Looking to grow spinach in containers? You have come to the right place. Spinach is a delicious vegetable that can be easily grown in cooler temperatures. It is an excellent source of niacin and zinc. It is also a very good source of fiber, vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin K, thiamin, riboflavin, folate, calcium and potassium.

A cup of spinach contains 7 calories! It can be eaten in salads, added to soups, sautéed or boiled. Spinach is a staple of any home garden. You can grow spinach in a variety of container types. I have used grow bags, planters and bins. Spinach should be planted four to six weeks prior to your last frost date. I find it to be a very hearty plant, my spinach has fared well after the random, unexpected cold blast. The seeds can tolerate soils as cool as 35 degrees.

You can grow spinach in a variety of container types. I have used grow bags, planters and bins. Fill your container with a mix of top soil, peat moss, compost and garden lime. Plant the seeds about ¼ inch deep in a soil mixture at least 3 inches apart. If growing in garden beds, I recommend that you space your plants 3 inches apart with rows spaced at least 12 inches apart.

TYPES OF SPINACH

Here are a few popular types of Spinach

Smooth-Leaf Varieties

Smooth-leaf spinach tends to be a bit more resistant to disease largely because it does not have the crinkles and is easier to clean off soil that might splash on leaves.

Smooth varieties include:

Olympia, Oriental Giant

Crinkle-Leaf Varieties

Crinkle-leaf spinach has a great texture and mouth feel. A major drawback is that it catches soil between the crevices. This doesn’t usually present a problem as long as you thoroughly clean the produce after harvesting.

Crinkle-leaf varieties include:

Bloomsdale Long Standing, Malabar Red Stem, Savoy

Grow spinach in cool most soil protected by mulch. Use newspaper, wood chips or straw at the base of your plants. This will help reduce weed growth and help keep soil temperatures down. Protect your plants from flea beetles and aphids. Soapy water, organic pesticides and/or concentrated pepper extract can help mitigate pest infestations. Spinach grows very quickly. You will be able to harvest in 20-30 days.



