Terrible germination rate with Spinach?????

[Crystalmoon]

Hi everyone, I have been trying for nearly a year now to grow a decent amount of Spinach but germination is so patchy it is driving me a bit barmy  :-\
Doesn't matter if I sow direct or in pots, I have tried 5 different types of compost & 3 different packs of seeds. I have never had this problem before so was wondering if any one else is having problems with Spinach this year  ??? 

[Crystalmoon]

[antipodes]

Crystal I have never been able to grow decent spinach! Perhaps it is still too warm? I might try sowing some when I am back from hols in a fortnight.

[goodlife]

I've got my spinach seeds out of box and planning to  sow them in next few weeks..it is still tad too early and warm  ::) (yes, I did say warm) during day..or can be.
Spinach can be bit erratic with its germination or is it that something will eat it as soon as it emerge from soil?
I sow mine quite thickly..and so far I've never had too many germinated so that I need to thin any seedlings off.
How the weather has been...it should be 'bumper' year for spinach..plenty of moisture in soil.. ::)

[Crystalmoon]

 ;D opps looks like I've been sowing them at the wrong times then if it is still too warm....I will try again next month in pots & direct. xJane   

[goodlife]

Perpetual spinach is better for summer production than the 'normal' spinach that is good for spring/autumn yields.

[shirlton]

We have had bad results with all the beet faily. Have resorted to sowing beetroot in cells to go out next week. Might just get afew baby beets .

[Crystalmoon]

Hi Goodlife thank you again for the tips, I've just bought some perpetual to try xJane

[Vinlander]

I love 'real' spinach but mine is taking twice as long as usual and 50% less than normal.

my next favourite for flavour is 'New Zealand spinach' -  it is very nice raw too and goes on much longer - but I can't say it's a lot more reliable in problem years.

I only eat beet-based spinach and chard in winter when there's nothing else - I like to lightly cook and put it through the blender so it is as tender as the real stuff even though the flavour is inferior.

All spinach is improved by serving the puree over cooked cabbage - greater than the sum of its parts.

Cheers.

[artichoke]

My third sowing of real spinach is finally germinating! I have had so many failures this year I am quite depressed, but I think this row is going to produce something.

Even my chard has failed twice! but now have a good thick row that I will transplant some of once it has rained again (ground like concrete suddenly).