6 pack container that spends a week in the vegetable drawer of my refrigerator. Then they are brought out and set in a cool space in my garage until I see one emerge. From there, they go under the grow lights until I see a second set of leaves. They are then ready to be transplanted. I've tried planting them directly into beds with only minimal success shown in a shaded bed, the rest didn't make it. I think that they didn't like the temperature fluctuations...keep 'em cool.

Very interesting technique, I may try that. Cool seems to be the key.

Jeff

I don't really know if and I have not found anything written about cold stratification being a requirement for germination of spinach seed although spinach grows quite well in cooler weather.

Here are a few helpful articles for the OP.

http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/spinach-growing-guide/b]

[b]http://www.gardening.cornell.edu/homegardening/scene4c19.html

**gwennifer** 3/5/2014, 5:07 pm

jjocsak wrote:...1 seed germinated.

If you want do some prep work ahead of time next time you try spinach, you can try priming your seeds first. Here's an article by Barbara Pleasant on GrowVeg.com that tells all about it: Getting a Good Stand of Garden Spinach.

landarch 3/5/2014, 9:13 pm

I've had best luck germinating spinach (all varieties) in cooler temps vs. warmer temps, both indoors and outdoors. This past fall, spinach was almost a total fail due to temps being too warm. Last month I germinated plenty of spinach indoors...unconditioned stone basement under grow lights.

**sanderson** 3/5/2014, 10:08 pm

Micro Greens!! Very Happy

jjocsak 3/6/2014, 8:11 am

gwennifer wrote:
jjocsak wrote:...1 seed germinated.

If you want do some prep work ahead of time next time you try spinach, you can try priming your seeds first. Here's an article by Barbara Pleasant on GrowVeg.com that tells all about it: Getting a Good Stand of Garden Spinach.

Thank you, excellent article.

Jeff

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