Choose a shallow and medium container if you’re unsure of the best size for growing spinach in a greenhouse. Green vegetables like spinach thrive well in a greenhouse, but you can also grow them in containers if you’re short on room. A small container is all that is needed to reap the benefits of fresh and healthy spinach in your own backyard.
Spinach is without a doubt one of the healthiest vegetables, so why not grow your own? Spinach can be grown to its full potential in the greenhouse because of the climate control it will receive. In addition, because you’re growing them in containers, you’ll have an easier time keeping them clean.
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What Size Pot For Growing Spinach In A Greenhouse And Spacing Requirements
In a shallow or medium-sized container, spinach will do its best to thrive. A 14-inch-wide by 8-inch-deep pot should be sufficient for your spinach, as a general rule of thumb. Your seeds will flourish in the optimum environment if you follow these guidelines.
Three spinach plants can be grown in a 7.5-liter container, while 10 plants may be grown in a 38-liter container. If your container is 14 inches in diameter, you can fit up to four spinach plants in it. As long as you’re growing multiple plants in the same container, you’ll eventually have to space them out by 5 inches.
The depth of a spinach plant’s pot is more critical than that of other plants. Using a limited container will generate growth and overcrowding issues because it has a broad root system. You’ll need an 8- to 12-inch-deep pot for multiple plants, so think about how many you’ll be growing in advance.
Space requirements of spinach
Next, you’ll need to determine how much area you’ll need to grow spinach in a greenhouse. To begin, plant your seeds about a half-inch deep before lightly covering them with soil. After planting, add a half-inch layer of mulch to keep them from drying out.
Because of their large root system, the spacing of the seeds is also critical to their growth. It’s recommended that you leave an inch between each seed for germination. Trim the plants when they reach a height of 2 inches so that they remain 4 inches apart.
This area should be about 8 inches wide if you’re growing transplants. Harvesting will be simpler if the greenhouse is properly spaced. If you’re harvesting huge leaves, this may rise to 5 inches for each plant.
However, if you plan to harvest early, a 2-inch spacing should be plenty. Consider the big leaves and deep roots of spinach while planting it. If you don’t have a lot of space to work with, spinach is a great crop to grow in pots in the greenhouse.
Caring For Spinach In Pots In The Greenhouse
Planting spinach
Porous materials like glazed porcelain, concrete, and wood are ideal for growing spinach. The pots should also be cleaned and sanitized to avoid contamination. The pH of the soil should be between 6.0 and 7.0.
Grit, vermiculite, and compost can also be used to make potting soil. Before adding the potting mix to the top, add some soy flour to the center of the pot. Other substances can be used to feed your spinach plants, as well.
Temperatures between 35 and 75 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal for germination, and you can directly sow in spring or fall. However, spinach can germinate in just 22 days, so be prepared for a delayed start.
Spinach companion planting
Companion planting with spinach can also be done in the greenhouse. Deter pests and draw in beneficial insects by doing so. Parsley and annuals like petunias and marigolds are good spinach companion plants.
However, to maintain a tidy greenhouse, be aware of their spacing needs.
Feeding and watering
Spinach is a heavy feeder, and it needs constant moisture in order to thrive. Choose a fertilizer that has a lot of nitrogen for feeding. Feeding plants before planting, after thinning, and by side-dressing if they are slow to grow can all be done.
Make sure to water the plants frequently, but be careful not to overwater them, just like you would other plants.
Weeding
In the presence of weeds, spinach’s growth will be stunted. Manual removal and mulching are a must to solve this problem. And don’t forget to thin often to maintain optimum spacing.
How to Grow Spinach in Pots
Growing Spinach in Pots from Seeds
Seeds can be sown straight into containers or a seed tray at a depth of half an inch. According to variety and growing conditions, seedlings can germinate in 5-14 days. The seedlings should be carefully transplanted into their original pots after they have a few genuine leaves on them.
