Although cold-hardy spinach plants thrive in mild spring and autumn gardens, they frequently die in severe winter temperatures and are infamous for bolting in the summer heat. However, you may get homegrown spinach all year round if you grow it indoors in pots.
Spinach grows well in cool weather when grown outside, and there are many advantages to growing spinach indoors. Growing spinach inside not only allows you to harvest it throughout the winter, but it also keeps pests and bolting at bay. Growing spinach on a windowsill will make harvesting considerably simpler.
Taking care of an indoor herb garden like growing spinach inside is an easy job. All you need is the ideal water, light, and fertiliser ratio. With the aid of this tutorial, you can cultivate a bountiful harvest of spinach in your kitchen at any season.
Growing Spinach In Containers: Tips
Containers
Spinach doesn't require very deep soil and may thrive in small spaces, and it should be planted in pots that are at least 14 inches in diameter. About three or four spinach plants can fit in a pot this size. Grow bags are another option for growing spinach inside, though terracotta pots and planters are still common choices. To avoid damp soil, just make sure the container you select has ample drainage holes.
High-Quality Potting Soil
Using garden soil in your indoor pots can be tempting if you're used to growing spinach outdoors, but this isn't a good idea. Garden soil rarely drains sufficiently when applied to growing containers. For your spinach plants, opt for a thick, well-draining potting mix and consider supplementing it with a small amount of compost or worm castings before planting.
Light
As spinach doesn't require as much intense light as certain other crops, it can be grown inside more easily. However, for spinach to grow healthily and yield all those gorgeous leaves, it still needs at least 4 to 6 hours of light per day. Place your spinach plants on a sunny windowsill or under a strong grow light to ensure they get adequate light.
Planting Guidelines
While nursery-started plants can produce spinach indoors, starting using seeds is usually a simpler process. Seeds can be started at any time of year and can even be sown one after the other every few weeks. Planting holes should be placed about 2 inches apart, with a half-inch depth, for optimal spinach development.
Heating Mat
While spinach thrives in cool conditions, extremely low temperatures prevent seeds from sprouting. If you grow spinach indoors, this might not be an issue. Still, if you grow it outdoors—in a garage or other outbuilding, for example—you might consider placing a heat mat under your plant pots to accelerate germination. Stored at a temperature between 25 and 27°C, spinach seeds should sprout in about five days.
Water
After sowing your spinach seeds, give them regular irrigations to keep the soil damp but not drenched. To prevent lightweight seeds from dislodging, use a mister bottle to water your pots when the seeds are still young and delicate. To keep your spinach leaves dry and disease-free while they sprout and grow, water your plants when the top inch of soil feels dry. Aim the stream of water towards the soil line.
Seedlings
When spinach seedlings reach a height of several inches and develop one or two sets of genuine leaves, it's time to trim them out. The goal is to choose the healthiest plants possible and stay away from too full pots, which can cause plant illnesses and stunted growth. Space spinach seedlings 3 to 5 inches apart after thinning them. You are also welcome to utilise the seedlings you remove as microgreens and edible garnishes.
Excess Heat
You won't have to worry as much about your spinach plants becoming too hot if you grow them indoors during the winter, but you should keep them away from space heaters. If you grow spinach indoors throughout the summer, you might need to move your plants away from warm windows when the temperature rises to protect them from the heat. Remember that spinach plants bolt at temps higher than 30°c.
Fertiliser
Growing spinach inside requires less fertiliser than growing it outside, although rich soil will still produce more leaves. Although it's a good idea to start your spinach plants in a high-quality potting mix supplemented with compost, you might still want to fertilise your potted spinach plants as they grow. Apply a balanced liquid organic fertiliser once every two to three weeks from spring to autumn, diluted to half strength, for best results.
Harvest
After sowing, indoor spinach is ready to be harvested in 35 to 45 days. You have two options when harvesting spinach plants: clip the oldest leaves away from the outside of the plant and leave the younger leaves growing, or harvest the entire plant at once. When spinach plants begin to flower, their flavour declines, so it's better to pluck the leaves while they're tender. To maintain the health of your indoor spinach crop, remove your plants if they begin to flower and plant new seeds.
Growing spinach is a simple process, and the delicious leaves you grow yourself are full of nutrients, including vitamins A, C, iron, calcium, and 13 chemicals that fight cancer and act as antioxidants. This makes spinach a great addition to any vegetable garden idea.