Days to Maturity: 25 to 30
A hybrid variety of baby leaf spinach, Riverside is a leafy vegetable with uniform, thick, smooth, spade-shaped leaves that have very dark green color and fabulous flavor. Spinach is considered a superfood for its nutrient rich content, having a high (top 20) Aggregate Nutrient Density Index score (ANDI), or micronutrient-per-calorie density. It is an excellent source of vitamins A, B, and C, iron, phosphorus, and chlorophyll.
Riverside Spinach, a glabrous annual herb, is a member of the amaranth (Amaranthaceae) family. It has a slow to moderate growth rate, moderate bolt resistance, and an upright habit, forming an erect basal rosette. The plant offers outstanding yields and excellent overall quality. Succession plantings every 2 weeks is recommended for continual harvest.
Riverside Spinach grows best in full sun to light shade and in moist, organically rich, fertile, well-drained soil, preferably with a pH between 6.5 to 7.5. It has a high resistance to downy mildew 1-11, 15-16, 19, and intermediate resistance to 12, and 14.
A cool-season, winter-hardy vegetable, the toughest of the cool-season crops, one of the first to be planted in the garden, spinach seed can be direct sown into the garden as soon as the soil is workable in early spring, before the last frost date. But it can also be started indoors approximately 8 weeks before transplanting, spring and fall. It needs cold temperatures to germinate and grow, withstanding light frost and temperatures below 28°F. Row covers offer added protection from heavy frost. Mulching helps to moderate soil temperature and to maintain soil moisture.
If you plan to start your seeds indoors, be sure to check out our Bio Dome Seed Starter Kit. With the Bio Dome, you can control the temperature, light, and soil mix to ensure your seeds become strong for transplant.
