Spinach

Light

Sunny, Part sun

Pot size

Small pot (up to about 5 litres)

Care level

Moderate

Year round or seasonal

Seasonal crop for cool weather

Pets

Pet safety not confirmed

Light and position

Full sun to part shade; NC State says it manages on 3 to 4 hours of sun.

Size and pot

NC State lists 6 inches to 1 foot; leafy crops need containers 6 to 8 inches deep. Our pot band: small pot (up to about 5 litres).

Watering

Keep the soil moist.

Potting mix and feeding

Well-drained mix rich in organic matter.

Growing through the year

A cool-season crop that bolts with long days and summer heat. Sow seed 1/4 to 1/2 inch (about 0.6 to 1.3 cm) deep, thin to 2 to 3 inches apart, and sow again every one to two weeks. NC State says it tolerates frost down to 20 °F (about −6.7 °C).

NC State’s vegetable handbook says cool-season vegetables thrive when temperatures fall below about 21 °C (70 °F), so grow it in your cooler months.

Watch for

Aphids and caterpillars; downy mildew, white rust and damping-off of seedlings.

Pets and people

We did not find an ASPCA entry. NC State notes only a low human toxicity (oxalic acid), so pet safety is not confirmed.

General gardening information, not professional advice. Plant toxicity details are a starting point, not veterinary or medical advice: if a pet or child may have eaten a plant, contact a veterinarian or doctor promptly.

Care level: NC State’s maintenance rating (Medium). Pot band and summary wording are ours, based on the sources below.