Growing spinach indoors is leisurely to do all year - round . Plant Spinacia oleracea in a container and place it in a coolheaded spot that gets four to six hours of sunshine per daylight , and you will have healthy spinach six calendar week by and by .
Here ’s how to grow spinach indoors :
How to Grow Spinach Indoors (Step-by-Step)
You need the travel along equipment to grow spinach indoors :
Spinach flourish in nerveless weather condition with limited sunlight . choose the right spot to get spinach successfully , and keep an eye on these easy steps :
Prepare the Seeds
devise the seed one calendar week before planting by soaking the seeds in a glass of warm water supply for 24 hours . Moistening the seed in this way encourages sprouting once the seed have been planted .
absent the seeds from the weewee after 24 hours and dry them lightly with a clean fabric or newspaper towel . Store the seeds in a sealed container in a cool place for one week .
prefer the Right Pot
Spinach needs a roomie stool . Select a large pot that is at least 8 column inch deep and big enough to plant the come 3 inches apart . Drainage cakehole at the bottom are essential to forestall root rot .
Select the Best Position
Spinach does well in a coolheaded spot that father four to six hours of sunshine per mean solar day , with a temperature of 40–75 ° F . Hotter temperature or long vulnerability to lineal sun causes the spinach flora to droop .
If you do n’t have a spot with natural light , you could implant prickly-seeded spinach indoors with an LED light . Initially the young seedling need 13–15 hours of light per Clarence Day , and as the plant matures this can be reduced to eight to 10 hours per Clarence Day .
Prepare the filth
satiate the pot with good - tone , loamy potting soil that is rich in atomic number 7 and organic matter . The soil should be well - aerated to allow for near drainage , and the pH should be neutral .
implant the Seeds
Place the prepared seeds on the soil , 3 inches asunder . pass over the seeds with ½-inch level of ground . Water softly to tone down the soil .
Water Regularly
Water the dirt lightly every three to four days . Keep the soil lightly moist , but fend off saturate it . Excessive watering keeps the roots wet and induce root rot . Do n’t irrigate the leaf . If the leaves remain wet they can develop mildew , which is a fungous infection . If you find yourself too busybodied and caught up with everything in your lifetime , you’re able to tryself - watering plantersto ensure the grunge quell lightly moist .
Fertilize
Watering with manure tea or using smooth plant food are good ways to add nutrient to the soil . For best results fertilize again after three weeks .
Mulch
Mulching with organic matter helps to retain moisture and adds nutrients to the dirt , boost intelligent development .
Place a slight level of mulch around the base of the Spinacia oleracea plant . Avoid using too much mulch . Over - mulching gob moisture and keep the roots too wet .
Harvest
Spinach is ready to glean when the flora has at least six leaves , each of which should be four in long . Do n’t wait for blossom to appear , because the leaves produce a sulphurous taste once the plant begin to flower .
Cut the individual get out with uninfected , sharp scissors hold . unexampled leaves will soon emerge . Alternatively , cut the entire plant at the base of its shank . The works will regrow .
Types of Spinach for an Indoor Garden
There are three principal type of spinach plant that are suitable for an indoor garden :
Savoy spinach
Also known as curly leaf spinach , this variety has dingy green wrinkled parting with a crispy , crunchy texture .
There are two master varieties of savoy Spinacia oleracea , namely regiment spinach and Bloomsdale spinach plant . Regiment prickly-seeded spinach is more suited to rise indoors because it develop more rapidly than Bloomsdale spinach , but both type pay good results .
Both variety of savoy cabbage prickly-seeded spinach are idealistic for institute in a cool climate .
Semi-savoy spinach
There are four primary varieties of semi - savoy spinach plant , namely Teton , Catalina , Amerindic summer , and Tyee . These are furrowed and sturdy plants that resist diseases , get them the most suitable types for grow indoors .
Smooth-leafed spinach
Smooth - leafed spinach is easy to grow indoors , and is the idealistic type of spinach for canning and freeze because it is a fast grower with a gamy yield .
Benefits of Growing Spinach Indoors
One of the main benefits of spring up Spinacia oleracea indoors is that the process is easy and the results are satisfying . But there are also other benefits to growing Spinacia oleracea indoors :
No Garden Needed
Growing spinach indoors is a great way for those without a garden to enjoy the benefits and satisfaction of home - grown veggie .
No Seasonal Limitations
spring up spinach plant does n’t have to be restricted by seasons . When growing spinach indoors , you may plant come at any metre of the yr and have a never-ending supplying of spinach all year round .
Easy Maintenance
spring up spinach indoors do caring for your spinach plants slow . you may control the amount of light that the plant life receives , see to it that it gets just the right exposure to ensure goodly maturation .
Spinach that grows indoors is n’t subject to the ravages of uttermost winter temperature or the blistering heat of vivid summer . Controlled photo to high temperature and cold assures your spinach engraft good for you growth .
Easy Harvesting
harvest home just as much spinach as you need is easy when the flora is indoors . No need to go out into the cold to thin some Spinacia oleracea for dinner party .
Health Benefits
Eating spinach has multiple wellness benefits , including :
Troubleshooting & Tips for Success
How to Store Spinach
Remove the bow from the leave and wash the leaves well . dry out the leaves and place them in an airtight container or zip lock bag .
put a dampened while of paper towel on top of the spinach leaves and seal the bag or container . The spinach will keep new for up to two weeks in the electric refrigerator .
How to Freeze Spinach
saucy prickly-seeded spinach can be frozen and hive away in the freezer for up to three month . To immobilize crude spinach , locate spinach plant leaves in a blender or food processor with a few cliff of H2O .
Blend the Spinacia oleracea to a quiet paste . Freeze the spread in ice cube trays , and add together the icy spinach to soups , stews , and smoothies .
How to Regrow Spinach
When harvesting spinach , cut the leaves to within 2 inches of the base of the plant , using sharp , clean horticulture shear .
Take care not to damage the plant by abridge into the growing point . summate some fertilizer to the soil and piddle every three to four days . The plant will grow new leave and within four weeks the spinach will be ready for harvest home again .
Dealing With Pests and Diseases
When watering spinach , do n’t water the foliage . If the leaves remain moist they are probable to develop a fungal infection such as mould . fungous infection are difficult to eradicate , and you wo n’t be able to wipe out the touched leaves .
Growing Spinacia oleracea indoors helps to keep insect plague at bay , however aphid do sometimes take hold and attack indoor spinach plant plants .
The best way to protect indoor spinach plant against aphid and other insects is togrow dillor chamomile in between the spinach , or nearby . dill weed and camomile curb natural properties that repel insects .
