Spinach is a cool-season crop that rewards good timing more than anything else, and the variety you sow decides how long you can harvest before warm weather makes it bolt. For most home gardens the choice comes down to two heirloom types: crinkly, slow-bolting savoy Bloomsdale for spring and overwintering, and big, smooth-leaf Viroflay for fast, easy-to-wash fall crops. We sorted through the current listings to find the packets with the clearest growing information, sensible seed counts and the right varieties for cool-season sowing. Here are seven worth buying, then a buyer’s guide and a sowing calendar so your spinach stays leafy longer.
Part of our Vegetable Gardening & Raised Beds guide →
In this guide
- Quick Picks
- 1. Sow Right Seeds Bloomsdale Spinach — Best Overall Savoy Spinach
- 2. TKE Farms and Gardens Viroflay Spinach — Best Smooth-Leaf Spinach
- 3. Survival Garden Seeds Spinach Variety Pack — Best Variety Pack
- 4. Purely Organic Bloomsdale Long Standing — Best Certified Organic
- 5. RDR Seeds Bloomsdale Long Standing (500 Seeds) — Best Growing Guidance
- 6. Sow Right Seeds Bloomsdale Bulk Pack (2,400 Seeds) — Best Bulk Pack
- 7. PLANTMEW Bloomsdale Spinach (500 Seeds) — Best for Fall and Overwintering
- What to Look for in Spinach Seeds
- Spinach Sowing Calendar
- Frequently Asked Questions
Disclosure: Urban Lotus Project is reader-supported. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases made through links on this page, at no extra cost to you.
How we compared: we compared 15 current Amazon spinach seed listings on what each listing states (variety, leaf type, seed count, germination temperature, days to harvest and bolt or cold tolerance). We did not test or handle the products, and availability changes.
Key Takeaways
- Spinach germinates best in cool soil, roughly 45 to 70°F; warm soil is the top reason it fails to sprout.
- Bloomsdale is a savoy (crinkled) heirloom known for standing longer before bolting; Viroflay is a smooth-leaf heirloom that washes easily.
- Sow in early spring 4 to 6 weeks before your last frost, and again in late summer for fall and overwintered crops.
- Lengthening days and heat trigger bolting, so spring sowings need to go in early.
- Sow a short row every 2 weeks during cool weather for steady harvests.
Quick Picks
| Product | Best for | Key features | Buy |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sow Right Bloomsdale Spinach | Best overall savoy spinach |
| Buy now →Check current price |
| TKE Farms Viroflay Spinach | Best smooth-leaf spinach |
| Buy now →Check current price |
| Survival Garden Seeds Spinach Trio | Best variety pack |
| Buy now →Check current price |
| Purely Organic Bloomsdale | Best certified organic |
| Buy now →Check current price |
| RDR Seeds Bloomsdale 500 | Best growing guidance |
| Buy now →Check current price |
| Sow Right Bloomsdale 2,400 | Best bulk pack |
| Buy now →Check current price |
| PLANTMEW Bloomsdale 500 | Best for fall and overwintering |
| Buy now →Check current price |
Prices change often; check Amazon for today’s price. As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
1. Sow Right Seeds Bloomsdale Spinach — Best Overall Savoy Spinach
Classic ruffled Bloomsdale with full sowing numbers and a make-it-right germination promise.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- States soil temperature, depth, spacing and size
- Described as slightly more heat tolerant
- Works outdoors or in hydroponic setups
- Seller offers help if seeds fail
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Variety and leaf | Bloomsdale; large, deep green, ruffled |
| Germination | 7 to 14 days at 50 to 70°F soil |
| Depth and spacing | 1/2 inch deep, 4 to 6 inches apart |
| Plant size | 8 to 12 inches tall, 5 to 6 inch spread |
| Days to maturity | 40 to 50 days |
| Seed count | not stated in listing (standard packet) |
Sow Right Seeds Bloomsdale Spinach — compressed specs
Bloomsdale is the benchmark savoy spinach for home gardens: dark, crinkled leaves with a thick texture that holds up to cooking and an old reputation for standing longer than many heirlooms before bolting. Sow Right’s listing gives the most complete set of growing numbers among the Bloomsdale packets on the shelf, so it is easy to plan rows and succession sowings around it.
