We aren’t all lucky enough to have a garden for growing spinach plants. But growing spinach in pots, whether on a patio or a balcony, is a perfectly great option!And if you’re without a balcony or it’s just too cramped, know that spinach also does fine on a windowsill.
Dive into these tips for pot-grown spinach success.
Your spinach pot endeavor starts with selecting the right pot. It should have a depth of 8 to 10 inches (20 to 25 cm). Spinach doesn’t need soil that’s any deeper. However, the wider your pot, the happier your spinach will be.
Smart tip:
You can absolutely grow multiple spinach plants in one large container. When you do, space seeds 2 inches (5 cm) apart for small-leaf varieties or 4 to 6 inches (10 to 15 cm) for varieties with larger leaves. After picking the right container, sow your spinach seeds directly, at a depth of about ¾ inch (2 cm). Typically, sprouting kicks off between 5 to 15 days after sowing.
For pot-grown spinach, you’ll want a cool substrate that has lots of organic matter.
Remember, spinach, really appreciates clayey soils, neutral ones, and above all, those with good drainage.
Check that the pot has open drainage holes before you fill it, because even the best mix will sour in a sealed container.
Spinach sulks in acid compost, so aim for a mix around pH 6.5 to 7.5.
Garden soil used on its own packs down hard in a pot, so blend it with compost to keep the mix open and crumbly.
Spinach is a leafy crop with a real appetite for nitrogen, and well-rotted manure worked into the soil before planting supplies that nitrogen along with organic matter that helps retain moisture.
Spinach is like us during summer: thirsty! Especially in hot, dry weather. In pots, their fear of drought increases even more. They crave regular watering, but in watering, avoid getting leaves wet.
Good to know: Stagnant water will make your spinach plants quickly “rot” and it’ll quickly be overrun by fungus.
Spinach generally enjoys partial shade, even full shade. In fact, direct blazing sun isn’t good for it, especially if you live in warmer, sunnier regions.
Note: Ideal temperatures for spinach hover between 50 and 80°F (10 and 27°C). However, many varieties can handle temps from 20 to 90°F (-6°C to 32°C).
Where you stand the pot and how often you fill the watering can both depend on when the spinach is sown and growing. Use this as a quick reference through the seasons.
| Sowing or season | Where to stand the pot | Watering |
|---|---|---|
| Sown late summer to late autumn | Full sun — days are short and the sun weak | Regular, but never on the leaves |
| Sown late winter to mid-spring | Partial shade, with cool shade in the afternoon | Regular, but never on the leaves |
| Summer, hot and dry weather | Out of direct sunlight in exceptionally hot areas | Once a day, twice a day in real heat |
| Winter | Anywhere water cannot collect in the pot | Once a week only |
Whatever the season, free drainage matters more than any other single factor.
Mulch isn’t just for ground plants. On the contrary, putting mulch around your spinach in its container should come naturally. Cover the substrate with a generous layer of organic material (straw, grass clippings, green waste, and so on). Mulch effectively maintains substrate moisture, especially since water evaporates much faster in pots.
Wait until the seedlings have a few true leaves before spreading mulch, otherwise the layer will smother them just as they push through.
Keep the mulch pulled back from the stems, as spinach crowns sitting in damp material rot quickly.
Slugs shelter under pot mulch, so lift it and check.
Let grass clippings wilt for a day and spread them thinly, because a thick fresh layer mats down and heats as it rots.
