Palco

Family: Amaranthaceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

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

Tender, flat leaves unfurl with a velvety, deep-green sheen and a pleasantly mild bite—Palco spinach is prized for its smooth texture and quick, even harvest at about 45 days.

Ideal for fresh bunches and fast turnarounds, its foliage stays supple and attractive, holding flavor beautifully whether you’re serving it as a star green or folding it into everyday favorites.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 45 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Palco 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)	45
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	28
Harden Off (days)	5

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Palco is a flat-leaf spinach that behaves like a quick-cooking green: it wilts evenly without going stringy, and its mildness stays “clean” even when served as the main green. Use it hot-and-fast—sauté, steam, or fold—so it keeps that velvety bite instead of turning sulfurous or watery.

Best Uses

flash-sautéing with butter and a squeeze of lemon for quick gloss
steaming and folding into warm pasta or rice until just wilted
bunch-spinach for salad work—chopped fine under vinaigrette
blanch-and-chill for omelets, grain bowls, or creamy dips

Flavor Profile

mild, sweet spinach bite velvety leaf texture tender stems with quick tenderness fresh green, not bitter when young

Kitchen Pairings

garlic lemon butter Parmesan eggs cream

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common disease issue for spinach (Spinacia oleracea) and how do I prevent it?

Spinach commonly gets downy mildew, which shows as yellow patches on top leaves and fuzzy gray-purple growth on the undersides. Prevent it by watering at the soil line (not overhead) and spacing plants so leaves dry quickly; remove and discard infected leaves promptly. If it’s actively spreading, use a labeled fungicide that’s approved for leafy greens and downy mildew, applied according to the label.

How often should I water spinach (Spinacia oleracea) during its main growing phase to avoid bolting or poor growth?

During the main growth period, keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—aim for evenly damp soil 1–2 inches down. Typically water about 1 inch per week total, split into 2–3 waterings during warm or windy weather, and reduce slightly as days cool. Inconsistent moisture can stress spinach and speed up bolting, especially when temperatures rise.

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

Harvest when leaves are large enough to use—usually around 45 days—by cutting outer leaves about 1–2 inches above the soil. Look for healthy, tender texture and avoid harvesting leaves that are tough or severely thickened, which can indicate early bolting. You can do repeated cut-and-come-again harvests as long as the plant keeps producing new leaves.