How to Grow Spinach at Home: A Complete Beginner's Guide

 

According to most home garden lovers, Spinach plants is actually one of the most easiest and the most rewarding leafy vegetables to grow at home. Spinach plant grows quickly and they also require little space, and the plant provides a continuous supply of leaves that are nutritious for soups, salads, smoothies, and cooked dishes. With the right care you can successfully grow Spinach plant in your backyard garden, raised bed, or a few containers on your balcony.   

On this article you are going to learn everything about growing spinach at home, from selecting the Spinach plant seeds to harvesting the fresh leaves.

Why Growing Spinach Plant at Home?

Growing spinach plant at home actually offers a lot of advantages and benefits:

·  This give you the chance to have fresh and chemical-free produce vegetable leaves

·  Growing spinach at home helps to lower grocery costs

·  Spinach is actually a fast-growing crop with quick harvests

·  Spinach is also suitable for small spaces and containers

·  Spinach as vegetable is a rich source of vitamins and minerals

Without been told Spinach is really packed with vitamins A, vitamin C, and vitamin K, along with iron, calcium, magnesium, and antioxidants. The homegrown spinach really tastes fresher and they are more flavorful than the store-bought Spinach varieties.

The Best Time to Grow Spinach Plant

Spinach plant actually grows best during cool weather. Spinach plant thrives when temperatures ranges between fifty degree Fahrenheit to seventy degree Fahrenheit.

For most regions:

·  Spinach can be planted in early spring for a spring harvest.

·  Spinach can be planted again in late summer or early fall for an autumn harvest.

·  Why in tropical climates, Spinach can be grown during the cooler months.

Keep in mind that high temperatures can cause the spinach to "bolt," which means it will produces flowers and seeds instead of producing tender leaves.

Choosing the Right Spinach Plant Variety For Planting

There are different types of spinach plant you can grow:

The Savoy Spinach Variety

The Savoy spinach varieties have dark green, crinkled leaves. The Savoy spinach varieties are very flavorful and cold-tolerant.

The Flat-Leaf Spinach Variety

The flat-leaf spinach variety actually has smooth leaves that are very easy to clean and prepare.

The Semi-Savoy Spinach Variety

The Semi-Savoy variety combines the benefits of both savoy and flat-leaf spinach variety.

The popular varieties are:

·  The Bloomsdale spinach

·  The Space spinach

·  The Tyee spinach

·  The Giant Noble spinach

·  The Melody spinach

Make sure you choose the spinach variety that performs well in your local climate.

Also Read: How to Grow Okra from Seed

Selecting the Growing Location For Spinach Plant

The Spinach plant actually prefers:

·  A full sun to partial shade location

·  A good well-draining soil

·  A good air circulation around the plant

In cooler climates the spinach plants need to be provided with full sun for maximum growth. Why in warmer regions afternoon shade actually helps prevent bolting.

If you are growing the spinach plant in containers you can place them where the plants receive at least four to six hours of sunlight daily.

Preparing the Soil For Planting

A healthy soil is actually very important for productive spinach plants.

Soil Requirements For planting Spinach

The Spinach plants actually grow best in:

·  A well loose, fertile soil

·  A soil that is rich organic matter

·  A soil pH that is between 6.0 and 7.0

Before planting the Spinach:

1.    Make sure you remove weeds and debris.

2.    Make sure you loosen the soil to a depth of twenty to thirty centimeter.

3.    Make sure you mix in compost or well-rotted manure.

4.    Make sure you level the planting area.

Actually good soil preparation really encourages strong plant root development and a healthier spinach plant.

Planting The Spinach Plant Seeds

The Spinach plant actually grows best when they are directly sown into the garden rather than when they are transplanted.

How to Sow The Spinach Plant Seeds

1.    You need to make shallow rows about one centimeter deep.

2.    You can space the rows thirty to forty-five centimeter apart.

3.    Then place the spinach seeds two to five centimeter apart.

4.    The cover them lightly with soil.

5.    Make sure you water gently.

The spinach plant seeds usually germinate within five to fourteen days depending on temperature and moisture levels.

