What are spinach's sunlight requirements?

Spinach performs better with balanced light exposure than with constant sunlight. Four to six hours of bright sunlight in the morning are all that are required for vigorous plant growth. A little shade from any cause when the thermometer mounts higher than 75 is advisable, for it prevents rapid running to seed and burning of the leaves; so I place my plants where the buildings or trees of my neighbors on the north, east, and west afford this much desirable shade.

In regions with hotter weather, partial shade is highly beneficial to spinach. Dappled shade from trees has been very successful with direct summer plantings, as I have found that I am most successful growing spinach in only 30% filtered sunlight. The leaves developed tender growth without bitterness.

Provide temporary shelter from heat waves with shade cloth, suspended 2 feet over the plants in the height of the afternoon. Mine is easily disposed of on hoops. Your spinach will escape from paying tribute to the tooirresistible sun.

Light is critical when growing container spinach; therefore, container spinach should be positioned so that it receives only morning sunlight. Rotate the containers daily to provide equal amounts of sunlight exposure. Potted plants can be placed on wheeled plant stands to facilitate the rotation process, preventing uneven growth due to insufficient sunlight exposure.

Observe plant color for sunlight. Plants with deep green leaves are receiving ideal conditions. Yellowing indicates too much sun exposure. Shading is adjusted according to daily observations. The color of the foliage on your plants shows exactly what they require.

Read the full article: How to Grow Spinach: Ultimate Gardening Guide