Backyard Aquaponics
A place to discuss aquaponics

anyone here growing spinach ? My collards, mustard, Chard and Strawberries are doing fine but freashly planted spinach has issues still after 2 weeks, any suggestions / I live in North Florida. They leaves just lay down during the day and try to perk up at night. shading them during the day seems to help. (no GH yet).
thanks

Sounds like heat stress, how hot has it been? A bit of shading in the hottest part of the day may help until they get larger and the daily temperature cools down a bit.

A sea captain asking about spinach eh?
Funny.

Ditto on the heat stress. It also doesn't have to be all that hot. Sometimes just the direct sunlight of FL can do the trick.

LOL,, I never thought about that "sea captain asking about spinach". No, I am not popeye. Just a retired Captain. As for the heat stress, I am pretty much sure that is it. they wilted a little right after I planted them ( hot out that day) so I covered them then they seemed to revive. Then I uncovered them (peeka boo) and then they wilted even more.. so now they are covered again and not going to uncover them until I eat them..Thanks for all the info. I will be adding a little iron to the system just to be sure, That is if I can find the DPTA stuff here in town.
Thanks again

Tropical varieties of 'spinach' (which is often used as a general term for green soft-leaved vegetables) may do better for you. An Australian native, which you probably have over there as it has been spread by us around the planet, is Tetragonia tetragonioides. Reported in the literature to be the largest leafy vegetable crop consumed in Brazil, is often grown in Europe, but not in Australia for some strange reason...

Grows differently to 'normal' spinach in that it is spreading prostrate herb. But once the leaves are picked they look much the same. It's also a halophyte so no worries about salting your system. Just best to cook the leaves as they contain some oxolates, but it is claimed they can be eaten raw... Delicious cooked but. My missus has even claimed that it is way better than traditional English spinach and other varieties sold here in oz as spinach. Has a less earthy flavour.

Other 'spinach' plants like Egyptian spinach and so on may be good to try in a hot climate too