For continuous harvests you can sow the new spinach plant seeds every 2 to 3 weeks.

Growing the Spinach Plants in Containers

The Spinach plants actually grow very well in pots and containers.

The Container Requirements For Planting Spinach

·  At least fifteen to twenty centimeter deep

·  The containers should a drainage holes at the bottom

·  The quality potting mix  should be rich in organic matter

You need to fill the containers with potting mix, then sow the spinach seeds according to the package directions, and then also keep the soil consistently moist.

The container-grown spinach plants are ideal for balconies, patios, and small gardens.

Watering Requirement For Spinach Plant

The spinach plants actually require consistent moisture to produce tender leaves.

Spinach Plant Watering Tips

·  Make sure you keep the soil evenly moist but not waterlogged.

·  Make sure you water deeply when the top layer begins to dry.

·  Try as much as possible to avoid letting the plants completely dry out.

·  Make sure you apply mulch to conserve moisture.

Keep in mind that uneven watering of the plant can cause slow growth and poor-quality leaves.

Fertilizing Requirement For Spinach

Spinach plants actually benefits from nutrient-rich soil.

Before planting the spinach you need to incorporate compost into the soil.

If additional feeding is required you can easily use a balanced fertilizer like:

·  The 10-10-10 fertilizer

·  A fish emulsion

·  A compost tea

·  A good organic vegetable fertilizer

Make sure you apply it according to the label directions.

Try as much as possible to avoid excessive nitrogen applications, as too much fertilizer on the plant can affect the flavor and the plant health.

Mulching Spinach Plants

Mulch the plant provides a number of benefits:

·  It helps conserves soil moisture

·  It helps to suppresses weeds

·  It helps to keeps the soil cool

·  It helps to reduces watering frequency

Make sure you apply a thin layer of straw, shredded leaves, or compost around the spinach plants.

Some Of The Common Spinach Problems

Bolting

This actually occurs when the temperatures become too warm.

How to prevent it:

·  You can plant during the cool seasons.

·  Try and provide afternoon shade.

·  Try as much as possible to keep the soil consistently moist.

Yellow Leaves

The causes are:

·  A poor drainage

·  Nutrient deficiencies on the plant

·  Overwatering of the plant

Try as much as possible to improve the soil conditions and also adjust watering practices.

Pests on Spinach Plant

The common pests are:

·  The Aphids

·  The Leaf miners

·  The Slugs

The control methods are:

·  Hand-picking the pests from the plants

·  Neem oil sprays on the plants

·  Applying insecticidal soap

·  Encouraging beneficial insects on the plants

Spinach Plants Diseases

The spinach plants may also suffer from fungal diseases in wet conditions.

You can prevent the disease by:

·  Watering the spinach plants at the soil level

·  Avoiding overcrowding on the plants

·  Providing good air circulation around the spinach plants

How To Harvest Spinach

A large amount of spinach varieties are ready for harvest thirty-five to fifty days after planting.

The Spinach Baby Leaf Harvest

For the tender baby spinach:

·  You can easily harvest the leaves when they are five to ten centimeter long.

·  Just cut the outer leaves first.

·  Then allow the center of the spinach leaves to continue growing.

The Spinach Mature Leaf Harvest

For the spinach larger leaves:

·  You can actually wait until the plants are fully developed.

·  You can harvest the outer leaves regularly.

·  Then you can leave the growing point intact.

This technique actually allows multiple harvests from the same spinach plant.

How To Store The Fresh Spinach

After harvesting the spinach:

1.    Make sure you rinse the leaves gently.

2.    Then pat dry them with paper towels.

3.    Then store them in a good plastic bag or container.

4.    You can refrigerate them immediately.

The fresh spinach typically remains usable for up to 1 week.