Samantha

Family: Amaranthaceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

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

Samantha spinach arrives with a lush, velvet-rich look—semi-savoy leaves that feel satisfyingly crinkled and spring back with tender, clean flavor.

Expect a mild, sweet green taste and a succulent texture that holds up beautifully in bunches and stays attractive as it grows. Grow Samantha for fresh salads, quick sautés, and vibrant greens for soups and sauces, with reliable harvests around 45 days.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 45 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Samantha 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	Direct Sow	Jun 1st	Jul 16th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 25th	Jul 9th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jun 29th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jun 29th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 19th	Jul 3rd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 15th	Jun 29th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	May 13th	Jun 27th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	May 8th	Jun 22nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	May 4th	Jun 18th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 15th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 25th	Jun 9th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 4th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Apr 10th	May 25th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Apr 1st	May 16th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 23rd	May 7th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Mar 6th	Apr 20th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Feb 9th	Mar 26th – 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)	55
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	30
Harden Off (days)	5

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Samantha’s semi-savoy crinkle traps dressing and saute fat without collapsing into watery sludge, so the leaves keep their bite while turning silky. Choose it when you want spinach to feel lush and fresh—then let acid and dairy (lemon, Parmesan/ricotta) sharpen that mild sweetness into something punchy.

Best Uses

quick sauté with garlic/olive oil for glossy wilted greens
lightly dressed salad leaves that stay springy (not weepy)
spinach-heavy soups where it should vanish into silk rather than stay stringy
blended into a thick purée or sauce base for pasta or dumplings

Flavor Profile

mild sweet green tender, succulent leaf texture gentle, clean bite with a soft herb finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon garlic olive oil parmesan ricotta fried egg

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a common pest or disease problem for Spinacia oleracea, and how can I address it?

Spinach commonly suffers from downy mildew (often seen as yellow patches on top leaves with fuzzy gray-purple growth underneath). Remove infected leaves immediately and improve airflow by spacing plants so leaves dry quickly after irrigation. If the problem keeps spreading, use an appropriate labeled fungicide for downy mildew on leafy greens and avoid overhead watering.

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

During active leaf growth, keep the soil consistently moist (not waterlogged) because Spinacia oleracea develops poorly in dry cycles. Water enough to wet the root zone, typically every 2–4 days depending on heat and soil type, and aim to maintain an evenly damp surface for best, tender leaf production.

How do I tell when Spinacia oleracea is ready to harvest?

Harvest when leaves are tender and reach the size you want—typically around 40–45 days from sowing. For baby leaf, pick outer leaves as soon as they’re usable; for a fuller harvest, cut the rosette at the base when the plant forms a compact cluster of medium-sized leaves.