New to Spinach growing

mysidx · September 19, 2011

I have about fifteen plants I started from seed,each have second set of true leaves still in cells. I know they require cool weather, so hopefully it will start to cool down. My question is how big are the root systems for mature spinach plants? That will help me decide which size container to use. We have been drinking our fair share of green smoothies, so I need more spinach leaves.

Rob

Sherry_AK · September 20, 2011

Here in our cool soils, the root system for spinach is surprisingly small. I've never grown it in containers, but other than issues with watering, I think a pretty small container would work just fine. I'd probably use about a 2-gallon size, just so I could keep it watered.

Of course my climate and growing conditions are about as different from yours as possible!

huntoften · September 20, 2011

In my raised beds this spring, the roots were maybe 6-10 inches deep at the most. This is the "main" root. There are lots of smaller roots that may go deeper, but the part that came out when I pulled them after harvest was about 6-10 inches long.

mysidx · September 22, 2011

It hasn't gotten cool enough outside to remove them from indoors. I hope that will change soon, and I may put them in terrace pots, or one gallon pots.

September 19, 2011	#1
mysidx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Baton Rouge,Louisiana Zone 8b Posts: 340	New to Spinach growing I have about fifteen plants I started from seed,each have second set of true leaves still in cells. I know they require cool weather, so hopefully it will start to cool down. My question is how big are the root systems for mature spinach plants? That will help me decide which size container to use. We have been drinking our fair share of green smoothies, so I need more spinach leaves. Rob

September 20, 2011	#3
huntoften Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Kansas CIty Posts: 560	In my raised beds this spring, the roots were maybe 6-10 inches deep at the most. This is the "main" root. There are lots of smaller roots that may go deeper, but the part that came out when I pulled them after harvest was about 6-10 inches long. __________________ Kansas City, Missouri Zone 5b/6a

September 20, 2011	#2
Sherry_AK Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Alaska Zone 3/4 Posts: 1,857	Here in our cool soils, the root system for spinach is surprisingly small. I've never grown it in containers, but other than issues with watering, I think a pretty small container would work just fine. I'd probably use about a 2-gallon size, just so I could keep it watered. Of course my climate and growing conditions are about as different from yours as possible!

September 22, 2011	#4
mysidx Tomatovillian™ Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Baton Rouge,Louisiana Zone 8b Posts: 340	It hasn't gotten cool enough outside to remove them from indoors. I hope that will change soon, and I may put them in terrace pots, or one gallon pots.