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How to Grow Spinach 'Bloomsdale'

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Spinach 'Bloomsdale'

Spinacia oleracea 'Bloomsdale'

vegetable

Bloomsdale is a classic crinkled-leaf spinach variety prized for its deep green, heavily savoyed (curled) foliage and tender texture. This cold-hardy cultivar is an excellent choice for spring and fall gardens, offering reliable yields and exceptional flavor. It's one of the most popular heirloom spinach varieties worldwide.

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Example Spinach 'Bloomsdale' timeline · Pittsburgh, PA (Zone 6b)

  1. Plant Spinach 'Bloomsdale'

    Around Apr 17

    Near Pittsburgh's average last spring frost.

  2. Tend & protect

    Late spring–summer

    Watering, feeding, and pest-watch reminders.

  3. Harvest Spinach 'Bloomsdale'

    Around May 27

    ≈ 40 days after planting

Sample dates for Pittsburgh, PA. Sign up to get exact Spinach 'Bloomsdale' dates for your own zip code.

Growing Conditions

☀️
Sun: Full sun to partial shade; 4-6 hours of direct sunlight daily optimal
💧
Water: Consistently moist soil; water 1-2 inches per week. Keep soil evenly moist but not waterlogged. More frequent watering needed in warm weather to prevent bolting.
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Spacing: 4 inches
📅
Days to maturity: 40-50 days (leaf harvest); 50-60 days (full plant harvest)
🌱
Planting depth: 0.5

Soil

Type: Well-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter
pH: 6.5-7.0
Amendments:
Compost aged manure nitrogen-rich fertilizer peat moss or coir

Growing Zones

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Thrives in zones 3-9; prefers cool seasons and tolerates frost down to 15°F

3a 3b 4a 4b 5a 5b 6a 6b 7a 7b 8a 8b 9a 9b 10a

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Growth Stages

1

Germination

7-10 days

Seeds sprout and first true leaves emerge. Plants are delicate with just cotyledons visible initially.

Keep soil consistently moist at 50-70°F. Ensure good air circulation to prevent damping off. Thin seedlings once they develop true leaves.

2

Seedling

10-14 days

Young plants develop 2-4 true leaves with characteristic crinkled texture becoming visible. Roots are establishing.

Thin to proper spacing (4 inches apart). Provide bright light. Keep soil moist but not soggy. Avoid high heat.

3

Vegetative Growth

15-25 days

Plant develops multiple deeply savoyed leaves in a rosette formation. Foliage becomes darker green and fuller.

Water consistently. Apply balanced fertilizer every 2-3 weeks. Monitor for bolting; shade cloth helps if temperatures exceed 75°F. Remove any flower buds immediately.

4

Leaf Production & Harvest

20-40 days (can extend with cool weather and succession planting)

Plant reaches full size with abundant dense, crinkled leaves ready for harvest. No flowering occurs if kept cool.

Begin harvesting outer leaves when 3-4 inches long. Continue harvesting to encourage production. Harvest in early morning for best quality and nutrient content.

5

Bolting (if temperature rises)

5-7 days before plant becomes unusable

Plant sends up a central flowering stalk with small flowers. Leaves become tougher and more bitter.

Once bolting begins, quality declines rapidly. Harvest remaining leaves immediately or pull plant. Prevent this by planting in cool season and providing shade in warm weather.

Companion Planting

Plan your garden →

Plant with:

Radish Carrot Onion Garlic Beet Strawberry Borage Dill Chard

Avoid planting near:

Potato Fennel Cabbage Broccoli

Common Pests

  • Remove affected leaves; use row covers; spray neem oil or insecticidal soap weekly; encourage beneficial insects like parasitic wasps

  • Strong water spray to dislodge; insecticidal soap; neem oil; plant reflective mulches; introduce ladybugs

  • Row covers for young plants; diatomaceous earth; neem oil; trap crops like mustard greens nearby

  • Remove infested leaves immediately; use yellow sticky traps; row covers; spinosad spray if severe

  • Improve air circulation; avoid overhead watering; copper fungicide; remove infected leaves; choose resistant varieties

Uses

🍳

Fresh salads and cooked greens

Culinary

Bloomsdale's tender, deeply curled leaves are perfect for fresh salads, sautéing, wilting into soups, or adding to smoothies. The savoyed texture helps retain dressings and sauces beautifully. [source]

💊

Iron and nutrient supplementation

Medicinal

Rich in iron, calcium, magnesium, and vitamins A, C, and K, spinach has long been valued for supporting bone health, energy, and immune function. Bloomsdale retains excellent nutrient density. [source]

🏠

Natural food dye and pigment

Household

The deep green pigment (chlorophyll) can be extracted for use as a natural food coloring or dye for textiles and paper. [source]

🦋

Pollinator and beneficial insect support

Wildlife

When allowed to bolt and flower, spinach provides nectar and pollen for bees, butterflies, and parasitic wasps that control garden pests. [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 outer leaves when they reach 3-4 inches long, typically 30-40 days after planting. Pinch off leaves from the outside of the plant, allowing inner leaves to continue growing. For full plant harvest, cut entire plant 1 inch above soil when leaves are 5-6 inches long. Harvest in early morning for maximum crispness and nutrient content. Bloomsdale is excellent for baby spinach (harvested at 21-30 days) or mature leaves. Cool temperatures extend harvest window; bolting occurs quickly above 75°F.

Fun Facts

  • 🌱 Bloomsdale spinach was introduced in the 1920s and remains one of the most popular heirloom spinach varieties over a century later, valued for its reliability and superior taste.
  • 🌱 The deeply crinkled or 'savoyed' leaves of Bloomsdale significantly increase surface area, making it an excellent choice for salad presentations and allowing better coverage with dressings.
  • 🌱 Spinach is a cool-season crop that prefers temperatures between 50-70°F; surprisingly, the famous myth about spinach and iron comes from a misplaced decimal point in a 1870s analysis—spinach does contain iron, but oxalic acid reduces its absorption compared to other sources.

Gardening Terms

New to gardening? Learn about terms used in this guide:

Bolt Cultivar Damping Off Full Sun Heirloom Partial Shade True Leaves
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