Crop details

Spinach

Spinacia oleracea

Family: Amaranthaceae

Quick stats

Family	Amaranthaceae
Typical harvest	18.7 t/ha
Varieties	3
Pests & diseases	6
Seasons	3

Crop profile

Growth habit	annual
Days to harvest	55
Main uses	Tender leaves cooked as vegetables, used in stews, mixed greens and sometimes eaten lightly fried or in soups.
Pollination	wind
Origin / where it grows	Spinach is grown in cool and moderately warm vegetable areas, especially around towns and irrigation schemes in East Africa.

Weather, soil & spacing

Best temperature	10–22 °C
Rainfall	500–800 mm/yr
Altitude	800–2600 m
Best pH	6.2–7
Soil type	Fertile, well-drained loam or sandy loam with plenty of compost or manure so Spinach can grow soft, tender leaves.
Row spacing	30 cm
Plant spacing	10 cm
Planting depth	1.5 cm
Seed rate	20 kg/ha
Nursery days	—

Simple notes for farmers

About the crop: This crop is annual. You plant, grow and harvest it in one main season, then plant again. You can normally start harvesting about 55 days after planting, depending on care and variety.

Main use: Farmers mostly grow this crop for tender leaves cooked as vegetables, used in stews, mixed greens and sometimes eaten lightly fried or in soups..

Pollination: This crop is mainly pollinated by wind. Keeping flowers healthy and having insects like bees in the field helps improve fruit set and yields.

Where it grows: Spinach is grown in cool and moderately warm vegetable areas, especially around towns and irrigation schemes in East Africa. It is grouped under: Vegetables.

Best climate: This crop does well in warm areas where the temperature is usually between 10 and 22 degrees Celsius. It prefers places that receive around 500 to 800 millimetres of rain in a year. It can grow from near sea level up to about 2600 metres above sea level.

Soil: The crop grows best in slightly acidic to near neutral soils, with a pH of about 6.2 to 7. It does well in fertile, well-drained loam or sandy loam with plenty of compost or manure so spinach can grow soft, tender leaves.. Good drainage is important, so avoid waterlogged spots.

Plant spacing: Plant in rows about 30 centimetres apart, and leave about 10 centimetres between plants in the row. This gives each plant enough space for roots and canopy to spread.

Planting depth: Dig planting holes or furrows about 1.5 centimetres deep so the roots sit firmly in the soil but are not buried too deep.

Seed or planting material: Use around 20 kilograms of seed or planting material per hectare. Spread or plant evenly so the field has a good stand without being overcrowded.

Farmer guide (mwongozo wa mkulima)

Planting: Prepare a fine seedbed. Sow Spinach seed in shallow rows, cover lightly with soil and keep moist until emergence. Thin crowded seedlings to leave enough space for leaves to expand.

Transplanting: Where seedlings are raised in nursery trays, transplant when they have 3–4 true leaves, handling carefully to avoid root damage.

Irrigation: Keep soil evenly moist so Spinach grows fast and does not get bitter. Avoid long dry spells and heavy watering afterwards, which can stress the crop.

Fertigation: Under drip, give small and frequent doses of nitrogen-rich fertilizer plus some potassium. Too much nitrogen late can cause very soft, watery leaves.

Pest scouting: Check Spinach beds every week for leaf spots, downy mildew, aphids and leaf miners. Look on both sides of leaves and remove very damaged leaves.

Pruning: No pruning needed. Harvest outer leaves first and keep the growing point to allow repeated harvests.

Harvest: Start harvesting Spinach when leaves are big enough for bunching but still young and tender. Harvest in the cool hours for best quality.

Postharvest: Cool leaves quickly, keep in the shade and avoid crushing. Pack in clean crates or perforated bags and deliver to market as soon as possible.