Choosing a pot
Choose a pot that is at least 6-8 inches deep if you want to grow spinach in a pot. Instead of using a deep pot, use a wide one. Large window boxes, wooden boxes, and crates are better alternatives to the numerous little pots that must be used.
Spacing
Each spinach plant should be given 3 inches of space, but if you want to harvest huge leaves, give each plant 5 inches of space. Only 2 inches of spacing should be used if you plan to harvest leaves while they are quite young. Find out the maximum number of plants that can thrive in the planter box by dividing it into squares.
Requirements for Growing Spinach in Containers
Position
Due to the shorter days and decreased intensity of the sun in fall (October), you should keep your spinach plant in a sunny location (in moderate regions). When planting in the spring and summer, look for shady spots to put your potted plants, especially in the afternoon. Place the containers in a shady location if you live in a hot region.
Soil
Potting mix rich in organic matter should be used to grow spinach in pots. Soil should have a crumbly, loamy texture. Avoid putting soil in the drains that may cause them to become clogged and remain flooded. Spinach thrives best in pots when the soil is well-drained. There must be no acidity in the soil.
Watering
Avoid water stagnation when growing spinach in containers, as this can lead to the growth of rot and other fungal infections. Avoid drenching the foliage, as well. Soil should be kept moist, but not squishy. Taking care of the pot’s drainage is a must.
Temperature
As low as 40 degrees Fahrenheit (4 degrees Celsius), spinach seeds can germinate. Soil temperatures between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal for producing spinach (10-27 C). Tolerating temperatures of 20 F (-6) and 90 F (32 C) is easy for many spinach varieties. When the temperature rises, you may need to protect your plants from the sun.
Growing Spinach Indoors
If you don’t have a lot of outside space, you can grow spinach on a windowsill because it doesn’t require much light. Buy a few 6-inch-deep little pots and fill them with spinach for this project. There are also herbs and annual flowers that can be grown there..
How to Make a Herb Garden on a Windowsill
Spinach Care
It is not necessary to take any particular precautions when growing spinach in containers. The secret to a perfect harvest is regular watering, fertilization, and the correct soil.
Fertilizing
Nitrogen is necessary for the growth of healthy green spinach. When you plant, you can use a slow-release fertilizer, such as compost or well-rotted manure, or you can use a combination of the two. Fish emulsion, compost or manure tea can be sprayed on the plants at various points in their development to help them flourish. A balanced liquid fertilizer can be fed to the plant at regular intervals if time-based fertilizer has not been added.
Mulching
Even if you’re growing spinach in a pot, it’s still important to mulch. Plants that are mulched with organic debris will retain more moisture.
Pests and Diseases
If you plant spinach in containers, you don’t have to worry about pests because you can easily control them in a limited area. Slugs and caterpillars, as well as other common garden critters like aphids, can be eliminated by keeping an eye on leaf-eating insects like slugs and caterpillars.
A Few Tips for Growing Spinach in Tropics
It is a cool-season crop, but spinach may be grown successfully in tropical and subtropical regions. You can also cultivate it as a biannual crop, except during the hottest months of the year. Keep the soil temperature cool and moist by providing it with adequate shade and water.
Vegetables such as lettuce and spinach bolt early in warm weather and begin setting seeds. If you’re growing spinach in the tropics, one of the most critical considerations is choosing heat-tolerant types that take their time to mature and don’t bolt too rapidly. These plants can withstand high temperatures and humidity with ease.
Harvesting
Depending on the growth circumstances and cultivar, spinach takes 37 to 50 days from germination to harvestable maturity.
harvestable when at least 5-6 healthy leaves have grown that are at least 3-4 inches long can be done. There are two methods for removing a plant’s foliage: either remove all of the outer leaves, or simply cut the plant off at its base using a knife or pair of scissors.
Small yellow or green blossoms can be seen on the plant’s tall stalk when the weather is humid and hot in warm climes. It is best to harvest the plant before it starts flowering since the foliage thickens and changes flavor (becoming more bitter) in conjunction with flowering and continued flower production, which is known as bolting.
Best Spinach Varieties for Pots
Smooth leaf and savoy spinach are the two most common varieties.
