I never thought my old laundry basket would be the start of something green and edible—but here we are! One weekend, instead of throwing it away, I had this crazy idea: “What if I could grow something in it?” Fast forward a few weeks, and now I’m harvesting fresh spinach right from that same basket.
If you’re like me and love experimenting with DIY gardening ideas, you’ll enjoy this one. Here’s how I turned a beat-up hamper into a productive little spinach patch.
Why I Chose Spinach
Spinach is one of my go-to leafy greens. It grows quickly, doesn’t need deep soil, and you can harvest it multiple times. Plus, nothing beats the feeling of eating something you grew yourself—especially when it started in such an unexpected container.
What I Used:
- One old plastic laundry basket (yep, the kind with holes on the sides)
- A piece of landscape fabric (you can also use a black garbage bag with drainage holes)
- Good-quality potting mix (I mixed in a bit of compost too)
- Spinach seeds
- A watering can
- A sunny corner on my patio
My Step-by-Step Process
1. Getting the Basket Ready
I cleaned out the basket and lined the inside with landscape fabric. The holes in the basket provide excellent drainage, so I just made sure the liner would hold the soil in.
2. Filling It with Soil
I filled it almost to the top with potting mix, leaving about two inches of space. I mixed in a little compost to give the spinach a head start.
3. Planting the Seeds
I scattered the spinach seeds evenly across the top, covered them with a thin layer of soil (around ½ inch), and gave it a good watering.
4. Sun and Water Routine
I placed the basket where it gets morning sun and a bit of shade in the afternoon. I water it regularly to keep the soil moist—especially during warm days.
Watching It Grow
The first little sprouts showed up in less than a week. It’s honestly such a joy to check on them every day. Once they got a bit bigger, I thinned them out a bit to give each plant some space. Around 4–5 weeks later, I was already harvesting my first leaves!
Harvesting and Enjoying
I pick the outer leaves first and let the smaller ones in the middle keep growing. It’s like having a never-ending spinach supply—perfect for omelets, soups, and even green smoothies.
A Fun Tip from Me
If you’ve got more than one old basket lying around, try stacking them or using them for different greens. I’m already planning a second basket for arugula or lettuce. Who knew laundry baskets could turn into garden beds?
This little experiment reminded me that you don’t need fancy tools or a big backyard to start growing your own food. Sometimes, all it takes is a spark of curiosity—and a basket you were ready to throw out.
Give it a try! You might just surprise yourself like I did.