The listing describes the variety as high-yielding, fast and slightly more heat tolerant than other varieties, and suggests a spot with partial shade, a sensible choice for stretching spring harvests in warmer zones. It does not state a seed count for the standard packet; if you need a number, the same company’s 2,400-seed bulk pack (pick 6) shares identical growing specs.
Pros
- Clear, complete sowing data
- Slow-bolting heirloom variety
- Germination support from seller
Cons
- Seed count not listed
- Savoy leaves trap more grit
- Still bolts in hot, long days
Check Sow Right Bloomsdale Spinach price on Amazon
2. TKE Farms and Gardens Viroflay Spinach — Best Smooth-Leaf Spinach
A French heirloom dating to 1866 with giant smooth leaves up to 10 inches long.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- Smooth leaves wash quickly, no trapped grit
- Baby leaves in about 3 weeks
- Honest advice to shade late-summer sowings
- Hand-packed in the USA
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Variety and leaf | Viroflay; giant, smooth, dark green |
| Seed count | 250+ seeds |
| Sowing | 1/2 inch deep in 45 to 70°F soil |
| Spacing | Thin to 6 to 8 inches; plants spread to 24 inches |
| Harvest | Baby greens about 21 days; full leaves 40 to 50 days |
| Light | Full sun or light shade |
TKE Farms and Gardens Viroflay Spinach — compressed specs
If you hate washing grit out of crinkled spinach, a smooth-leaf type is the answer, and Viroflay is the classic heirloom choice. TKE’s listing is unusually practical: it names the soil temperature window, explains that warm soil is the top reason spinach fails to sprout, recommends shading late-summer sowings, and tells you to sow in spring or fall rather than summer so plants stay leafy instead of bolting.
Viroflay plants get large, with the listing stating a spread of about 24 inches, so give them the full 6 to 8 inch spacing or more. That size makes it the best pick on this list for big cooking harvests in fall. KVITER also sells a 500-seed Viroflay packet on the shelf, but TKE’s listing is the more informative of the two.
Pros
- Large, smooth, easy-clean leaves
- Very clear cool-soil guidance
- Fast baby-leaf harvests
Cons
- Smaller seed count than some packs
- Large plants need more space
- Best in fall; spring window is short
Check TKE Farms Viroflay Spinach price on Amazon
3. Survival Garden Seeds Spinach Variety Pack — Best Variety Pack
Viroflay, Bloomsdale and Noble Giant in one pack, with a spring-to-fall sowing plan.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- Savoy and smooth-leaf types together
- Each variety matched to a season
- Untreated, open-pollinated seed
- Family-owned US seed company
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Varieties | Viroflay, Bloomsdale, Noble Giant |
| Number of packets | 3 |
| Suggested timing | Viroflay early spring; Bloomsdale fall and overwinter; Noble Giant late season |
| Growing setups | Garden beds, containers, hydroponics |
| Seed counts | not stated in listing |
Survival Garden Seeds Spinach Variety Pack — compressed specs
This is the easiest way to work out which spinach your garden and your kitchen like best. The three heirlooms cover the main leaf types: smooth Viroflay, crinkled Bloomsdale and large-leaved Noble Giant. The listing assigns each a role, with Viroflay for fast spring baby leaves, Bloomsdale for cold-hardy overwintering, and Noble Giant for late-season picking of big smooth leaves.
It is the only multi-variety spinach pack on the shelf. Gardeners Basics sells a leafy greens collection that includes Bloomsdale alongside lettuce, kale and arugula, but if spinach is your focus, this trio gives you more to compare. The trade-off is that it does not state seed counts per packet.
Pros
- Three heirlooms to compare
- Built-in succession plan
- Covers spring and fall
Cons
- Seed counts not listed
- Less detail on germination temps
- Smaller quantity of each variety
Check Survival Garden Seeds Spinach Trio price on Amazon
4. Purely Organic Bloomsdale Long Standing — Best Certified Organic
About 300 USDA Organic Bloomsdale Long Standing seeds with baby-leaf thinning advice.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- Carries the USDA Organic seal
- Long Standing selection of Bloomsdale
- Practical two-week succession advice
- Packed for this season and next
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Variety | Bloomsdale Long Standing |
| Seed count | About 300 seeds |
| Certification | USDA Organic; non-GMO, open-pollinated |
| Succession | Sow every 2 weeks in spring and fall |
| Germination temp and days | not stated in listing |
Purely Organic Bloomsdale Long Standing — compressed specs
If you garden organically and want certified seed, this is the one listing on the shelf that carries the USDA Organic seal. It is the Long Standing selection of Bloomsdale, the strain most associated with slow bolting. The listing’s tip is worth following with any spinach: when seedlings are 2 to 3 inches tall, harvest every other plant as baby spinach, which thins the row and gives the remaining plants room to size up.