Grocery stores and supermarkets often carry smooth leaf as a standard item in their produce departments. It appears to be this way:
Flat-leaf spinach, or “baby spinach,” is the most common name for this type of spinach. This one is great in salads, wraps, or fruit smoothies, either raw or blended.
It is common for commercial crops to have smooth leaf variants due to their high yields, rapid growth, and ease of cleaning.
Spinach with crinkly leaves, sometimes known as curly-leaf spinach, is the Savoy variation
In the produce department, it’s usually offered in bulk. Although savoy spinach cultivars don’t yield as much as their smooth-leaved counterparts, they have a more robust flavor and may be kept fresh for a longer amount of time after harvest.
There are other spinach cultivars (variants) besides the common smooth-leaf and savoy varieties. The Wisconsin Horticulture Division of Extension has compiled a list of some of the best alternatives available.
Spinach can be started from seed or transplanted seedlings. Seeds take a bit longer to germinate, but planting is a simple and straightforward operation.
You can also cultivate a far wider range of intriguing and unusual types from seed. Gardening, after all, is a great way to discover new tastes and textures for oneself!
One of my favorite seed suppliers is Botanical Interests. Spinach may be grown in pots, and here are three types that are particularly well-suited:
- Lavewa is a kind of Savoy. Warm-climate friendly and slow to bolt (leaves turn bitter from seed production).
- Matador: A leaf with a smooth surface. Both heat and frost are tolerated by this plant, and it is resistant to bolting.
- Bloomsdale is a Savoy-style apartment building. Resistant to bolting and a great taste characterize this eager grower. When it comes to spinach, Bloomsdale has the finest flavor I’ve ever had!
- Greens with a smooth leaf type, such as baby spinach. Excellent for small containers because of its cold hardiness.
- Anna: This is yet another cultivar marketed as a baby green. Frost-resistant, and resistant to bolting and downy mildew (a fungal plant disease).
If you buy seeds, use them within two years of when the packet says they should be used. You should always buy new spinach seeds if you don’t know how old your current supply is.
What Kind of Location Does Spinach Like?
You may grow spinach in pots or containers on your porch or kitchen windowsill if the conditions are perfect.
Spinach requires a minimum of four to six hours of direct sunlight each day in order to produce a plentiful yield. It’s possible to grow spinach indoors using a grow lamp like this one if your windows don’t get enough sunlight.
Spinach is a cool-weather crop (45°F to 75°F) that is sensitive to sun and heat, despite the fact that it needs sunlight for photosynthesis. To avoid burning the delicate leaves, find a place that receives plenty of sunlight without being oppressively hot.
Here are a few things to keep in mind while planting spinach in pots:
Plant your spinach in the spring or summer in partial shade to keep the leaves cool.
Planting in the late summer or fall is an option because the leaves don’t have to be protected from the heat as much, and you may be able to reap the benefits of your harvest well into the fall.
Choose the Correct Pots
Spinach can be grown in pots using the following:
- Plastic
- Tile made of clay
- Ceramic
In order to avoid overwatering, use a container with at least one drain hole at the bottom, but ideally two or three.
Select a container with a diameter and depth of at least 6 inches. Several circular pots or even a window box could be used. In the event that each spinach plant is given at least 3 inches of room on either side to grow large leaves, the decision is yours.
For instance:
- For four spinach plants, a 14-inch spherical container is the ideal size.
- It is possible to grow up to four spinach plants in a 12-inch-long window box.
Don’t use pots that may be contaminated with asbestos, lead paint or other potentially dangerous chemicals. These substances can be leached from the soil, which is not good for us to eat!
Next, we’ll discuss…
Prepare Your Soil
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Spinach thrives on loose, porous soil that drains quickly. Compost (preferably organic) should be combined with coconut coir or peat moss, both of which may be purchased on Amazon. Organic potting soil, such as Miracle- Gro’s, is available to make life a bit easier.
