Spinach in containers, how to use pots for spinach

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We aren’t all lucky enough to have a garden for growing spinach plants. But growing spinach in pots, whether on a patio or a balcony, is a perfectly great option!And if you’re without a balcony or it’s just too cramped, know that spinach also does fine on a windowsill.

Dive into these tips for pot-grown spinach success.

Choosing your pot

Your spinach pot endeavor starts with selecting the right pot. It should have a depth of 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm). Spinach doesn’t need soil that’s any deeper. However, the wider your pot, the happier your spinach will be.

Smart tip:

You can absolutely grow multiple spinach plants in one large container. When you do, space seeds 2 inches (5 cm) apart for small-leaf varieties or 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) for varieties with larger leaves. After picking the right container, sow your spinach seeds directly, at a depth of about ¾ inch (2 cm). Typically, sprouting kicks off between 5 to 15 days after sowing.

Selecting the right soil mix for potted spinach

For pot-grown spinach, you’ll want a cool substrate that has lots of organic matter.

• Choose a high-end soil mix and sprinkle in some mature compost.

Remember, spinach, really appreciates clayey soils, neutral ones, and above all, those with good drainage.

• Good soil drainage is the single most important factor to succeed in growing container spinach.
• If needed, add sand to planting soil and pour in a solid layer of clay balls at pot’s bottom.
• Overall, avoid tight, moisture-logging soils. This isn’t what spinach needs.

Good drainage + regular watering

Spinach is like us during summer: thirsty! Especially in hot, dry weather. In pots, their fear of drought increases even more. They crave regular watering, but in watering, avoid getting leaves wet.

• During summer days, give your potted spinach a water treat daily (twice a day if it’s really hot out).
• Come winter, water only once a week and ensure no water collects or pools inside the pot.

Good to know: Stagnant water will make your spinach plants quickly “rot” and it’ll quickly be overrun by fungus.

Choosing the right exposure

Spinach generally enjoys partial shade, even full shade. In fact, direct blazing sun isn’t good for it, especially if you live in warmer, sunnier regions.

• If you sow your pot spinach between August and November, with shorter days and less intense sun, place your pots in a sunny spot.
• For potted spinach sown between February and mid-May, a partially shaded area works best.
• In this case, plants need cool afternoon shade.
• If you’re in an exceptionally hot area, position your pots where they don’t get direct sunlight.

Note: Ideal temperatures for spinach hover between 50 and 80°F (10 and 27°C). However, many varieties can handle temps from 20 to 90°F (-6°C to 32°C).

Mulching your potted spinach

Mulch isn’t just for ground plants. On the contrary, putting mulch around your spinach in its container should come naturally. Cover the substrate with a generous layer of organic material (straw, grass clippings, green waste, and so on). Mulch effectively maintains substrate moisture, especially since water evaporates much faster in pots.