How to Grow Bloomsdale Spinach
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Bloomsdale Spinach
Spinacia oleracea 'Bloomsdale'
vegetableBloomsdale is a cold-hardy spinach variety prized for its deeply crinkled, dark green leaves and excellent flavor. This open-pollinated heirloom cultivar was developed in the 1920s and remains popular for both spring and fall gardening. It's a compact, bushy plant that produces tender leaves ideal for fresh eating and cooking.
When should you plant Bloomsdale Spinach in your zone?
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Example Bloomsdale Spinach timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)
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Plant Bloomsdale Spinach
Around Apr 17Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.
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Tend & protect
Late spring–summerWatering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.
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Harvest Bloomsdale Spinach
Around May 27≈ 40 days after planting
Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Bloomsdale Spinach dates for your own zip code.
Growing Conditions
Soil
Growing Zones
Find your zone →Thrives in zones 3-9; excellent cold tolerance makes it ideal for spring and fall crops
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Get my Bloomsdale Spinach timeline →Growth Stages
Seedling
7-10 daysTiny seedlings emerge with cotyledons (seed leaves), followed by the first true leaves with characteristic spinach shape.
Keep soil consistently moist. Thin seedlings to 2 inches apart once they have 2-3 true leaves. Protect from strong wind and direct afternoon sun if temperatures exceed 75°F.
Vegetative Growth
20-30 daysPlant develops multiple crinkled leaves that become increasingly darker green and ruffled. The distinctive Bloomsdale wrinkled texture becomes pronounced. Bushy foliage expands.
Maintain consistent moisture and cool temperatures. Thin to final spacing of 4 inches between plants. Apply light mulch to keep soil cool and retain moisture. Monitor for bolting in warm weather.
Mature Leaves - Baby Spinach
Continuous from week 4 onwardsPlants produce tender, harvestable young leaves 3-6 weeks after planting. Leaves are soft, tender, and excellent for fresh salads.
Begin harvesting outer leaves once plants have 4-5 true leaves. Harvest gently to avoid damaging growing crown. Regular harvest encourages continued leaf production.
Full-Size Harvest
Days 40-50 from plantingPlants reach mature size with abundant crinkled foliage ready for full harvesting. Leaves are fully flavorful and nutrient-dense.
Harvest entire outer leaves or cut the whole plant 1-2 inches above soil level for regrowth. Best harvested in cool morning hours. Use within days of harvesting for optimal freshness.
Bolting/End of Season
Variable; extends 1-2 weeks into summerPlant elongates and produces a central flower stalk with small flowers. Leaves become tougher, more bitter, and less palatable.
Bolting indicates end of harvest season. Remove bolted plants or use as fertilizer. Plant again for fall crop in late summer. Bolting accelerates in temperatures above 75°F and long daylight hours.
Common Pests
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Remove affected leaves promptly. Use floating row covers during spring planting. Introduce parasitic wasps. Avoid overhead watering that creates humid conditions favoring the pest.
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Use row covers on young plants. Spray with neem oil or insecticidal soap if infestation is heavy. Encourage beneficial insects like ground beetles.
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Create collars around seedlings with toilet paper tubes. Keep area weed-free. Hand-pick at dusk and night. Apply diatomaceous earth around base of plants.
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Spray with strong water stream to dislodge. Use insecticidal soap or neem oil. Encourage ladybugs and lacewings. Remove heavily infested leaves.
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Ensure good air circulation. Avoid overhead watering. Apply sulfur dust or copper fungicide if needed. Remove infected leaves. Plant resistant varieties in problem areas.
Uses
Fresh Salads & Cooking
CulinaryBloomsdale's tender, crinkled leaves are excellent raw in salads, especially when young, or cooked down in warm dishes, soups, and curries. The ruffled texture retains heat well and adds visual appeal to dishes. [source]
Traditional Wilting Vegetable
CulinaryThe thick, crinkled leaves of Bloomsdale are ideal for sautéing with garlic and olive oil, making creamed spinach, or incorporating into pasta dishes and lasagna. [source]
Nutritional Powerhouse
MedicinalSpinach is rich in iron, calcium, magnesium, vitamins A, C, K, and folate. Regular consumption supports bone health, cardiovascular function, and cognitive performance. [source]
Natural Dye Source
HouseholdFresh spinach leaves can be used to create natural green dyes for fabrics and crafts, producing soft yellow-green to deep green shades depending on mordant used. [source]
Beneficial Insect Habitat
WildlifeAllowing some spinach plants to bolt and flower provides pollen and nectar for honeybees, wild bees, and beneficial insects that help pollinate other garden crops. [source]
This is not medical advice. LizPlants is not a medical resource. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before using plants medicinally.
Harvest Tips
Begin harvesting baby spinach 30-35 days after planting by removing outer leaves, leaving the growing center intact for continued production. For mature harvests at 40-50 days, cut the entire plant 1-2 inches above soil level with a sharp knife, or pull individual outer leaves. Harvest in cool morning hours for best quality and longer shelf life. Bloomsdale can produce for 2-3 weeks with successive harvesting. Stop harvesting once plants bolt. For continuous supply, plant every 2 weeks in spring and again 8-10 weeks before first fall frost.
Fun Facts
- 🌱 Bloomsdale was developed in the 1920s by the Burpee seed company and named after a neighborhood in Philadelphia. It remains an open-pollinated variety and one of the most reliable home garden spinach cultivars worldwide.
- 🌱 The crinkled texture of Bloomsdale leaves (called 'savoyed' leaves) helps protect the plant in cold weather by trapping air around the leaf surface, providing natural insulation. This is why it's so cold-hardy.
- 🌱 Spinach is a cool-season crop that evolved in Persia (modern-day Iran) and thrives in temperatures between 50-70°F. Bloomsdale's 40-50 day maturity makes it perfect for both spring harvests (plant in early spring) and fall crops (plant 8-10 weeks before first frost).
Gardening Terms
New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:
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