How To Grow Spinach In Containers?

Spinach is a leafy vegetable that you can grow effortlessly. It is perfect for beginners as it needs low maintenance. This vegetable has a treasure of vitamin A, C, iron, and calcium.

If you select the right variety then you can enjoy the leaves year-round. Spinach is very versatile and is used in different dishes such as stews, soups, salads, and pasta.

You can grow spinach outdoors and indoors without any trouble. It is perfect for growing in a container or pot. You can place your pot on the patio or terrace.

In this article, we are going to talk about the growing of spinach in containers but before giving you all the instructions and tips about this, first, we will discuss some essential information.

How Long Does Spinach Take To Grow?

After sowing the seeds you can harvest spinach in about 6 weeks. Winter cultivators and summer cultivators can be grown at different times of the year. You will get leaves from this fast-growing green leafy vegetable all through the year.

When To Plant Spinach?

Winter is the best time for growing spinach in containers or pots because spinach is a cool weather-loving crop. If you are growing summer varieties then you should plant them in early to late spring 4 to 6 weeks before the last frost.

For winter varieties you can sow the seeds from mid-summer to early autumn 6 to 8 weeks before the first frost in the fall. After sowing the seeds within 3 to 4 weeks you will get a constant supply of green leaves.

Best Varieties Of Spinach You Can Grow

You should choose the best variety of spinach for growing in your containers. It is suggested to select a disease-resistant variety.

1- TAYEE

This variety has thick and dark green leaves. Seeds of this variety can be sown in the fall season and harvested in early spring. The best time of growing Tayee is in the fall season.

2- CATALINA

This variety is also known as baby leaf spinach. Catalina has a crunchy flavor and green leaves of oval shape. This heat-resistant variety takes 40 days to grow.

The best time for growing this variety is spring or fall when the temperature lies between 45 degrees Fahrenheit to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. This variety is best for growing in the container due to small leaves.

3- TETON

This is a hybrid variety that has dark green and tender leaves. It is suggested that you should sow the seeds in winter. When Teton Spanish is 6 inches long then you can harvest it.

At the time of the sowing of seeds make sure there should be a distance of 2 inches between each plant, then you will get rapid and continuous growth.

4- REGIMENT SPINACH

This is a hybrid variety that has broad leaves. You can cultivate it during the spring and fall.

Within 37 days this crop will be ready for harvest. Fresh spinach of this variety will give a crispy flavor and texture. You can use it in creamy sauces, pasta, and soups.

5- RED CARDINAL SPINACH

This variety has red veins in its leaves that’s why we call it red cardinal spinach. Healthy leaves of this variety will enhance the flavor of your salad.

The best temperature for growing red cardinal spinach is between 45 degrees Fahrenheit to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. When you place your container in a sunny location then it will get 6 hours of sunlight and develop healthy leaves.

Selecting The Right Container To Grow Spinach

The size of the pot or container is very important. You should choose a large container for growing spinach because a small container will not produce your desired leafy vegetables.

You can choose plastic garden containers, terracotta pots, wooden boxes, or plastic pails for growing spinach. If you are living in a hot climate then it is best to grow spinach in a container that is made from plastic.

The container which is made from plastic will not absorb the heat as much as terracotta pots. The color of the container should be light so it will not reflect the heat.

After choosing the container for your plants make sure your container must have at least four drainage holes; these holes promote drainage and protect your plants from root rot.

If you have a busy schedule and it is not possible for you to water your plants regularly then use a large container. The large container has more soil so there is no need for watering daily. The width and depth of the container must be 24 inches.

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Preparing Your Potting Mix For Growing Spinach In Containers

When you grow plants in the container then you can maintain the fertility of the soil. It is not possible when you grow plants in the ground. In container gardening, you should not use the soil of the garden for filling your containers.

The soil of the garden has clay and can hold more water which visitors into water logging you can buy Cotton pads from local nursery or gardening store contains 18 steroid soil which was composed and polite if your plants will be safe from viruses fungus and bacteria which are the reason of spreading diseases in your plants.

