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Traditionally the vegetable that kids love to hate, spinach is also widely available today in flat or smooth-leaved varieties that are great in salads as a rich source of iron, calcium and vitamin A.

A cool weather vegetable, spinach is successfully grown in most U.S. regions as an early spring or fall crop - or even indoors in pots and containers - for a steady supply of spinach year-long.

Indoors or out, prepare the soil with a complete fertilizer and provide lots of sun and moisture to root system throughout the approximately 40-day growing cycle.

In the garden, as the weather warms a seed stalk is formed which means the plant is nearing the end of its growth and should be harvested immediately.

Meanwhile, watch for downy mildew (a.k.a. blue mold), a fungal disease resulting in yellowing of leaves and stunted growth.

Avoid the condition by watering the soil around the plants to keep foliage dry. If this is impractical, water only during the day to speed evaporation of extra moisture.

Another cause of yellowing or stunting is the cucumber mosaic virus, which can avoided by using only disease-resistant varieties.

On the Web - How to plant & grow spinach :

Watch Your Garden Grow - Spinach - Descriptions and characteristics of recommended varities, tips on soil preparation and planting, common diseases, related FAQ, nutritional benefits.

How to Grow Spinach - Step by step instructions for where, when and how to sow and grow spinach, with advice on harvesting and recommended bolt-resistant varieties for growing in warm climates.

Year of the Spinach - Archived feature from 2002 with extensive facts & information on spinach lore, trivia & history, how to plant in the garden or indoors in pots or containers, pests & diseases to watch for, harvesting and storing tips, nutritional benefits.

The Secret to Great Spinach - Engaging feature article from Texas Gardener Magazine with the history of spinach, tips & tricks to successful spinach growing, recommended varieties for Texas gardeners, advice on harvesting, storage.

Burpee - All About Spinach - The garden experts with tips & advice on soil preparation and fertilizing, sowing and transplantation, harvesting & storage, serving recommendations, nutritional benefits.

Spinach - University of Georgia fact sheet with information on general growing and cultivation, extensive list of varieties and plant characteristics, related insect pests & diseases, harvesting tips.

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