produce prickly-seeded spinach indoors all year long with these round-eyed gardening tips .
Cold - stalwart spinach plants are champions in coolheaded spring and fall garden , but spinach notoriously bolts in summer heat and harsh winter atmospheric condition often kills the plant life . But by growing Spinacia oleracea indoors in pots , you may glean homegrown spinach all twelvemonth around .
While spinach plant grows attractively outdoors in cool weather condition , growing this crop inside has a great deal of perks . Not only does indoor refinement allow you to grow spinach during winter , but it also avail prevent pests and bolting . And , of form , if you develop spinach plant on your windowsill , it will be much easier to harvest too .
Credit:Scott Little
produce spinach indoors is very similar tocaring for an indoor herb garden . All you need is the right balance of light , water , and a minute of fertilizer too . This templet will aid you grow your own plushy crop of spinach in any time of year right in your kitchen .
Scott Little
1. Choose the right containers.
spinach plant plants can raise in cockeyed quarters and do n’t need peculiarly deep soil , but choose pots that are at least14 inch in diam . A heap this size of it can oblige about 3 or 4 Spinacia oleracea plants . Terracotta pots and planters are obvious choicesfor indoor garden , but you could also educate spinach in grow bags . Just ensure that whatever container you select has plenitude of drain holes to prevent waterlogged soil .
2. Use quality potting mix.
If you ’re used to grow spinach in an outdoor garden , it can be tempting to use garden soil in your indoor pot , but this is n’t a right estimation . When tot up to growing containers , garden soil be given not to run out well enough . Instead , choose a rich , well - drain potting mix for your spinach plant and consideramending it with a handful or two of compostorworm castingsbefore you start planting .
3. Pick a bright location.
Spinach does n’t require as much lustrous spark as some other veg , which makes it easier to maturate inside . However , spinach will still need to receive at least4 to 6 hoursof lightness dailyto grow well and produce all of those delectable leaf . To ensure prickly-seeded spinach receive enough Inner Light , locate your plants on a gay windowsill orkeep them under a smart grow lightness .
Indoor spinach plant can be grown from nursery started industrial plant , but it ’s typically easier tostart with seeds . The seeds can be lead off at any time of the year and can even be sowed in successiveness every few weeks . For proper growth , spinach seeds should be constitute a half - inch deep in planting holes spaced about 2 inches apart .
5. Use a heat mat.
Although spinach grows well in nerveless weather , seed wo n’t shoot if temperatures are too chilly . This may not be a problem if you keep Spinacia oleracea in your menage , but if you ’re grow Spinacia oleracea in a service department or other outbuilding , you may require to add a heat mat beneath your works smoke to speed up sprouting rates . Spinacia oleracea seeded player that are kept between 40 and 75 ° F should germinate in about 5 day .
6. Water regularly.
Once you ’ve planted your spinach seeds , you ’ll desire to irrigate them on a regular basis so that the grunge stays moist but never sloughy . When seminal fluid are still young and finespun , you may require to irrigate your pots with a mister bottle to obviate dislodge lightweight seeds . As prickly-seeded spinach sprouts and begins to grow , water your plant when the top column inch of ground feel dryand direct the current of water system towards the soil line to keep your spinach plant foliage dry and disease - free .
7. Thin out seedlings.
Spinacia oleracea seedlings should be thinned out when they are a few inch tall and have grown one or two curing of true leaves . The idea is to take the healthiest plants and stave off overcrowded pots , which can lead to stunted maturation and flora disease . slim down out spinach seedlings so that they are space about 3 to 5 inches apart . And palpate free to use the seedlings you remove asedible garnishes and microgreens .
8. Avoid excessive heat.
If you mature indoor spinach in wintertime , you wo n’t need to worry much about your plants beat too spicy , although you ’ll still want to keep your spinach off from blank space fastball . However , if you grow prickly-seeded spinach indoors in summer , you may need to protect your plants from oestrus by moving them away from blistering windows when temperatures climb . commend , temperature above 80 ° F cause spinach plants to bolt .
9. Apply fertilizer.
Indoor spinach needs less fertilizer than works grow in the garden , but spinach crop will still produce more leaves if they ’re grown in rich grunge . part your Spinacia oleracea out in a calibre potting mix that has been amended with compost is a upright place to start , but you may still want to fecundate potted spinach plants throughout the grow season . For optimal growth , use a balanced , fluid organic fertilizerdiluted to one-half speciality and lend oneself it once every 2 to 3 week from leaping to fall .
10. Harvest frequently.
Indoorspinach is quick to harvestin about 35 to 45 days after planting . you’re able to either glean entire spinach plant all at once or you’re able to clip away the oldest folio towards the exterior of the plant and earmark the younger leaves to continue to grow . Spinach will have the best nip if you harvest leaves when they ’re still tender , but the nip of spinach begin to disgrace when plants set out blossom . If flowering occurs , pull up your spinach plants and sow unexampled seeds to keep your indoor crop going potent .
