Apply granular fertilizer every two to three weeks by working the recommended amount as outlined on the package into the top inch of soil surrounding the plant.
If you live in a warm growing zone, keep an eye on the heat outdoors. Once temperatures in your area creep up toward 75°F or higher, your spinach is at risk of bolting.
You can bring your plant inside, or move the container into a cooler, shadier area of your yard: under a shady tree, for example, or against your house but in an area that doesn’t get as much sun. Alternatively, use some shade cloth to shelter the plants from the sun during the warmest parts of the day.
Cold-weather growers can extend the growing season a little bit by bringing pots indoors once the local temperatures drop to 35°F. Place the container in a sunny windowsill, or in a cold frame or greenhouse.
Cultivars to Select
Here are a few of our favorite cultivars for you to enjoy growing in containers:
America
If you’re searching for a heat-tolerant variety that will grow happily in containers even when temperatures rise above 75°F, try growing ‘America.’
Suited to Zones 3 through 11, this heirloom grows up to eight inches tall and four inches wide, making it the perfect size for container growing.
‘America’
Also called ‘American’ and ‘American Long Standing,’ this bolt-resistant green is a 1952 cross between ‘Bloomsdale Dark Green’ and ‘Viking.’
Packets of these seeds, which mature in just 43 to 55 days, are available from True Leaf Market.
Double Choice
Some people like tender baby spinach. Others like it full grown. Whichever camp you fall into – maybe a bit of both? – ‘Double Choice’ gives you options, as the name suggests.
The plant grows 10 to 12 inches high, but you can harvest baby leaves when they’re just four to six inches tall. Or, wait the full 35 to 40 days for full-grown leaves.
If you’re growing spinach in containers in a cold growing zone, you’ll appreciate how quickly ‘Double Choice’ grows!
‘Double Choice’
‘Double Choice’ spreads four to six inches, and the semi-savoy leaves are perfect for salads. This hybrid thrives in Zones 3 through 9. Find packets of 350 seeds available from Burpee.
Viroflay
Do you dream of enormous leaves that make perfect pizza toppings and look amazing growing in a container? Then you’ll love ‘Viroflay,’ a French heirloom dating back to the mid-1800s.
The giant, arrowhead-shaped, semi-savoy leaves can grow up to 10 inches long!
You can see why this variety bears the nickname “Monster of Viroflay.” It’s monstrous spinach, indeed.
‘Viroflay’
‘Viroflay’ matures in 30 to 60 days and grows 18 to 24 inches tall.
Suited to Zones 3 through 10, you can find packets of seeds available from Eden Brothers.
Pests and Disease
There’s a lot to love about spinach, including its general resistance to pests and disease.
Even better, if you’re growing your greens in a container, it’s not going to be brushing its leaves with those of other plants, so there’s even less of a chance that it’ll be plagued by any ailments.