There’s no need for spinach to be fussy about the soil’s acidity or alkalinity as long as it’s neither extreme. When growing spinach in pots, it is best to ensure that the soil pH is between 6 and 7.
To avoid overwatering, make sure that your pot’s drainage hole isn’t clogged with soil. Porcelain or ceramic pot remnants like this one (or similar) work nicely for drain hole screens.
How to Plant Spinach in a Pot
As a beginner, you’ll feel like a master gardener with spinach because it’s so easy to grow.
It is important to read any special instructions on the seed packet or seedling cup before beginning a new plant. For seed or seedlings, here are some general planting instructions:
Seeds. Planting spinach seeds half an inch deep and spaced 2 to 3 inches apart usually yields good results. Water them well after lightly covering them with soil. Cold weather can slow the germination of seedlings by several days, but it’s not uncommon.
To prevent overcrowding, thin your seedlings when they reach a height of 1-2 inches.
Seedlings. Dig holes that are around the same depth as the plastic cups in which the seedlings were purchased. Your holes should be at least 6 inches apart.
Place the seedlings in the dirt, fill in the holes with soil, and push carefully to compact the earth around the plants to ensure a sturdy root system. Watch your seedlings grow as they get plenty of water!
Growing Tips for the Best Spinach Harvest
Your spinach should thrive in a pot or container if you’ve followed the guidelines above. Here are a few pointers to help you get the most out of your spinach crop:
Use a nitrogen-rich fertilizer to feed your spinach and encourage it to grow larger. Miracle-organic Gro’s version would be a nice choice.
You can also use organic compost, manure tea, or cottonseed meal to enrich the soil about halfway through spinach growth.
In addition to organic compost, manure tea, or cottonseed meal, you can enrich the soil midway through spinach development by adding these ingredients to the compost pile.
In order to receive the proper amount of sunlight and warmth for your spinach leaves, you should keep an eye on them.
- Wrinkling
- Wilting
- Shriveling
- In the process of drying out.
- Spots of brown
- Leaves with a yellow hue
Change the amount of sunlight your container spinach plants are getting if you see any of these symptoms. When you plant spinach in pots, you may easily relocate them if necessary!
When it’s time to harvest, wait until your spinach has grown to a height of 4 inches and has at least six leaves before cutting with a pair of clean scissors.
Waiting until the blooms appear is a surefire way to end up with bitter, bad-tasting spinach!
Storing Your Fresh Spinach Harvest
So now that you’ve harvested a sizable amount of spinach, how long will it keep? Here are some tips for extending the life of your fresh spinach while it’s being stored:
To begin, wash your spinach thoroughly before using it.
Drain the excess water and let it air dry after rinsing in cool water. To speed things up, you may use a salad spinner (this one is a fan favorite!).
To preserve the freshness of your spinach, store it in a plastic bag in your refrigerator for up to three days. Vacuum sealer or straw may be used to remove air from a bag, but be careful not to damage the spinach.
Rubbermaid produce containers, which keep greater quantities of spinach fresh for longer, are an additional alternative.
For my morning smoothies, I prefer to freeze some spinach and then add it in. It’s both delicious and nutritious!
Why Spinach Deserves a Spot in Your Garden
Spinach, according to WebMD, has the following health advantages:
- Low-calorie food
- Super hydrating because it’s high in water!
- Reduces one’s hunger pangs (lots of fiber)
- Osteoporosis is prevented (calcium and phosphorus)
- Prevents anemia due to iron deficiency (it contains a lot of iron!)
- protection of your body’s immune system
- Inhibits fetal malformations (contains folate)
- Eye health is supported by this product.
- Prevents the formation of free radicals and the development of certain diseases.
- Promotes a healthy heart
Homegrown spinach, in my opinion, tastes better than anything you can get in the supermarket. Leaves and stems have a flavor and juiciness that astounds me.
Walking out to your containers and selecting off the fresh leaves you require is unbeatable in terms of ease.
A Bit About Spinach
Stinky-looking spinach is connected to a beautiful ornamental plant called love lies bleeding—I believe it’s fairly astounding that spinach is related to such an attractive plant!
