Spinacia oleracea 'Bloomsdale'

Bloomsdale spinach

Amaranthaceae

Cultivar of garden origin (species native to central and western Asia)

Container Friendly

SunFull Sun – Part Shade

WaterMedium

HardinessZones 2–9

Overview

Spinacia oleracea 'Bloomsdale' (Bloomsdale Long Standing) is a compact, rosette-forming annual in the amaranth family (Amaranthaceae) reaching 6–12 inches (15–30 cm) tall with a 6–10 inch (15–25 cm) spread. This heirloom cultivar (pre-1925) produces a dense rosette of heavily savoyed (deeply crinkled, blistered) leaves, dark green, thick, glossy, round to oval, 3–6 inches (8–15 cm) long. The 'Long Standing' designation refers to slower bolting compared to earlier spinach cultivars. Dioecious (separate male and female plants); wind-pollinated. Bolts rapidly when day length exceeds 14 hours or temperatures exceed 75°F (24°C). The savoyed leaves trap soil particles and require thorough washing. In the Pacific Northwest, the cool maritime spring extends the harvest window compared to warmer regions. Spinach is a cool-season annual with no heat tolerance; chard and New Zealand spinach serve as warm-season substitutes.

Native Range

The species Spinacia oleracea is native to central and western Asia (Iran/Afghanistan region), cultivated since at least the 7th century. 'Bloomsdale' (Bloomsdale Long Standing) was developed in the United States and has been in continuous cultivation since the early 20th century.

Suggested Uses

Planted in vegetable gardens, salad gardens, containers (2+ gallon), and succession plantings. Eaten raw in salads (baby leaves) or cooked (sautéed, in soups, quiches, pasta). The heavily savoyed leaves hold sauces and dressings. The open-pollinated habit and dioecious pollination system make 'Bloomsdale' a seed-saving teaching cultivar. Included in cool-season crop rotations and soil-building plantings between cover crop cycles.

How to Identify

Distinguished from Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris) by the thinner, more heavily savoyed leaves without thick fleshy petioles, the lower stature (6–12 versus 18–28 inches), and the cool-season-only growth (bolts in heat versus heat-tolerant). Distinguished from flat-leaved spinach cultivars ('Space', 'Corvair') by the heavily savoyed (versus smooth/semi-savoyed) leaf surface. The heavily blistered, deeply crinkled, dark green glossy leaves are diagnostic.

Appearance

Size & Dimensions

Height6" - 1'

Width/Spread6" - 10"

Colors

Flower Colors

green

Foliage Colors

green

Fall Foliage Colors

no change

Bloom Information

Bloom Period

~2 weeks

Spring

Bolts in response to long days (14+ hours) and heat above 75°F (24°C). Dioecious: male plants bolt first (producing pollen-bearing spikes), followed by female plants. Wind-pollinated. For seed saving, isolate from other spinach cultivars by 0.5–1 mile (0.8–1.6 km) or use alternate-day caging. The biennial seed-saving cycle and dioecious pollination are taught in seed-saving courses.

Detailed Descriptions

Flower Description

Greenish (if bolting)

Foliage Description

Dark green, heavily savoyed (deeply crinkled/blistered), thick, glossy; round to oval

Growing Conditions

Sun Requirements

SunFull Sun SunPartial Shade

Requires 3-8 hours of direct sunlight daily

• Full Sun: 6+ hours of direct sunlight

• Partial Shade: 3-6 hours of direct sunlight

• Full Shade: Less than 3 hours of direct sunlight

Soil Requirements

pH Range6.5 - 7.5(Neutral)

357912

Soil Types

loam silt

Drainagemoist

Water & Climate

Water Needs

Medium

Frost Tolerance

hardy

Care & Maintenance

Care Guide

Direct sow seeds 0.5 inch (1 cm) deep, 4–6 weeks before the last frost, spacing 6 inches (15 cm) apart. Successive sowings every 10 days extend the spring harvest. Pause from June through August (bolting period). Resume sowing in September for fall harvest. In the Pacific Northwest, fall-sown spinach often overwinters for early spring harvest. Consistent moisture and partial shade in warm weather delay bolting. Harvest outer leaves at 3–4 inches (8–10 cm) long or cut entire rosettes. Container culture in 2+ gallon pots is feasible.

Pruning

Harvest outer leaves at the base for cut-and-come-again use, or harvest entire rosettes by cutting at ground level. Remove bolting plants promptly — leaf flavor becomes bitter once the seed stalk elongates.