I've found that germinating spinach is at best tricky and the seeds are quite sensitive about the environment they are expected to grow in. Soil temperature is important. Seed planting depth is important. Soil moisture levels are important.

When were these seeds planted?

What was the soil temperature?

How deep were the seeds planted?

How moist was the soil?

kimmq is kimmsr

Hi kimmsr...I planted the seed about the first wk of Sept.....soil temperature was abt 65 I would guess...I don't recall for sure how deep I planted the seed but would say around half an inch...or whatever it said on the package. I always water right after I plant seed so I'm sure they were damp enough. oldmainer

About 1/2 inch deep is close to what is recommended, but was the soil kept moist until the seeds germinated?

Hi kimmg...ayup...I watered before they dried out...every day or so. oldmainer

I wonder if the compost contained grass clippings from lawns where 'weed-and-feed' was used. There is a wonderful broadleaf herbicide, picloram, that works well in lawns because it is persistent. Lawns that have been treated with picloram should be mulch-mowed so that the picloram is recycled back into the turf. It could take a couple of years for that stuff to fully break down.

Good luck.

Paul

Hi Paul...I'm thinking the same thing. The facility where I bought the compost uses a lot of grass clippings in their compost so I might have a batch of bad stuff. Do you or anybody else have any ideas on how to treat what I have left? I have maybe eight to ten yards piled up on my side yard. I have a tractor with a bucket so I can move it and spread it out if need be. oldmainer

I have been using municipal compost, which is primarily from leaves, but also to a lesser extend grass clippings, yard debris, old planters, old hay, etc. for a decade without incident. The compost is decomposed over 3 years, in big piles in several stages, and I figure there's not much chemical residue (if it existed) left by that point. But it's possible I suppose?

You could try a germination test on your seeds. I use a flat tupperware (some people use a plastic baggie), line it with paper towels, spread a few seeds, and spritz with water every day. Cover the container loosely to allow a bit of air flow and place on a warm shelf. Usually the seeds germinate within a few days-weeks.

Hi terrene...I will try sprouting some seeds but will have to wait a few weeks because of the deep snow in the yard and on the compost pile. I am not new to gardening but am not a pro. I have never had a problem with compost In the last 50 years of gardening so thought I would ask what others have done or might do if they had the same problem. oldmainer

Why seeds fail to grow,

http://www.humeseeds.com/nogrow.htm

kimmq is kimmsr