Buy the right high-quality potting mix because if you use a cheap potting mix then this will work at the outset but later starts to retain the water. This will result in root rot and become the reason for killing the plants.

The pH of the potting mix must be between 6.5 to 7.0. If you want to increase the acidity of the soil then you should add sulfur. This will increase the acidic level of the soil.

If you want to make the soil more alkaline, in that case, you can mix lime in the soil. For providing nutrients to the soil for your plants you can use compost. This will provide all the required nutrients to the plants. Keep in mind spinach needs more nutrients for growth.

How To Grow Spinach In Containers From Seeds?

The main advantage of container gardening is that it extends the growing season. You have prepared the container for sowing seeds.

As we are growing spinach from seeds you will get all the information on the packet of seeds which you bought the following are simple steps for growing spinach in containers from seeds.

Buy high-quality seeds from a local nursery or gardening store.

Sow the seeds 1/2 inch deep in the container. Now water the soil so the seeds can start their germination process.
After 14 days, you will see the young seedlings start emerging from the soil. But this will rely upon the climatic conditions and the variety which you choose.
If you want larger leaves of spinach then there should be a distance of 3 inches between each plant.

If you are growing spinach in the fall then you should place the container in a Sunny location but if you are growing in spring or summer then place the container in a semi-shade area.
Avoid overwatering because spinach doesn’t like wet feet so keep the soil wise but not wet.
To make your soil rich and full of nutrients you should apply fertilizer regularly.

Spinach Care Tips

When you grow spinach in pots then they don’t need special care. If you choose the right container, the right soil, and provide regular water and fertilizing then you will get a healthy spinach crop.

If you are sowing the seeds in the fall then you should cover the seedlings with fleece or a cloche to protect them from harsh weather.

FERTILIZING

Spinach is a leafy vegetable that’s why it needs nitrogen for healthy propagation. They are heavy feeders so when you are sowing the seeds you can apply time-based fertilizer or liquid fertilizer for rich soil.

Besides this, you can also add compost or well-rotted manure. The other options are fish emulsion and manure tea to promote the development of plants.

MULCHING

In container gardening, you can apply a layer of mulch to retain moisture within the soil.

PESTS AND DISEASES

Pests can’t destroy your crop as you are growing spinach in a container. Growing spinach in containers will save you plants from the invasion of little monsters. However, if leaf-eating insects such as slugs and caterpillars start to destroy your crop then you can easily control them.

WATER

You are a spinach plant that needs one inch of water every week; this will keep them healthy. First, you should check the soil if you feel it is dry then what are your plants, otherwise, there is no need for watering. If the soil is damp then it requires no watering. The best practice of watering the plant is that when you water the plants the water will drain from the holes of the containers. Water your plants in this way twice a week or every 3 to 4 days.

But in summer, due to the hot weather the soil will dry out very quickly. That’s why your spinach plant needs more water. If the soil dries out then it will result in plants bolting which is not good for your plant.

Harvesting Spinach

By following all the tips and instructions for growing spinach you will get a healthy crop of spinach between 6 to 10 weeks after sowing the seeds.

If you are growing summer cultivators then you can harvest spinach from May to October.
If you are growing winter cultivars then you can harvest spinach between October and April.

If you want your spinach plant will continue producing throughout the season then you should pick a few leaves at a time from each plant. In summer the spinach will grow very fast so you should keep an eye on your crop for harvesting.

There are different stages when you harvest the spinach; it depends on the need for which you are picking the leaves.

For the later harvest, you should cut the outer leaves of the 3 inches tall plant; the inner leaves of the plant will continue to grow.

When the size of the plant is 6 inches tall then you can cut the whole head and we meet again for regrowth. After waiting several weeks you can get a second harvest from the same plant.

If you want to enhance the taste of your silence then you can use baby leaves.

Tip

After harvesting, you should use the fresh leaves to get the best flavor. You can also store the leaves for 14 days in the fridge.