Sow the spinach seeds thinly in rows spaced about one to 1 1/2 feet apart or simply scatter the seeds in blocks. Cover lightly with soil, firm in place and water well. Keep the soil moist until germination. Once the plants have a grown their true leaves, you can begin to thin the plants to about six inches apart.
If the weather isn't extremely cold, seeds will germinate in five to nine days. Spinach produces beautifully in cool fall conditions, but it's tricky to persuade the seed to germinate in the hot conditions of late summer.