Savoy Spinach
Bloomsdale Spinach stands as one of America's oldest commercial spinach varieties, originally released by the pioneering D. Landreth & Company in the 19th century. This open-pollinated savoy spinach develops deeply crinkled leaves that form compact 6 to 12-inch plants, ready for harvest in about 45 days. What makes Bloomsdale truly special is its remarkable cold tolerance, this variety actually thrives in freezing temperatures and develops exceptional sweetness when overwintered, emerging powerfully in early spring like nature's own wake-up call.
Full Sun
—
3-10
12in H x 12in W
Annual
Moderate
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The magic of Bloomsdale lies in its ability to transform winter's harsh grip into culinary gold. While most crops surrender to cold, this hardy variety uses freezing temperatures to concentrate sugars and develop an unmatched delicate sweetness that simply cannot be replicated in warm-season plantings. Its deeply savoyed leaves create beautiful texture in the garden and on the plate, while the compact growth habit makes efficient use of precious cool-season garden space.
Bloomsdale's tender, sweet leaves excel in both raw and cooked preparations. The deeply crinkled savoy texture holds dressings beautifully in fresh salads while providing substantial body when sautéed or steamed. Its exceptional sweetness when overwintered makes it prized for delicate spring dishes where the spinach flavor can truly shine.
Not recommended as spinach roots are sensitive to disturbance and transplanting stress.
While some growers use specialized transplanters like the Paperpot system to ensure full stands, direct seeding remains the preferred method for Bloomsdale.
Sow seeds any time soil can be worked during cooler months, from 6 weeks before first fall frost through the last spring frost date. Broadcast in well-cultivated patches or plant in rows. For fall crops, sow in August. For overwintering, plant in late fall.
Harvest entire plants when they reach full size, typically around 45 days from sowing, though some sources report harvests as early as 28-30 days. Cut plants promptly, especially in late spring when warming temperatures trigger bolting. Overwintered crops should be harvested as soon as growth resumes in spring for peak sweetness and tenderness.
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“David Landreth, born in Northumberland, England in 1752, established one of America's first commercial seed companies and originally released Bloomsdale Spinach in the 19th century. The variety gained even greater recognition in 1925 when Dutch breeders Zwaan and Van der Molen from Voorburg, Netherlands, developed 'Long Standing Bloomsdale' specifically for improved bolt resistance, ensuring gardeners could enjoy harvests longer into the warming spring months.”