Tropicana

Family: Amaranthaceae Leafy Green

Planting Schedule

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Sweetly tender leaves unfurl with a fresh, grassy snap and a smooth, flat lay that feels velvety to the touch.

Tropicana spinach forms an abundant rosette of medium-to-deep green foliage—ideal for salads, quick sautéing, and silky purées—delivering dependable flavor at about 45 days from sowing. Grow it for a steady harvest rhythm: lush, uniform leaves that stay attractive and vibrant as you gather.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 45 DaysHabit: Rosette

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Tropicana 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 16th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Apr 27th	May 25th	Jul 9th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jun 29th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jun 29th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Apr 21st	May 19th	Jul 3rd – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Apr 17th	May 15th	Jun 29th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Apr 15th	May 13th	Jun 27th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Apr 10th	May 8th	Jun 22nd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Apr 6th	May 4th	Jun 18th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Apr 3rd	May 1st	Jun 15th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Mar 28th	Apr 25th	Jun 9th – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Mar 23rd	Apr 20th	Jun 4th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Mar 13th	Apr 10th	May 25th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Mar 4th	Apr 1st	May 16th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Feb 23rd	Mar 23rd	May 7th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Feb 6th	Mar 6th	Apr 20th – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Jan 12th	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)	70
Min Soil Temp (°F)	40
Min Night Temp (°F)	35
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Tropicana’s flat, tender leaves give you a clean grassy bite raw, but they also soften into a velvety purée without turning watery. Use it like a quick-wilt green—short heat, bright acid—and it holds flavor while staying pleasantly bright, not muddy.

Best Uses

tossed raw in salads with a light vinaigrette (it stays crisp and doesn’t go limp fast)
quick sauté with garlic and olive oil until just wilted, then finish with lemon
silky purée or blending into a warm dip where it melts into a smooth, green base

Flavor Profile

sweet, grassy snap tender, velvety leaf texture mild, clean vegetal bitterness

Kitchen Pairings

lemon garlic olive oil parmesan feta eggs

Frequently Asked Questions

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

Watch for downy mildew (often shows as yellow patches on top leaves with fuzzy gray growth underneath) and for leaf miners that leave squiggly trails. Remove and destroy infected leaves immediately and avoid wetting foliage when you water. Improve airflow with wider spacing and, if needed, use an appropriate labeled fungicide for downy mildew on edible greens early in the outbreak.

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

Keep the soil consistently moist but not waterlogged from germination through the 30–45 day growing period. Aim for about 1 inch (2.5 cm) of water per week, adjusting to heat and container size, and water early so leaves dry quickly. If the top 1 inch of soil dries out, spinach will slow and can turn bitter—re-wet evenly rather than letting it swing dry then flood.

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

Harvest when leaves are tender and reach roughly 4–6 inches (10–15 cm), usually around 40–45 days. You can cut the outer leaves with scissors to encourage regrowth, leaving the center growing point intact. If leaves start to look thick or the plant bolts (sends up a flower stalk), harvest immediately and expect quality to decline fast.