Winter Bloomsdale

Family: Amaranthaceae Vegetable

Planting Schedule

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

Winter Bloomsdale spinach brings a velvety, savoyed leaf texture that feels almost plush to the eye—deep green and richly crinkled, with a clean, sweet spinach flavor that holds its charm in cool weather.

At about 40 days, plants form sturdy rosettes of tender leaves that stay flavorful without turning tough, making them a reliable winter favorite. Grow Winter Bloomsdale for fresh salads when the season is crisp, and for hearty greens in sauces and braises when you want a dependable, garden-fresh green.

Light: Part SunMaturity: 40 DaysHabit: Rosette

Botanical illustration of Winter Bloomsdale

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Winter Bloomsdale 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	Jun 27th – Aug 1st
Zone 2a	Direct Sow	May 11th	Jun 20th – Aug 29th
Zone 2b	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 10th – Aug 25th
Zone 3a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 10th – Sep 1st
Zone 3b	Direct Sow	May 5th	Jun 14th – Sep 21st
Zone 4a	Direct Sow	May 1st	Jun 10th – Sep 24th
Zone 4b	Direct Sow	Apr 29th	Jun 8th – Sep 27th
Zone 5a	Direct Sow	Apr 24th	Jun 3rd – Sep 30th
Zone 5b	Direct Sow	Apr 20th	May 30th – Oct 5th
Zone 6a	Direct Sow	Apr 17th	May 27th – Oct 10th
Zone 6b	Direct Sow	Apr 11th	May 21st – Oct 16th
Zone 7a	Direct Sow	Apr 6th	May 16th – Oct 20th
Zone 7b	Direct Sow	Mar 27th	May 6th – Oct 28th
Zone 8a	Direct Sow	Mar 18th	Apr 27th – Nov 5th
Zone 8b	Direct Sow	Mar 9th	Apr 18th – Nov 12th
Zone 9a	Direct Sow	Feb 20th	Apr 1st – Nov 26th
Zone 9b	Direct Sow	Jan 26th	Mar 7th – Dec 9th
Zone 10a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 10b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 11b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 12b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13a	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th
Zone 13b	—	Oct 1st	Nov 10th – Feb 28th

Crop Details

Trait	Value
Days to Maturity	40
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)	30
Harden Off (days)	6

Culinary Notes

Chef's Note

Winter Bloomsdale’s crinkled, plush leaves wilt fast but stay tender, so you get that silky mouthfeel without turning chalky or stringy. It’s sweet and clean even in cold weather, making it ideal for quick heat—think butter-lemon wilt or a creamy dairy sauce that coats the leaf evenly.

Best Uses

quick-tossed warm salads where the leaves stay tender
wilted spinach with butter and a squeeze of lemon
blend into a smooth, silk-thick pasta or gnocchi sauce
braised greens as a base under rich meats, beans, or eggs

Flavor Profile

sweet spinach flavor velvety savoyed leaf texture clean, not-bitter finish tender greens that won’t go tough fast in cool weather

Kitchen Pairings

butter lemon Parmesan cream or crème fraîche eggs nutty mushrooms

Frequently Asked Questions

What’s the most common disease in Spinacia oleracea (winter spinach) and how can I prevent it?

Watch for downy mildew (often seen as pale yellow patches on leaves with a gray-purple growth underneath), which is promoted by cool, wet conditions. Water at the soil level and avoid wetting the foliage, then improve airflow by spacing plants and removing badly infected leaves early. If it appears, remove affected plants and switch to a biocontrol or labeled fungicide appropriate for edible greens, following the product directions and pre-harvest interval.

How often should I water Winter Bloomsdale spinach during the main growth period?

During the ~40-day growth period, keep the top 1–2 inches of soil consistently moist but not soggy to prevent stress that can lead to bolting. In cool weather, this is typically about 1 inch of water per week total (from rainfall and irrigation), adjusted to container size and rainfall. Check soil daily during dry spells—if the surface dries out and plants look dull or slow, water immediately and deeply.

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

Harvest when leaves are tender and reach about 4–6 inches long, typically around 35–45 days after sowing. You can take outer leaves first for a longer harvest window, cutting or pinching leaves close to the base without damaging the center growth. If leaves become noticeably thicker or the plant starts sending up a flowering stalk (bolting), harvest promptly and shift to quick leaf use or re-sow for the next batch.