Seed Spotlight: Spinach Stays Green

Papa says our land is dyin’ slowly. He’s seen what it’s like outside o’ Tolero, where nothin’ green grows anymore. Everything’s all different shades of brown and yellow, covered in spikes and just tryin’ to survive.  

Even here at the farm, where we ain’t run out o’ water yet, most o’ our plants start green but don’t stay that way. Corn stalks go yellow in the summer heat, leeks turn brown when the frost hits ‘em. 

‘Course, there’s always an exception–let me tell ya ‘bout my friend, Spinach.

This lovely little lady must come from the same far-off cold land as Kale–she won’t even sprout if the soil’s warm. Folk ‘round here tell me Spinach ain’t for the desert. She’s too soft, they say–too sensitive. She’s not strong enough.  

‘Course, I don’t listen to ‘em–and I tell her not to listen to ‘em either.

I like takin’ our Spinach harvest to town each year. “Miss Maren, you’ve done it again,” folk tell me, their eyes goin’ wide when they see all them soft, green leaves. And the greener those leaves, the faster folk buy ‘em up. They crave ‘em tossed in a salad, cooked up alongside beef or chicken. They need Spinach, somehow. ‘Cause she gives ‘em somethin’ they can’t get from corn, or beans, or squash, or any other desert vegetable. 

True, Spinach is soft–all ya’ have to do is press a leaf ‘tween your thumb and finger to bruise it. And true, a few hours in the summer sun’ll finish her. But all plants are strong some way or another–ya’ ain’t never gonna tell me otherwise. 

Spinach is stronger’n I am when it comes to the cold. I mean, I’m out there shiverin’ my teeth out pumpin’ water to her field, and she’s stretchin’ her leaves and soakin’ up the coolth like she was made for it.

In fact, this girl who “ain’t for the desert” gets greener durin’ our desert winters. When other plants die off, her color deepens.  She grows and thrives when little else will. 

Which reminds me of a conversation with my papa when I was younger.

“Ya’ know, Maren,” Papa said, “maybe folk’re right. Spinach dudn’t fit in here.”

“What do ya’ mean?” I asked.

“The desert’s gettin’ browner and yellower all the time. But Spinach? She stays green.” Then he added softly, as if talkin’ to himself, “My dear girl, I hope you grow up to be just like her.”

From Sarah: Now through February 16th, 2025, get a free packet of Giant Noble Spinach seeds with any order! Click on the button below to head over to the Shop page.