Start by picking the outer leaves and harvest the newer leaves as they reach the desired size. Rinse the spinach by using paper towels or a salad spinner. Store spinach in plastic bags in the refrigerator. The primary disease problems with this crop are downy mildew, white rust and seedling damping-off. Insects that may be a problem in growing spinach are aphids, cutworms, cabbageloopers, corn earworms and diamondback moth caterpillars.
Aphids are a major problem because they transmit viruses to the plans.
The recommended cultivars are Seven R, Marathon, American, Dark Green Bloomsdale, Melody and Savoy. Most spinach that is grown in South Carolina is of the semi-savoy type. The savoy characteristic refers to the amount of leaf crinkle. Slow-bolting is an important cultivar characteristic for overwintered and spring plantings. Bolting is the formation of the flower stalk.