![]() I plant spinach seeds one quarter to one half inch deep in pots. Direct seeding spinach – Spinach seed germinates in about 5 to 10 days, depending on the temperature, and the seedlings are quick to size up.I prefer to direct sow, but there are benefits from giving spinach a head start indoors. The seeds can be direct sown or started indoors. It only takes a minute or two to plant spinach in pots. Once you’ve picked your containers and filled them with your growing mix, it’s time to plant. Here I’m adding holes to a plastic window box with a 1/4 inch drill bit. It’s essential that your selected containers have drainage holes. If you prefer, you can apply a liquid fertilizer like fish emulsion or manure tea every 2 to 3 weeks instead of using a granular product. This supplies nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, and other nutrients. I also add a slow-release organic vegetable fertilizer to the growing mix. Adding organic matter like compost increases the moisture holding capacity of the potting soil. If the plants are allowed to dry out they’ll bolt. Spinach needs a growing medium that is well-draining, but also holds moisture. I like to use roughly two-thirds potting mix and one-third compost. Give your spinach plants a strong start by filling the containers with a blend of potting mix and a source of organic matter like compost or rotted manure. The best soil when growing spinach in containers If you want large mature spinach plants, pick a container that is 10 to 12 inches deep. If you’re growing spinach for baby greens, a 6 to 8 inch pot is deep enough. Spinach plants produce a taproot as well as a fibrous root system. If your pot doesn’t have drainage holes, it’s easy to add them to plastic or wooden containers using a drill fitted with a quarter inch bit. It’s important that whatever type of container you use has drainage holes so excess rain or irrigation water can drain away. I’ve grown spinach in plastic pots and buckets, wooden window boxes, and fabric planters. When it comes to pots and planters, there are lots of choices. What types of containers should you use for growing spinach Plant spinach seeds about an inch apart, eventually spacing them 2 to 3 inches apart for baby greens. If placed in the shelter of a greenhouse or cold frame, pots of spinach can last well into winter, even in northern climates. These plants continue to produce leafy greens until late autumn. My first late season sowings begin 6 to 8 weeks before the first fall frost date. That means the time is right to start planting spinach once again. Instead I switch to heat-tolerant greens like amaranth, New Zealand spinach, and Malabar spinach.īy late summer the days are getting shorter and the temperatures are cooling down. As spring turns to summer and the temperatures regularly climb over 80 degrees F (26 degrees C) I stop planting spinach as it doesn’t grow well in hot dry weather. In warm climates, spinach is grown as an autumn and winter crop.īecause we love spinach, I plant more seeds every couple of weeks to provide a continual harvest. This vegetable can be planted when the soil reaches 45 degrees F (7 degrees C). In fact, spinach is one of the first crops I plant in early spring, direct sowing my first batch of seeds 6 to 8 weeks before the last expected frost date. Spinach grows best in cool temperatures and is an ideal crop for spring and fall. For a non-stop harvest plant a new pot every 2 to 3 weeks. Spinach is a cool-season vegetable that can be seeded in early spring. For gardeners who have little garden space, poor or infertile soil, or garden on a deck, balcony, or patio, growing spinach containers is an effective solution. ![]() Bolting is when plants switch from vegetative growth to flowering which means an end to the harvest. If these needs are not met, spinach plants are quick to bolt. This is an easy-to-grow crop, but does have specific requirements. Depending on the variety, spinach leaves can be smooth, semi-savoy, or super crinkly with the plants growing 6 to 12 inches tall. Spinach is a cool-season crop related to Swiss chard and grown for its succulent deep green leaves. I like planting the seeds in plastic or fabric containers for a spring or autumn harvest. Spinach is a fast-growing green that is perfect for pots. Below you’ll learn everything you need to know about growing spinach in containers. The key to success for cultivating spinach in pots is to pick the best types of containers, fill them with a rich growing mix, and provide consistent moisture. Growing spinach in containers just outside my kitchen door means I’ve always got a supply of the tender leaves on hand for salads and cooked dishes. The compact plants don’t need a lot of root space and they’re very quick to go from seed to harvest. Spinach is a popular green to grow in gardens, but it’s also an ideal vegetable to plant in pots.
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