It gives less sowing data than Sow Right or RDR, so pair it with the calendar below. About 300 seeds is enough for several short succession rows in a typical raised bed garden.
Pros
- Certified organic seed
- Slow-bolting Long Standing strain
- Good thinning and succession tips
Cons
- No germination temperature listed
- Moderate seed count
- No stated guarantee
Check Purely Organic Bloomsdale price on Amazon
5. RDR Seeds Bloomsdale Long Standing (500 Seeds) — Best Growing Guidance
500 USA-grown Bloomsdale seeds in a waterproof, dated packet with detailed sowing and storage notes.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- Waterproof packet dated for the season
- Realistic yield range, not hype
- Storage and seed-viability guidance included
- USA-grown, open-pollinated seed
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Variety | Bloomsdale Long Standing, savoy |
| Seed count | 500 seeds |
| Sowing | 1/2 inch deep; 65 to 75°F seed zone; sprouts in 7 to 14 days |
| Spacing | Thin to about 6 inches, full sun |
| Days to maturity | 40 to 48 days |
| Seed life | About 3 to 5 years stored cool and dry |
RDR Seeds Bloomsdale Long Standing — compressed specs
RDR’s listing reads like a mini growing guide. It gives depth, spacing and maturity, warns that hot or dry soil reduces success, and advises harvesting before flowering and prolonged heat. Rather than promising a huge harvest, it offers a hedged yield range and reminds you that results vary with germination, weather and care. It also says spinach seed generally stays viable about 3 to 5 years if stored cool, dry and sealed, so a 500-seed packet can cover several seasons.
Its stated 65 to 75°F seed zone sits warmer than the 45 to 70°F windows on the Viroflay listings. Spinach does sprout fastest in that range, but it germinates well in cooler soil too, so early-spring sowings in 45 to 50°F soil are fine; they just take a little longer.
Pros
- 500 seeds with storage advice
- Waterproof, dated packaging
- Detailed, honest listing
Cons
- Savoy leaves need careful washing
- No guarantee stated
- Single variety only
Check RDR Seeds Bloomsdale 500 price on Amazon
6. Sow Right Seeds Bloomsdale Bulk Pack (2,400 Seeds) — Best Bulk Pack
A minimum 1 oz packet of about 2,400 Bloomsdale seeds for big plots, community gardens and microgreens.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- About 2,400 seeds in one packet
- Same growing specs as the standard packet
- Enough for a whole season of succession sowing
- Germination support from the seller
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Seed quantity | Minimum 1 oz, about 2,400 seeds |
| Germination | 7 to 14 days at 50 to 70°F soil |
| Depth and spacing | 1/2 inch deep, 4 to 6 inches apart |
| Plant size | 8 to 12 inches tall |
| Days to maturity | 40 to 50 days |
Sow Right Seeds Bloomsdale Bulk — compressed specs
For large market-style rows, a community plot, or sowing thickly for baby greens, a bulk pack makes more sense than several small packets. Sow Right’s 1 oz pack carries the same specs as its standard Bloomsdale and says it can also be grown indoors with enough light. A generic 2,400-seed Bloomsdale listing also appears on the shelf, but it gives almost no information, so this is the safer bulk choice.
Store leftover seed in an airtight jar in a cool, dark place; you will likely carry some into the next season.
Pros
- Large stated quantity
- Detailed sowing specs
- Good for baby-leaf and microgreen sowing
Cons
- More seed than small gardens need
- Single variety only
- Seed viability declines over years
Check Sow Right Bloomsdale 2,400 price on Amazon
7. PLANTMEW Bloomsdale Spinach (500 Seeds) — Best for Fall and Overwintering
500 untreated Bloomsdale seeds, described as moderately bolt resistant and hardy enough to overwinter in many zones.
