Spargo

Family: Amaranthaceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

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

Tender, semi-savoy leaves of Spargo unfurl with a velvety, crinkled surface and a rich, deep-green glow that feels almost luminous in the garden.

Expect a mild, spinach-forward flavor with a pleasantly succulent bite—ideal for fresh salads, quick sautéing, and silky sauces, or for blanching and freezing for later use. At about 45 days, Spargo delivers dependable harvests with leaves that stay attractive and flavorful as they mature.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 45 DaysHabit: Rosette

Location not set yet

Enter your ZIP for local crop dates

Spargo 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	May 18th	Jul 2nd – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 11th	Jun 25th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 15th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 15th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 5th	Jun 19th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 15th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	Apr 29th	Jun 13th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	Apr 24th	Jun 8th – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	Jun 4th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	Apr 17th	Jun 1st – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 11th	May 26th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 6th	May 21st – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Mar 27th	May 11th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Mar 18th	May 2nd – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 9th	Apr 23rd – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Feb 20th	Apr 6th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Jan 26th	Mar 12th – 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)	60
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	30
Harden Off (days)	5

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Spargo’s semi-savoy crunch gives you that juicy, not-stringy mouthfeel—wilt it fast and it stays plush instead of going dull. Built for both quick heat and post-blanch freezing, it turns silky without tasting overtly “green,” which makes it ideal for emulsion-style sauces and lemony plates.

Best Uses

quick sauté with butter until just wilted, keeping it bright and springy
blanch and freeze for later use—holds texture better than flatter-leaf types
blend into a silky sauce where the greens melt into the emulsion
toss raw in a salad with a light, clingy dressing so the leaves don’t collapse

Flavor Profile

mild, clean spinach flavor velvety, crinkled tenderness pleasantly succulent bite light earthy finish

Kitchen Pairings

lemon butter parmesan olive oil eggs

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Fungal leaf spot (often favored by cool, wet weather and crowded plants) can show up as dark, irregular spots with yellowing around them. Water at the soil line (not overhead), thin so leaves dry quickly after rain, and remove infected leaves promptly. If problems persist, use a label-approved copper or potassium bicarbonate spray to protect new growth.

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

During the 30–45 day growing window, keep the top 1–2 inches of soil consistently moist but not waterlogged—spinach prefers steady moisture to avoid tough leaves and bolting. Water in the morning so foliage can dry, typically about 1 inch per week total from rainfall plus irrigation, adjusting to soil so you don’t see wilting or crusting. If your soil stays soggy or you see drooping with saturated soil, cut back and improve drainage.

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

Harvest when leaves are mature enough for eating—usually around 40–50 days after sowing. Look for a well-formed rosette with leaves that are sizable and firm (not tiny and stringy), and start with outer leaves if you want continued production. If you see the center beginning to stretch or flower stalks forming, harvest immediately because heat triggers rapid bolting and bitterness.