If you’re not sure what size pot for growing spinach in a greenhouse is ideal, opt for a shallow and medium container. Spinach is an excellent green vegetable to grow in the greenhouse, and it’s also suitable for pots if you’re limited in indoor space. Because it doesn’t require an enormous container, you virtually have no excuse to skip the chance of harvesting fresh and healthy spinach in your backyard.
There’s no doubt that spinach is one of the healthiest foods, so why not cultivate this tasty green yourself? The greenhouse will provide and maintain the optimal growing requirements for spinach. And since you’re growing them in pots, maintenance will even be much more comfortable.
What Size Pot For Growing Spinach In A Greenhouse And Spacing Requirements
Spinach will thrive best in a shallow and medium container. To give you a general idea of the measurement, a pot 14 inches wide and 8 inches deep should be good for your spinach. These measurements will provide the ideal space for your seeds to grow.
A container measuring 7.5 liters can hold three spinach plants, while a 38-liter container is suitable for ten plants. This means that if your pot is 14 inches in diameter, you can put up to 4 spinach plants. However, remember that if you’re growing many plants in a container or pot, you’ll eventually have to thin them 5 inches apart.
Compared to other plants, it’s worth emphasizing the importance of the pot’s depth for spinach. This is because it has an extensive root system, and using a limiting container will cause problems in growth and overcrowding. Overall, remember to choose a pot 6 to 8 inches deep and plan if you want to grow many plants in a pot.
Space requirements of spinach
After learning about the pot size for growing spinach in the greenhouse, you must also know its space requirements. You want to sow your seeds half an inch deep before covering them with soil lightly for starters. To ensure that they won’t dry up, add half an inch of mulch after sowing.
The spacing of the seeds itself is also crucial for their growth because of their extensive root system. An inch of space between each seed should be enough. Once the plants grow at around 2 inches, you can trim them to keep them 4 inches apart.
If you’re growing transplants, this space should be at around 8 inches. Ensuring proper spacing in the greenhouse will also make harvest easier. Each plant should have 3 inches of space, but this could raise to 5 inches if you harvest large leaves.
On the other hand, a 2-inch space should be enough if you’re going to harvest early. Remember that wherever you’re growing spinach, consider their large leaves and root system. Still, spinach is one of those crops that will not require a vast area to develop, making them ideal for pot planting in the greenhouse.
Caring For Spinach In Pots In The Greenhouse
Planting spinach
The best materials for growing spinach are non-porous, including glazed ceramic, concrete, or wood. Be diligent and practice cleanliness and sanitation to prevent contamination of the pots as well. As for the soil, the pH should be 6.0 to 7.0.
You can also create your potting soil using grit, vermiculite, and compost. Add some soy meal into the pot’s center before putting the potting mix at the top. You can also include other ingredients that will provide nutrients for your spinach plants.
To encourage germination, ensure the temperatures between 35 to 75°F, and you can directly sow either in spring or fall. It can take 22 days to germinate but expect that spinach is relatively slow to establish.
Spinach companion planting
The greenhouse also makes an excellent place to do companion planting with spinach. By doing so, you can deter pests and attract beneficial insects. The plants suitable for spinach companion planting include parsley and annuals like petunias and marigolds.
However, be aware of their spacing requirements so you can keep a neat-looking greenhouse.
Feeding and watering
Spinach is a heavy feeder and requires consistent moisture. For feeding, choose a fertilizer that is high in nitrogen. You can feed the plants before planting, after thinning, and by side-dressing if they grow slowly.
And like other plants, ensure that you water frequently, but be careful not to overwater the plants.
Weeding
Spinach won’t grow successfully if it is competing with weeds. To address this problem, manual removal and mulching are a must. And to ensure proper spacing, remember to thin consistently.
Conclusion
Growing in pots in the greenhouse is an excellent way to harvest fresh and healthy spinach even as a newbie gardener with limited space and time. But what size pot for growing spinach in a greenhouse is ideal? Use a shallow to medium pot measuring 14 inches wide and 8 inches deep.
These measurements ensure that each plant will get enough space considering that spinach has an extensive root system. Spinach should also have 3 inches of space, but be sure to adjust accordingly, depending on when you want to harvest. Thinning once the plants grow will also maintain the space requirements for a good yield of this healthy green.