It is an annual that grows in a rosette pattern and sends up a central flower stalk if it is exposed to temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. ”
USDA Hardiness Zones 2–9 are suitable for cultivating this cool-weather crop, and the best temperature range for doing so is 50–70°F.
In order to endure higher temperatures, some cultivars have been developed; one of these is described below.
Some types have leaves that are flat and smooth, while others have leaves that are highly crinkled, which is known as “savoyed.” This type of spinach is called semi-savoy if the leaves are only slightly crinkled.
Most cultivars mature in 40 to 50 days and reach a height of six to twelve inches. If you’re growing spinach, you’ll want to make sure the soil is rich and well-drained. The ideal soil pH range is 6.0-7.5.
Baby spinach can be gathered for salads and sandwiches, while older greens can be cooked, steamed, or added to soups and stews. Both types of spinach are edible.
Choosing the Right Container
A container at least eight to ten inches wide and deep, with drainage holes in the bottom, is required for each plant of spinach because of its deep taproot.
Your greens will look great in this 10-inch wide and 10-inch deep ceramic container from the Home Depot, which is a great match for the ivory color.
With a drainage dish connected, this planter can be used in the garden both indoors and outside.
Alternatively, you can use a container made of plastic, vinyl, or wood, depending on your personal taste.
Take into account how frequently you’ll be moving the planter as well. The question is whether or not you want to keep it in a single location or move it to another part of your yard. For example, moving a vinyl container is more easier than moving a ceramic one.
The most important thing is to pick a pot with holes at the bottom for drainage.
It’s also important to consider whether or not you have dogs or children who can cause trouble. It’s possible that you’ll want to go for a heavy planter to prevent it from falling over.
Preparing the Pot
Spinach can be grown from seed, but you may also buy nursery starts if that’s more convenient for you.
Growing spinach is best done in the spring or fall when temperatures are between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit during the day.
Bolting and bitter leaves can be caused by temperatures above 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Light frosts don’t harm plants; nevertheless, harsh freezes are lethal.
Consider how many days it will take for your selected variety to grow, then work backwards from there. You want to ensure that your spring plantings or fall plantings have enough time to fully mature before the heat of summer sets in, or before the first frost, whichever comes first.
Make sure you plant early enough in Zones 6 through 9 so that temperatures don’t get above 75°F at this period.
Starting seeds inside (more on that below) two or four weeks before the average last frost date or sowing in your containers two weeks after the last frost is possible in Zones 2 to 5.
You’ll need to pick a potting mix before you can begin. Compost or manure with a good amount of decay and peat moss can be used as a topsoil-compost mixture.
Nature’s Care Organic Potting Mix, which can be purchased at Home Depot, is another option.
The soil should be loose, fertile, and well-draining, regardless of the method you choose.
You’re ready to plant when your planter is two inches from the rim with your preferred growing media.
You can plant one plant in an 8- to 10-inch container, so make a half-inch crater in the center and drop two seeds inside. In the event that one seed fails to germinate, I always plant two in the same hole.
Plants should be four inches apart in a larger pot if you want to harvest baby greens, or six inches apart if you want full leaves.
Until germination begins, keep the soil moist. This should take seven to ten days. Using a spray bottle ensures that the seeds aren’t dislodged.
You should thin your seedlings when they are around four to six inches in height.
Starting seeds indoors is another option. Start flats filled with seed-starting mix two to four weeks before the average last frost date in your region.
Drop two seeds into each cell after making a divot of half an inch. A windowsill with at least six to eight hours of sunlight is ideal for germination, so keep the soil moist until then.
Alternatively, you may wish to place them under grow lights for 10 to 12 hours per day.
In around four to six inches of height, thin each seed cell after it has two to three sets of genuine leaves.
You should next harden them off by leaving them outside for longer and longer periods of time each day for a week at a time.
Finally, the plants are ready to go outside into their waiting containers.
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Take the root ball out of the pot, then dig a hole that’s the same size as the root ball and fill it with soil.
