Olympia

Family: Amaranthaceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

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

Tender, velvety leaves arrive with a luminous, deep forest-green sheen and a pleasantly sweet, spinach-forward flavor.

Olympia’s flat-leaf habit forms an easy-to-harvest rosette of smooth, broad blades with a supple texture that stays crisp and clean in the garden. Grow Olympia for fresh salads, quick sauté-style skillet dishes, and vibrant sauces where its gentle sweetness shines.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 45 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Olympia 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	May 25th	Jul 9th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 18th	Jul 2nd – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jun 22nd – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jun 22nd – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 12th	Jun 26th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 8th	Jun 22nd – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 6th	Jun 20th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 1st	Jun 15th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	Apr 27th	Jun 11th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	Apr 24th	Jun 8th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 18th	Jun 2nd – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 13th	May 28th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 3rd	May 18th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Mar 25th	May 9th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 16th	Apr 30th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Feb 27th	Apr 13th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	Feb 2nd	Mar 19th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 15th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	45
Sun Requirements	Part Sun
Growth Habit	Rosette
Support Needed	None
Planting Depth	Normal
Germination Temp (°F)	50
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	32
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Olympia’s flat, tender leaves are built for fast contact with heat or a light hand with acid—cook it just long enough to wilt and keep that supple, sweet bite. The result is luminous green, silky when blended, and clean enough to stand up to lemon and creamy dairy.

Best Uses

raw salad base where the leaves stay crisp and sweet under dressing
quick skillet sauté (short heat, minimal cooking) to preserve softness without turning flat
vibrant purée or blended sauce where it stays smooth and green

Flavor Profile

pleasantly sweet spinach-forward taste tender, velvety leaf texture clean, bright green finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon olive oil feta parmesan ricotta eggs

Frequently Asked Questions

What pest or disease most commonly affects Spinacia oleracea, and how do I treat it?

Downy mildew can be a major problem for Spinacia oleracea, showing up as pale yellow patches on the upper leaves with gray-purple growth on the underside. Remove and discard infected leaves early, then improve airflow (thin plants if crowded) and water at the base in the morning to keep foliage dry. If it keeps spreading, use a labeled fungicide for downy mildew on edible greens and follow the label’s reapplication timing.

How often should I water Spinacia oleracea during the main growing phase?

Keep the soil consistently moist but not soggy from germination through leaf expansion; aim for even moisture to prevent bitter, stressed leaves. In typical home gardens this often means watering 1–2 times per week, but more during warm spells—check by feeling the top 1 inch of soil and water when it starts to dry there. Avoid wetting the leaves, since Spinacia oleracea tolerates moisture poorly on the foliage.

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

Harvest when leaves are about 4–6 inches long, which is usually around 40–45 days after sowing for Spinacia oleracea. Pick outer leaves first to let the center keep producing, and harvest in the morning when plants are crisp. If you see rapid bolting (flower stalk formation), harvest immediately and expect a stronger, more bitter flavor.