We got a a late start building the hydroponic tanks this year because we were just so busy in our outdoor garden space that we didn’t get to them until nearly the end of September. Without heat in the greenhouse I didn’t want to commit to filling all the tanks up without having been through a winter using these IBC totes as tanks. I opted to go with one hydroponic tank of lettuce and two tanks of spinach. We have found that the darker the greens the better they are for you, the more nutrient dense they can be. Combine that with spinach being and excellent cold weather crop, I doubled up on spinach over lettuce!

Once the roots of our transplanted spinach starts hit the nutrient solution it was off to the races! We pick off the big leaves and let the smaller and younger leaves continue to grow and replace what we picked. Only being the two of us, and having a big salad once or twice a week, honestly its been hard to keep up! I was concerned that when the weather dropped into the teens that our run of green luck was over. I pinched off all the spinach I could to harvest it all and not waste any. Pinching off frozen leaves I knew the end was near.

I never would have guessed that that it all recovered and within five weeks was right back to over flowing.

That is all fresh regrowth in 5 weeks!

Spinach is a leafy green vegetable that is packed with nutrients that can provide a wide range of health benefits. One of the most notable benefits of spinach is its high levels of vitamins and minerals. Spinach is an excellent source of vitamin K, which is essential for blood clotting and bone health. It also contains high levels of vitamin A, which is important for maintaining healthy vision and skin. Additionally, spinach is a good source of vitamin C, which is important for immune system function, and vitamin E, which is an antioxidant that can help protect cells from damage.

Picked fresh as we need it!

Another benefit of spinach is that it is a good source of several minerals, including iron, calcium, and potassium. Iron is essential for the production of hemoglobin, the protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen to the body’s tissues. Calcium is important for the health of bones and teeth, and potassium helps to regulate blood pressure and supports heart health.

Spinach is also rich in antioxidants, which are compounds that can help protect the body from damage caused by free radicals. Free radicals are molecules that can damage cells and contribute to the development of chronic diseases such as cancer and heart disease. Spinach is a particularly good source of the antioxidant lutein, which is important for maintaining healthy vision.

In addition, spinach is low in calories and high in fiber, making it an excellent choice for people trying to maintain a healthy weight. The fiber in spinach can help to keep you feeling full and satisfied, which can help to reduce cravings and overeating.

Finally, spinach is also a good source of several other important nutrients, including folate, magnesium, and zinc. Folate is important for proper cell growth and development, while magnesium is essential for muscle and nerve function and zinc is important for a healthy immune system.

Overall, spinach is a nutrient-dense food that can provide a wide range of health benefits. Eating spinach on a regular basis can help to support healthy vision, bone health, heart health, and immune system function. It can also aid in maintaining a healthy weight and may lower the risk of chronic diseases.