We've said it before and we'll say it again: there is absolutely no reason to have a huge yard to construct a garden. Growing a variety of veggies requires just a little amount of room. If you want to establish your vegetable garden but aren't sure what crops to produce, spinach is a safe bet.
Spinach is a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. This is the ideal crop to cultivate if you want to experiment with growing your food. Vitamin A and C are abundant in this vegetable, which helps reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and some malignancies. Additionally, spinach is a highly adaptable vegetable that may be cooked in a variety of ways.
Growing Spinach from Seeds
Spinach may be grown in two ways: from seeds or roots. If growing spinach from seeds, you may either simply put the seeds into the container or use a seed tray first.
Choose a wide-mouthed pot with a depth of around 6 to 8 inches.
Additionally, you may use a garden box, wooden box, or even a crate to plant the spinach.
Sow the seeds 1/2", half an inch deep in the soil.
Within 5 to 14 days of sowing the seeds, they should germinate.
However, the time required to germinate spinach seeds varies according to growth circumstances and crop variety.
If you are using a seed tray, you must wait two to three days for the crop to develop proper leaves. Once the spinach has developed genuine leaves, it is ready for transplantation. Spinach prefers bright sunshine but may thrive in partial shade as well. Protect the spinach from the midday sun to avoid scorching.
Reference Table to Grow Spinach in Containers
Spinach in Containers: Care and Growing Instructions
Spacing the crops is critical because you want to allow adequate area for the spinach to develop. Due to the bigger leaves on the spinach, you want to leave about 3 to 5 inches of space between each plant.
Of course, if you like to harvest the spinach young, you may leave a lesser spacing. If you intend to harvest the spinach early, you may plant it alongside other veggies in a single planter. Spinach does not require a lot of space to grow.
Soil
When producing spinach, it is equally necessary to enrich the soil with organic compost.
The soil should retain a loamy, crumbly character. Spinach despises thick, soggy soil, so choose a well-draining soil for maximum development.
Maintain a damp, never soggy, soil.
Mulch the soil to retain moisture and protect the spinach from extreme heat.
This is true even for spinach grown in containers.
Watering
When watering potted spinach, avoid wetting the leaves.
Water just the soil, as soaking the leaves may encourage the growth of rot.
Ensure that the planters you use drain properly since spinach despises standing water.
Regularly water the spinach with the gentle shower setting.
This is especially true for newly planted seedlings or seeds, as a strong setting has the potential to wash away the planted seeds.
Temperature
Spinach seeds often germinate at temperatures less than 40 Fahrenheit or 4 degrees Celsius.
This veggie will sprout at elevated temperatures as well, although extreme heat may result in burning.
The optimal soil temperature for spinach seed germination is between 50 and 80 degrees Fahrenheit (10 and 27 degrees Celsius).
Final Words
Spinach is ready to harvest 37 to 50 days after germination. Generally, you may begin picking spinach whenever it has reached a height of at least 4 inches and has at least 6 healthy leaves. Using a pair of scissors, harvest the leaves. Remove the outer leaves first and let the fresh interior leaves develop. Additionally, you can cut the entire plant from the base. The plant will regenerate.
Growing your vegetables is not only good for your health, but it is also fun and therapeutic. Connect with nature just by spending 15 minutes a day of your time. Learn to grow with Invitegreens.