Remove the plant from its nursery container and place it in the hole that has been dug for it. Drainage holes should be filled with soil and irrigated well until the water streams out of them.
How to Grow
In temperate climates, spinach prefers full sun, but in hotter climes, it does better in partial shade, such as on a porch or deck that is somewhat shaded.
Your container garden should have enough room between each container for each plant to get the proper amount of air.
When it doesn’t rain, spinach needs at least one deep watering every week, but it definitely needs more because soil in containers dries up faster than soil in the ground. Your plants should be watered to the point where water comes out of the bottom of the pot.
Using your finger, check the soil every three or four days. A heavy watering is required if the soil is dry two inches down.
But be careful not to overwater! Keep fungal diseases at bay by allowing the potting mix to dry out between waterings. Also, try to water the base of the plant rather than the leaves, as this will help keep them dry.
To maintain a uniform soil temperature and help the container retain moisture, cover the soil with a three-inch layer of organic mulch. This will also take care of any weeds that may spring up.
The vibrant leaves of spinach are only possible with a regular supply of nitrogen. The phosphorus and potassium in a balanced 10-10-10 (NPK) fertilizer are also beneficial to it.
Grinder fertilizer should be used every two to three weeks by sprinkling it into the top inch of soil around the plant.
Keep an eye on the temperature outside if you live in a hot growth zone. Your spinach is at risk of bolting if the temperature rises to 75°F or above in your area.
Bring it inside or relocate the container in a location of your yard that is cooler and less exposed to the sun, such as behind a tree or against a wall that is not as exposed to the sun. As an alternative, you might use some shade cloth to protect the plants from the sun’s rays.
By putting pots indoors when the local temperature drops to 35°F, cold-weather farmers can extend the growing season by a few weeks. Place the container on a windowsill or in a cold frame or greenhouse to get the best light.
Growing Tips
- Every few days, check the soil for moisture and if necessary, add additional water.
- Use a well-balanced fertilizer every two to three weeks to maintain healthy soil.
- Weeds can be suppressed and moisture retained by using mulch.
Cultivars to Select
The following are some of our favorite container-grown cultivars:
America
Even in temperatures exceeding 75 degrees Fahrenheit, ‘America’ is a heat-tolerant cultivar that thrives in containers.
Because it thrives in Zones 3–11 and grows to a maximum of eight inches tall by four inches broad, this heirloom is ideal for container gardening.
American Long Standing is a 1952 mix between Bloomsdale Dark Green and ‘Viking,’ and it’s a bolt-resistant green.
True Leaf Market sells these fast-maturing seeds in packets that mature in in 43 to 55 days.
Double Choice
Some individuals prefer baby spinach that is wilted and soft. Others prefer it ripe and ready to eat. It doesn’t matter which camp you fall into – or if you’re a little bit of both. – ‘Double Choice’, as the name suggests, provides you with a variety of possibilities.
Plants reach a height of between four and six inches when mature, however baby leaves are harvested while the plant is just four or six inches in stature. Or, you can wait the entire 35 to 40 days for the leaves to mature fully.
In a cold climate, ‘Double Choice’ is an excellent choice for producing spinach in containers.
The semi-savoy leaves of ‘Double Choice,’ which spread four to six inches wide, are ideal for salads. From Zones 3 to 9, this cross is happy and flourishes. Find Burpee’s 350-seed packages here.
Viroflay
You’ve always wanted to grow a big leaf that would be wonderful for pizza toppings and would look great in a container. “Viroflay,” which dates back to the mid-1800s, is just what you’re looking for.”
The arrowhead-shaped, semi-savoy leaves can grow as long as 10 inches!
Upon closer inspection, it’s easy to see why this strain is known as the “Monster of Viroflay.” This is some enormous spinach, to say the least.
30 to 60 days and 18 to 24 inches tall, ‘Viroflay’ matures.
Eden Brothers sells packs of seeds suitable for growing in Zones 3–10.
Managing Pests and Disease
Spinach has a lot going for it, including the fact that it is often resistant to pests and disease.
