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Growing Spinach in containers and harvesting in USA

Yes, you can grow spinach in containers but that is not too helpful. Growing spinach in containers increases the cost, required space, and extra care while growing at home.

If you have enough space in the garden, then you should prefer to grow spinach in the ground instead of in containers. I know many of you don't have that much space, so you can grow in containers but to increase the space, you should practice vertical spinach farming. For that, you should buy a vertical case where you can place multiple layers of spinach containers. Hence, you can increase the space and it will be very productive as well. I'll talk about this some other day but here, I'm going to help you to grow spinach in the garden land. 

So fix your seat belts and follow the instructions. 

Growing spinach at home garden

There are various varieties of spinach seeds but only a few of them are very popular. Although leafy vegetables are very helpful for human consumption you can go with particular ones if you want to.

Growing spinach in containers

Spinach growing is not that difficult even for beginners if one follows the right instructions and knows when and how to use tools and fulfills the requirements of irrigation and pest control. But first, as I always do, let's start with the season of growing spinach. 

Season of growing spinach

Spinach grows well in certain climates, temperatures, and soil types in particular regions. Though it can grow in cool and warm climates both in certain conditions. 

You can start spinach sowing from late winter to early spring. Some people try to grow it in the fall but that is not that much helpful. In late winter and early spring, temperatures start to increase though but it shouldn't be snowfall or freezing temperatures outside. Otherwise, the soil will have less temperature which is not helpful at all to grow spinach. 

Basic requirements 

  • Soil type- Rich components in soil and well-drained
  • Temperature- 32F to 80F
  • Humidity- 10% to 30%
  • Sunlight- 6 to 8 hours a day
  • Shade- 2 to 4 hours a day 
  • Irrigation- Whenever soil gets dry 

Tools required

  • Small cultivator tools
  • Spade 
  • Plowing machine
  • Spraying bottles 

Materials required 

  • Vermicompost/Organic compost 
  • Natural pesticide

Method of growing Spinach in pots 

Step 1- Spinach grows well in a well-drained rich soil mixture. So you need to prepare a soil mixture with the help of garden soil, sand, and vermicompost in a ratio of 2:1:2. Mix this well and spray some water for moisture.

Step 2- Soak the spinach seeds overnight a day before sowing them. It is very helpful in warm climate regions to improve seed germination. 

Step 3- Check the moisture in the soil. It shouldn't be wet but not too dry. Start sowing seeds in the containers or ground as you like. Keep some distance of 6 inches to 8 inches from each seed in rows and 10 to 12 inches in a column for later expansion of Spinach. Cover them with the same soil mixture but not more than just a thin layer of soil mixture(same as I suggested).

Step 4- Wait for seed germination for at least two weeks. If till now you are following the right steps, then you can easily get germination with a 10% mortality rate which is good. 

Step 5- Now, let the spinach grow further for at least 10 to 12 days and then you can irrigate them for the first time. Before first irrigation, check the soil moisture. If it is moist enough then you can increase the period of first irrigation otherwise irrigate in the same period if the soil is getting dry. 

Step 6- Let them grow in full sunlight for 6 to 8 hours a day. Irrigate whenever the soil gets dry or within a week. Don't fertilize in hurry. If everything goes all right then you can harvest your first spinach after 45 to 50 days from sowing.

Harvesting of Spinach

After 45 to 50 days, Spinach leaves become ready for first harvesting when their leaves green portion becomes 1/3 of palm size. It means to leave with a stem portion that will be 8 to 10 inches long. 

Harvest 1 inch above the ground but don't harvest all the leaves at once. Leave the smallest leaves. 

Either use a harvesting Knife or scissors to harvest spinach. You can pluck them with your hands too but that is risky because you can pull out the whole plant with roots in that. Don't be afraid though, you can grab and twist 2 inches above the ground and enjoy after washing. 

After first harvesting, spinach continues to grow further and you still can have multiple harvesting of it. It becomes ready for the next harvesting in the next 15 to 20 days. After the second harvesting, you can have one or two more harvesting. 

If spinach is still growing after 3 to 4 harvesting, you can harvest the good leaves that are smooth and soft, otherwise, avoid them further. 

Is it difficult to grow spinach at home?

Absolutely not. Spinach is seasonal leafy vegetable. You can harvest it multiple times within 10 to 15 days for 2 to 3 times in a season. It doesn't live for more than 4 months. 

But beginners may do some mistakes that can increase the work till harvesting. Let's understand these mistakes first, then I'll tell you the solutions if you still doing such mistakes-

  • Using too many fertilizers before sowing seeds.
  • Wet soil and too much moisture in the soil. 
  • Wrong time and amount of fertilizers while growing further. 
  • Using harmful pesticides in case of pests on leaves. 

Although these are very common things any beginner can do because of a lack of precise methods. In my opinion, don't go otherwise till your spinach is growing well. Even if the leaves are not too big but without pests, you let them grow with regular irrigation. Don't use non-organic pesticides on your plants directly. Use x in a spray bottle and spray some drops on the affected areas even the non-affected neighbors.

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