The problem is probably the seed mat. Spinach germinates well at cool temps. What is the soil temp now?

Ideal temp is 40 to 70 degrees. Sometimes it will fail to germinate at higher temps.

Jay

Here is a link that might be useful: Spinach info

vicki: try soaking in water in the fridge for a day or so -- then plant. Also. put a piece of sandpaper in a pill bottle (or whatever) and shake the seeds in bottle prior to soak to scuff up the surface of the seeds.

Kevin

Agree with Jay. Unless your heat mat is on a thermostat that lets you control and keep the specific temp at 55-65 degrees then your soil is too hot and cooking the seeds. On their own heat mats can easily heat the soil to 80-85 degrees.

Assuming you have some sort of soil thermometer measure the soil temp and either invest in a thermostat or adjust the tray up off the mat enough to reduce to soil temps.

It could be the seed mat, but the room they're in is fairly cool. I would be surprised if the soil temp was over 70. Just the same, I'll take them off the mats and see what happens.

And why not start them directly in the garden? I often sow spinach seed in February--any time the ground is soft. They germinate at the right time and take right off.

I've done so well priming spinach seeds that I now do it with onions and carrots, too. As explained in the link below, you coax the embryo to life, then plant after the first stage of the germination process has had time to get rolling.

Here is a link that might be useful: priming spinach seeds

I am going to try that priming method. I have been wanting to see if I can grow some spinach inside along with some baby lettuce.

I didnt grow spinach last year, but the year before, I had better germination and stronger plants from the spinach that I winter sowed (see winter sowing forum) than the spinach I started under lights.

It could be the seed mat, but the room they're in is fairly cool. I would be surprised if the soil temp was over 70. Just the same, I'll take them off the mats and see what happens.
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BIG difference between air temps and soil temps. Your soil temps could easily be 20 gegrees hotter than the room air temp. And if these seeds are already cooked then they are dead and nothing will happen. You will have to start with fresh seeds.

Dave

I grabbed a pack of bloomsdale at Lowe's after church this morning. I'll replant half the trays and also try sowing outside. We're supposed to have wave of rain, freezing rain, and snow pass through, so I may wait a few days before I try the outside crop.

Spinach needs cold stratification for two weeks if I remember right. I put mine in a jar in the fridge.