Problems with Spinach and Lettuce

My very first SFG is off to a good start. It was planted on August 30. The Swiss Chard, radishes, beets, Ruby Red lettuce, and pansies are doing well. However, the Bloomsdale spinach and Black Seeded Simpson lettuce have not even sprouted. I planted them very carefully at the correct depth, have kept them moist, and even put the cardboard over the square right after they were planted as Mel B. suggested. The seeds came from a well known company and are dated December 31, 2010. The weather here has been in the eighties for the most part but now it is dropping into the fifties and sixties at night. My zone is 6b. I did not soak the spinach seeds. Should I have done that? Are the seeds duds? Is it too late to plant some other plants or should I wait a little longer for them to sprout? I really wanted some spinach plants.

Please help.

Sometimes s**t happens. I planted celery seeds and after a month gave up on them but did not replant the squares. I now have several very small celery seedlings. Who knew?

They may come up yet, but were I you, I would quickly add some new seed to the squares and be extra vigilant about keeping them moist. Seeds either sprout or they don't. I do not waste a minute worrying about it. If nothing is happening, I just add more. If the first and second batch all eventually sprout, then you may have to thin a bit.

It sounds like it is still a bit too warm for the spinach and lettuce. Try again in a few weeks.

erbarnett wrote:My very first SFG is off to a good start. It was planted on August 30. The Swiss Chard, radishes, beets, Ruby Red lettuce, and pansies are doing well. However, the Bloomsdale spinach and Black Seeded Simpson lettuce have not even sprouted. I planted them very carefully at the correct depth, have kept them moist, and even put the cardboard over the square right after they were planted as Mel B. suggested. The seeds came from a well known company and are dated December 31, 2010. The weather here has been in the eighties for the most part but now it is dropping into the fifties and sixties at night. My zone is 6b. I did not soak the spinach seeds. Should I have done that? Are the seeds duds? Is it too late to plant some other plants or should I wait a little longer for them to sprout? I really wanted some spinach plants.

Please help.

erbarnett,
I planted spinach about the same time (Sept. 2), but I stuck the seeds in the soil just before a rain (albeit a brief one!) and they sprouted up in less than a week. I did water everyday though, because it's been in the 80's here just like where you are. We're having cool night temps too. I planted a baby leaf type called Catalina.

Most spinach does require cool temps to sprout (check the seed packet for your type), it may just be the heat. What I would do is dig down where you planted a couple of the seeds and see if you can see any activity. If not, replant. I would not wait a couple of weeks, do it this week.

If you really want to be sure to have some spinach this Fall, maybe you might try a different type too, just for insurance. If you have plenty of seeds, you can experiment. Try pre-soaking some and see if it makes a difference. If you want to check viability, place a few seeds on a folded wet paper towel, stick it in a plastic bag, put it in a cool place in your house and wait. But honestly...I would try the above first!

I planted spinach about the same time last year and were were eating up through December 19...which was the first in a series of snowstorms. It actually lived through the winter (and we had record snows!), so I am sure you still have time to replant. It was our first harvest from the SFG this spring! I plant mine in little rows, because we like it for salad. I thin as we eat. :-)



pattipan