Plants
spinach
Spinacia oleracea L.
Family: Amaranthaceae · Genus: Spinacia
Annual leafy vegetable for mild climates. Pasini lists it in the medium stratum of Tabela 3. In Brazilian tropical climates, best cultivated in cooler months (May–August) or at altitude.
Götsch succession
- Götsch stage
- Placenta I
- Ecological role
- Pioneer
- Primary stratum
- Low
- Strata
- Low
- Biomass class
- No biomass production
Environment
- Light requirement
- Partial sun
- Water requirement
- Moderate
- Drought tolerance
- Low
- Soil pH range
- 6.5–7.5
- Preferred soil texture
- Loamy, Silty
- Hardiness zones
- 3–9
- Frost tolerance
- -9.0 °C
Morphology
- Mature height
- 0.2–0.3 m
- Recommended spacing
- 0.08–0.15 m
- Growth rate
- Very fast
- Lifespan
- ≤ 1 year
- Time to first harvest
- 2 months
Biomes & climate
- Atlantic Forest Suitable
- Cerrado Suitable
Köppen classes
- Tropical savanna with dry winter (Aw) Suitable
- Subtropical with dry winter (Cwa) Suitable
- Humid subtropical (Cfa) Suitable
Where it fits in a guild
Spinach takes the Low stratum in the Placenta I phase of succession — in a guild it shares the line with species from the other strata, each harvesting light at its own height, in its own time.
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❓ Frequently asked questions
How long until the first harvest of spinach?
The first harvest of spinach comes around 2 months after planting.
What spacing is recommended for spinach?
The recommended spacing for spinach is 0.08–0.15 m.
How tall does spinach grow?
At maturity, spinach reaches 0.2–0.3 m tall.
What stage and stratum does spinach occupy in a syntropic system?
In a syntropic system, spinach belongs to the placenta i stage, occupying the low stratum.
Functions
Propagation
Seed
Citations
- Pasini, F. & Guimarães, L. (2017) — Tabela 3 (Incaper) , p. 116 (primary_stratum)
- NC State Extension Gardener Plant Toolbox — Spinacia oleracea (ph_min, ph_max, spacing_min_m, spacing_max_m, hardiness_zone_min, hardiness_zone_max, soil_texture_preference)
- The Old Farmer's Almanac — Growing Spinach (frost_tolerance_c, time_to_first_harvest_months)
- GBIF Backbone Taxonomy — Spinacia oleracea L. (gbif_taxon_key, family, genus)
- Plants of the World Online (Kew) — Spinacia oleracea L. (powo_id)
External references
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