Growing spinach can be done just about anywhere, but can you grow spinach in containers? In this blog post, I will discuss the benefits of growing them a pot and give tips on how to do so. Thes containers can help maximize your space for gardening, as well as have an abundant supply of fresh spinach throughout the year.
You can grow spinach in containers but it requires different preparations and maintenance compared to ground-grown spinach plants. The pots need to be well-draining and a more attentive watering schedule is essential. With adequate cultivation, you can harvest a large yield of fresh spinach throughout the year.
After deep research and testing, I accumulated the most important pros and cons of growing spinach in containers for you.
Can you grow spinach in containers?
Spinach grown in a container and spinach grown in the ground has different requirements nevertheless both planting types secure a good yield.
Spinach is often grown in fancy containers, but it’s really not very picky about where it grows. As long as the soil is fertile, moist, well-draining, and has plenty of oxygen, spinach will grow happily wherever you put it!
For ease of planting, it is best to buy or use tall containers. To pot spinach in containers you should select only young plants or start by seed or cutting.
Potted spinach requires that the soil is very fertile or that you fertilize the plant from time to time.
You need to make sure they are getting enough sunlight so pick the right watering schedule and an adequate location. Spinach plants grown in a container tends to dry out more quickly than in the garden. Spinach needs consistent moisture, so be sure to water frequently. Try not to let them wilt too often either, as this stresses out plants.
Comparing container-grown vegetables with those grown in traditional garden beds is not always the easiest option because the conditions in their natural habit lead to less need for care. Nevertheless, it also brings potential like being less prone to diseases, easier access to harvest, and movable through bad weather conditions.
What kind of container can I grow spinach in?
Surprisingly, plastic containers can work just as well for these purposes. It is best to use either a plastic container, a clay pot, or a terra cotta planter to grow your greens in.
Ceramic urns are also excellent alternatives because they can retain moisture exceptionally well while still allowing some airflow through the center bottom of the container upwards through drainage holes at its base. This approach helps to prevent rot on plant roots throughout the wet environment inside of it.
Speaking of drainage holes this is one of the most important things to remember when choosing the right vessel for planting your spinach. If you use a pot that has no drainage holes, water will collect at the bottom of that pot and the soil gets waterlogged. You don’t want this!
Choose a pot that is leastways six to eight inches deep for growing healthy spinach in pots. You don’t need a particularly deep vessel, rather, use a wide one. You can either put up many tiny pots or grow many plants in a large container.
How can you grow spinach in a container?
First of all, prepare the well-chosen container by using quality potting soil rich in organic components and nutrients.
You can grow spinach either by seeds or by cuttings. To germinate spinach seeds you can directly put them half an inch deep in the soil.
There is a technique known as priming that helps to germinate seeds faster and more consistently. Soak spinach seeds in room temperature water for twenty-four hours a week before sowing them indoors or outside. Then bury them under the soil as mentioned before. The spinach seeds will germinate after around eight to ten days and they should be kept warm through the whole process.
You are also able to grow spinach from plants that only have a stem and roots left or from seedling cuttings. Just put them in the prepared soil and nature will do her magic and allows the plants to thrive.
The process of left-stem growth will take a little bit longer than normal, but if properly cared for your new plant should develop leaves within a few weeks and you are recycling an old plant.
Another important tip is that spinach plants prefer cool climates. That is why sowing in early spring and autumn is the best time for you to sow your spinach. If you want to grow it all year long the potted spinach is good to go. If it feels too hot outside place your pots indoor while giving them enough sunlight.
Spinach plants prefer full sun, nevertheless, spinach is also thriving sufficient enough when located in partial sun. Allow them to get at least four to six hours of direct sunlight per day. When the days get longer and the spinach plant receives more than ten to twelve hours of sunlight it will begin to seed.
The type of soil that spinach grows best in soil that is nearly pH neutral so between 6,5 and 7,5. Spinach is not a too heavy feeder. It is good to additionally fertilize with a commercial food that contains plenty of nitrogen, which is needed for the dark green color of the leaves.
Initially, incorporate fertilizer into the soil prior to planting if it isn’t rich soil. Then feed the spinach from time to time for example after harvesting some leaves. Spread the fertilizer around the base of the plants and gently work it into the soil. Be careful, spinach has shallow roots that can be easily damaged.
Interesting Fact: Spinach is a native plant of Persia. It was introduced to China in the 7th century and due to its origin, it’s often called The Persian Green.
Last but not least how often does spinach need to be watered? There is no one-size-fits-all solution for this! If you have young seedlings or just started growing spinach indoors then maybe every few days would is good. If grown-up I consider watering them every week with about 1,5 inches and if the weather is a bit warmer go for a bit more.
For potted spinach, it’s sometimes better to get watered regularly two times a week with half of the amount than a big watering once a week to prevent soil rotting.
If you want to transplant some of your early potted spinach outdoors you should know when. Commonly you can transplant the spinach seedling when it is a bit hardened and has about three or four leaves.
How do you harvest container grown spinach?
Spinach is an easy-to-grow vegetable. It needs about 37 to 45 days and a container with plenty of room in between them for healthy growth, depending on how big you want your plants.
There is a way to harvest spinach without killing the plant. This is achieved by cutting off only what you need and leaving the rest of the spinach alive, which will produce more leaves over time for your salad or cooking. You should harvest a maximum of one-third of the spinach plant to not weaken the plant too much. Just make sure not to break any stems while harvesting so plants can continue growing in this manner!
The best way of harvesting is totally easy, grab a leave hold it, and cut it a bit above the stem with a knife. Then all you have to do is waiting for the natural regrowth of your spinach.
If you need heaps of spinach and need to cut it down other options would be either starting new seeds or trying to replant the stems with a good amount of water and fertilizer.
But how many times can you harvest spinach? The answer depends on some conditions like the size of your container, the planting season, and the watering and fertilizing schedule. The rule of thumb is that you are commonly able to harvest about three to four yields of one spinach plant.
Earlier we talked about seeding spinach but are flowers and seeds bad? If you want to eat your spinach it’s not a good idea to get your spinach plant to that point. Because once they got into the seeding stage their leaves become bitter and get an unpleasant taste.
Previous to the bolting phase the spinach starts excessive growth and the end of the leaves change from an oval shape to a very spiky form. Now you should harvest the yield immediately but you can replace it with a later flowering spinach crop.
You are able to prevent flowering by using the right species at the right time of the year, putting the potted plant indoors if it’s too hot outside, or go for bolt-resistant ones like Catalina, Indian Summer, or Teton.
Sadly these ones don’t save you from flowering they just do it less frequently.
Final thoughts
Spinach grown in a container and spinach grown in the garden both require different care, yet they provide comparable yields.
It is important to have drainage holes in the pot you choose for your spinach. You are able to use a plastic container, a clay pot, or a terra cotta planter, or even a ceramic urn.
Pots for spinach should be at least six to eight inches deep. When growing spinach plants width is more important than depth so keep that in mind.
You can grow spinach either by seeds or by cuttings. When planting them remember that spinach thrives the best in colder climates so make sure to pick the right time to start. Make sure to use the right watering schedule and feed them from time to time with fertilizer.
With the right harvesting technique, you are able to get three to four harvests of each plant.
So go for it and get yourself some fresh grown spinach! You have heaps of opportunity to use and enjoy it.
The best thing? It’s healthy!