Even better, if you’re growing your greens in a container, they won’t come into contact with the leaves of other plants, reducing the risk of disease.
There are, however, a few things to keep an eye out for.
A fungus infection can develop if water is not allowed to evaporate from the top two inches of soil between waterings or if the plant is left in standing water.
It’s possible that you’re dealing with downy mildew if you notice yellow spots on the leaves that grow into larger, tan blotches that are dry to the touch.
These pustule-like lesions on the underside of the leaves are caused by a disease called white rust, which thrives in cool, wet environments.
You can remove the leaves that are infected and throw them away in the trash. Depending on the severity of the illness, you may need to throw out the plants and potting soil and start over with new soil.
Check for aphids before you bring your baby home from the nursery. Spinach is a favorite food for these tiny, soft-bodied insects!
It’s not a big deal to get rid of infested leaves and spray neem oil on the plant to keep the population from growing, but you’ll need to do this in small numbers.
Arbico Organics carries Bonide’s neem oil concentrate, which I use to make a spray.
Spinach leaves curl and die if there are too many aphids sucking the juice out of them. That’s not what you want!
You may learn more about aphids by reading our guide.
If you have a spinach crown mite (Tyrophagus similis) on your plant, it can potentially cause malformations by eating small holes in the leaves.
Even if you can’t see the mites, the tiny holes on your skin are a dead giveaway that you have an infestation.
Neem oil can also help you get rid of mites in your spinach, so have it on hand. The day before harvest, you can use neem oil, but make sure you wash the leaves well before eating them.
Harvesting and Preserving
The “baby” stage of spinach, or when it’s between three and five inches tall, can be harvested even if you’re not growing ‘Double Choice.’
When the plant is between eight and 12 inches tall, depending on the cultivar, you can transplant it.
Harvesting is as simple as pinching the leaf off at the base of the stalk, or even farther down.
This strategy allows you to pick half of a plant’s leaves at a time and then return in a week or two to collect the larger, older leaves.
Get your kitchen scissors ready if you want to pick the full mature plant at once. To assist you see where you’re cutting, gather several leaves in one hand and use the other to cut just above the dirt.
In a zip-top bag, keep your fresh spinach until you’re ready to consume it, which should be within five to seven days of harvesting it.
Simply wash the leaves and place them in a gallon-sized freezer bag with a sealing or zipper top to store them for subsequent use in smoothies and soups. For optimal results, consume within six months of purchase.
To learn more about harvesting and storing spinach, check out our guide.
Recipes and Cooking Ideas
My favorite way to use spinach from my garden is to add one or two cups of fresh or frozen leaves to a berry smoothie, or a half cup of frozen leaves.
You may get the recipe for this dish from our Foodal site. When I put spinach into smoothies, my 5-year-old doesn’t even notice it, although he’s not a great fan of the vegetable.
Recipes like these from Foodal have made my life so much easier. It’s moist and flavorful, with raisins, feta, and walnuts included into the recipe for a gratifying texture and wonderful taste.
Spinach is a versatile ingredient that can be used in a variety of dishes, from salads to lasagna to pesto.
It’s Popeye’s Favorite, and It Can Be Yours, Too
Spinach can be grown in containers, so even if you live in a small or nonexistent yard, you don’t have to miss out on fresh, nutritious cultivated greens.
Have you ever tried growing spinach in a pot? In the space provided below, tell us about your experiences or ask a question.
While you’re here, check out these instructions to cultivating and harvesting leafy greens next:
Conclusion
Even as a novice gardener with limited time and space, growing spinach in pots in the greenhouse is a fantastic option. But what is the appropriate size of a greenhouse spinach pot? Use a 14-inch-wide pot with an 8-inch-deep capacity.
Spinach has a large root system, therefore these specifications ensure that each plant has enough room. Adjust the spacing accordingly based on the time of year you plan to produce spinach. Thinning the plants as they mature also helps to preserve the necessary amount of growing space for a robust crop of this leafy green.
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