Nutrient schedule (mbolea kwa hatua)

#	Stage	DAP	Product	Rate	Targets (kg/ha)	Notes
1	Basal before sowing	0	NPK 17-17-17 or 15-15-15	150 kg/ha	N: 25, P₂O₅: 25, K₂O: 25	Broadcast and incorporate into top 10–15 cm of soil before sowing Spinach.
2	Early topdress	14	CAN 26% N	80 kg/ha	N: 21, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 0	Apply between rows on moist soil, then water or lightly incorporate.
3	Topdress after first harvest	35	Urea 46% N or CAN	50 kg/ha	N: 23, P₂O₅: 0, K₂O: 0	Apply while Spinach regrows; avoid very heavy nitrogen late in the crop.

Nutrient requirements

Nutrient	Stage	Amount	Unit
N	Basal	40	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Basal	50	kg/ha
K₂O	Basal	50	kg/ha
N	Topdress_early	30	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Topdress_early	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Topdress_early	20	kg/ha
N	Topdress_after_first_cut	20	kg/ha
P₂O₅	Topdress_after_first_cut	0	kg/ha
K₂O	Topdress_after_first_cut	20	kg/ha

Name	Country	Maturity	Traits
Broad-leaf Spinach	KE	45	Broad, dark green leaves and good regrowth after cutting.
Semi-savoy Spinach	KE	45	Slightly crinkled leaves, good for bunching and markets.
Hybrid Spinach (cool season)	TZ	50	Uniform plants, high yield and good quality leaves in cooler areas.

Stage	Product	Rate (kg/ha)	Notes
Basal	NPK 17-17-17 or 15-15-15	150	Balanced base for early Spinach growth.
Topdress (N source)	CAN 26% N or urea	80	Apply once or twice based on leaf colour and vigour.
Organic	Well-rotted manure or compost	8000	Apply before planting to improve soil structure and water holding.

Name	Type	Symptoms	Management
Aphids	pest	Small insects on young Spinach leaves and stems, curled leaves and sticky honeydew.	Encourage natural enemies, avoid too much nitrogen and use selective insecticides/biopesticides when necessary.
Leaf miners	pest	White or pale winding tunnels inside Spinach leaves made by larvae feeding between leaf surfaces.	Remove and destroy heavily infested leaves and use recommended insecticides targeting adults when needed.
Cutworms	pest	Young Spinach plants cut near soil level, causing gaps in the row.	Prepare land early, control weeds and, where severe, use baits or spot treatments.
Downy mildew	disease	Yellow patches on upper Spinach leaf surface with grey or purple mould underneath, especially in cool, wet weather.	Use resistant varieties where available, improve airflow and use protectant fungicides when needed.
Leaf spots (Cercospora and others)	disease	Small brown or grey spots on Spinach leaves that may join together, causing yellowing and leaf death.	Avoid overhead irrigation late in the day, rotate crops and remove heavily diseased leaves.
Root and stem rots	disease	Wilting, yellowing and rotting of Spinach stems or roots in poorly drained, waterlogged soils.	Improve drainage, avoid overwatering and rotate with non-leafy vegetables and cereals.

System	Typical	Min	Max	Notes
Backyard / small-scale Spinach	8	5	12	Some manure, little fertilizer, irregular harvesting and basic pest control.
Open-field Spinach, improved management	18	12	25	Good varieties, well-timed fertilizer and regular picking.
Irrigated or high-input Spinach	30	20	40	Good seed, drip irrigation or frequent watering, fertigation and careful pest and disease control.

Country	Region	Planting	Harvest
KE	Highland and cool Spinach belts (rainfed)	Cooler months or with good moisture	First harvest about 4–6 weeks after emergence, then repeated pickings.
KE	Irrigated peri-urban Spinach areas	Most of the year with reliable water	Continuous pickings over several weeks to months.
TZ	Highland and mid-altitude vegetable zones	Cooler, moist periods or under irrigation	4–6 weeks after emergence, with multiple harvests.

Country	Region	Suitability
KE	Highland vegetable-growing areas	High
KE	Peri-urban irrigated Spinach belts	High
KE	Very hot lowlands without irrigation	Low
TZ	Highland and mid-altitude vegetable zones	High
UG	Cool mid- to high-altitude vegetable regions	High