Check price on AmazonWhy We Like It
- Clear spring and late-summer sowing plan
- Notes overwintering for early spring greens
- Untreated seed for direct sowing
- Baby leaves in about 28 days
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Seed count | 500 seeds |
| Germination | 7 to 14 days at 50 to 70°F soil |
| Harvest | Baby greens about 28 days; full leaves 40 to 50 days |
| Bolting | Moderate bolt resistance stated |
| Seed treatment | Untreated, open-pollinated heirloom |
PLANTMEW Bloomsdale Spinach — compressed specs
Fall-sown spinach is the most reliable crop for many gardeners, because plants mature into cooling, shortening days instead of the lengthening days that trigger bolting. PLANTMEW’s listing leans into that, describing a late-summer sowing for a fall crop and noting the plants are cold hardy enough to overwinter in many zones for very early spring greens. Its statement of moderate bolt resistance is a fair description of Bloomsdale.
Compared with RDR’s 500-seed packet, it gives a cooler germination range and more succession advice, but less on storage and seed life. Either is a good mid-size Bloomsdale packet.
Pros
- Good fall and overwinter guidance
- Cut-and-come-again harvest tips
- 500 seeds per packet
Cons
- No guarantee stated
- No origin information listed
- Overlaps with other Bloomsdale picks
Check PLANTMEW Bloomsdale 500 price on Amazon
What to Look for in Spinach Seeds
Savoy, semi-savoy or smooth leaf
Savoy spinach such as Bloomsdale has deeply crinkled leaves that are thick, cold hardy and good for cooking, but they trap soil, so you will rinse more. Smooth-leaf types such as Viroflay and Noble Giant wash in seconds and are popular for salads and big batches of cooked greens. Semi-savoy hybrids sit in between and are common in seed catalogs, often with added disease resistance. If you grow in a region where downy mildew is a recurring problem, it is worth looking for resistant hybrid varieties from a seed catalog alongside these heirlooms.
Bolt resistance and timing
Spinach bolts, sending up a flower stalk and turning bitter, when days get long and temperatures climb. No variety is immune. Long Standing types like Bloomsdale hold a little longer, but timing matters more than genetics: sow spring crops as early as the soil can be worked, and rely on fall sowings for your biggest harvests. For summer, heat-tolerant substitutes such as perpetual spinach, which is actually a chard, fill the gap.
Seed count and freshness
Spinach seed is fairly large and easy to handle. A 10 foot row sown about 1 inch apart and thinned later uses roughly 120 seeds, so 250 to 500 seeds covers several succession rows. Look for packets dated for the current season, and store extras cool and dry.
Spinach Sowing Calendar
| Sowing | When | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Early spring | 4 to 6 weeks before last frost, once soil can be worked | Use Bloomsdale; sow every 2 weeks until about 2 weeks after last frost |
| Late summer to fall | 6 to 8 weeks before first frost | Shade the bed and keep soil moist to cool it for germination |
| Overwinter | About 4 to 6 weeks before first frost in Zones 5 to 7 | Cover with row cover or a cold frame; harvest early spring |
| Winter crop | Fall through winter in Zones 8 to 10 | The main spinach season in the South |
Sow 1/2 inch deep in loose, fertile soil with plenty of compost, keep it evenly moist, and thin seedlings to 4 to 6 inches for Bloomsdale or 6 to 8 inches for big smooth-leaf types. For a step-by-step growing guide, see how to grow spinach; if leaves start yellowing, our guide to why spinach leaves turn yellow covers the common causes. For more cool-season crops to pair with spinach, browse the vegetable gardening guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most bolt-resistant spinach?
Among heirlooms, Bloomsdale Long Standing is the classic slow-bolting choice. No spinach is bolt-proof, so early spring sowing and fall crops matter more than variety.
Is savoy or smooth-leaf spinach better?
Savoy types like Bloomsdale are thicker and more cold hardy but trap grit. Smooth-leaf types like Viroflay are easier to wash and are great for salads and large cooked harvests. Many gardeners grow both.
Why did my spinach seeds not germinate?
Warm soil is the most common cause. Spinach germinates best in soil roughly 45 to 70°F. For late-summer sowings, shade the bed and keep it moist, or refrigerate seed for a week before sowing.
When should I plant spinach seeds?
Sow 4 to 6 weeks before your last spring frost, and again 6 to 8 weeks before your first fall frost. In Zones 8 to 10, spinach grows best from fall through winter.
How long do spinach seeds last?
Stored cool, dry and sealed, spinach seed generally stays viable for about 3 to 5 years, with germination dropping each year. Fresh seed gives the most even stand.