Spinach is an early-season plant, and heat is its greatest enemy. Joe begins this episode in the garden, where he will show how to thoroughly work the soil. In some climates the ground may still be nearly frozen, so this extra work is necessary. He also explains the nutrients spinach needs and how to amend the soil. The spinach seeds are sown directly in the ground. Once the young spinach is up, it can be thinned by hand. Joe talks about how to protect maturing spinach from pests, both insects and rodents. Finally, he shows how to harvest the leaves by cutting rather than pulling; this brings up less sand and dirt.
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