Catalina

Family: Amaranthaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

Provide your location or planting zone to unlock dates and add Catalina to a garden.

Tender, velvety leaves unfurl with a rich, spinach-green glow and a sweet, clean flavor that feels almost buttery in the mouth.

Catalina forms an upright, compact rosette with crisp, succulent texture—ideal for quick harvests at peak tenderness. Grow it for fresh salads, bright sautés, and smooth, vibrant sauces where its color stays beautifully true.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 40 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Catalina Planting Dates by USDA Zone

Estimated US hardiness-zone windows for sow, transplant, and harvest. Enter a US ZIP above for exact local dates, or open a zone below.

Zone	Start Indoors	Sow / Transplant	Harvest
Zone 1a	Protected Environment Only
Zone 1b	May 4th	Jun 1st	Jul 11th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 25th	Jul 4th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jun 24th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jun 24th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 19th	Jun 28th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jun 24th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 13th	Jun 22nd – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Jun 17th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	May 4th	Jun 13th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jun 10th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 25th	Jun 4th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 20th	May 30th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 10th	May 20th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Apr 1st	May 11th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 23rd	May 2nd – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Mar 6th	Apr 15th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 9th	Mar 21st – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	40
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	30
Harden Off (days)	5

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Catalina’s upright, compact leaves are built for speed—hit high heat briefly and they wilt into a glossy, buttery mouthfeel without going stringy. Its clean sweetness and true spinach-green color make it a slam-dunk for sautéed sides, bright purées, and sauces where you want the green to stay singing.

Best Uses

quick sauté in a hot pan so the leaves stay bright and not stewed
silky wilted-spinach side with butter for a glossed finish
blend into a smooth, vivid green sauce or purée for color that doesn’t dull

Flavor Profile

tender, velvety leaves sweet, clean spinach flavor crisp-succulent bite that stays lively

Kitchen Pairings

butter lemon olive oil parmesan shallot eggs

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease commonly affects Spinacia oleracea (spinach/Catalina) and what should I do?

Watch for downy mildew (often starts as pale-yellow spots on the upper leaf surface with fuzzy gray growth underneath) and leaf miners. Remove and destroy infected leaves immediately and avoid overhead watering so foliage stays dry. If leaf miners show up, use row cover over the beds to block adult flies and remove heavily mined leaves early to slow spread.

How often should I water Catalina spinach during its main growing phase, and what soil moisture level is ideal?

During the 3–4 weeks of active leaf growth, keep the bed consistently moist but never soggy—aim for soil that feels evenly damp 1–2 inches down. In typical home-garden conditions, this is about 1 inch of water per week total (split into 2–3 lighter waterings if it’s hot or windy). If leaves wilt between waterings, water promptly; if the soil stays wet or crusted, reduce frequency to prevent disease.

How can I tell when Catalina spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is ready to harvest?

Harvest at about 35–45 days when leaves are firm, fully expanded, and about 4–6 inches long for baby leaves or larger for bunching. Pick in the morning and remove outer leaves first to keep the plant producing new growth. If you see flower stalks starting or leaves suddenly become smaller and tougher, harvest immediately since bolting reduces leaf quality.