Spinach is a very nutritious green vegetarian dish, rich in trace elements such as iron, potassium, vitamins, etc., which is very beneficial to people's health. Spinach cultivation is not difficult, as long as you master some basic methods and skills, you can grow huge and plump spinach at home or on the balcony. So, how do you grow spinach to grow vigorously?Below, we will use six steps to teach you how to grow good spinach.
Spinach is a vegetable that can be grown in all seasons, but depending on the season, different planting times and seed varieties should be chosen. Spring spinach is generally planted at a temperature of 5 or more, and March is the best sowing period every yearSummer spinach is generally planted in May to July;Autumn spinach is generally planted in August to September;Winter spinach is generally planted in mid-October to early November.
The quality of the seeds is also very important, and it is best to choose high-quality seeds, which is best purchased from a regular seed company or online. It is necessary to remove some seeds that are not full enough, are not in the right shape, and have pests and diseases, leaving only the strong seeds.
Soaking and germination are to speed up the germination rate of seeds and improve the vigor of seeds. The method of soaking seeds is to soak the seeds in warm water below 30 degrees for 6 to 8 hours, then take them out and store them in the refrigerator for 24 hours, and then put them in an environment of 20 to 25 degrees for germination. Doing so allows the seeds to adapt to different temperatures, increasing their resistance to stress. Spring and winter seeds do not need to go through these treatments and can be sown directly.
Soil preparation and fertilization are done to provide good soil conditions and promote the growth of spinach. Spinach has high requirements for soil, so choose a place with fertile, loose and well-drained soil, which can be a garden, vegetable patch, flower pots or flower boxes. The soil should be deeply cultivated to make it loose and breathable, and then some base fertilizer, such as farm fertilizer, compost, bone meal, etc., should be mixed evenly, and then leveled for furrowing or punching. If the soil is too heavy or too acidic, you can add some coarse sand or lime to adjust the air permeability and pH of the soil.
Sowing and mulching are done to allow the seeds to come into contact with the soil and facilitate germination. The method of sowing seeds is to sprinkle seeds evenly on the soil, about 10 15 grams of seeds per square meter, not too dense and not too thin, and then gently cover the soil of about 1 cm with hands or rakes, do not compact, and finally sprinkle a layer of plant ash, which can prevent the soil from drying out, and can also kill some germs and insect eggs.
Watering and moisturizing is to keep the soil moist and conducive to the absorption and germination of seeds. The way to water is to use a watering can or a snorting water can, water evenly, do not wash away the seeds or soil, do not accumulate water, and keep the soil moist but not too wet. The frequency of watering should be determined according to the weather and the condition of the soil, generally once a day, if the weather is too hot or the soil is too dry, you can increase the number of watering times, if the weather is too cold or the soil is too wet, you can reduce the number of watering times. The moisturizing method is to cover the soil with plastic film or straw after sowing, which can prevent water evaporation and can also keep warm, but pay attention to ventilation and do not let the soil lack oxygen. In summer and autumn, you should also pay attention to shading, you can use shade nets or scaffolds to block strong sunlight to prevent spinach from heat damage.
Management and harvesting are done to ensure the healthy growth of spinach and to harvest it in a timely manner. The management method is to carry out the seedlings in time after the spinach emerges, pull out the seedlings that are too dense, leaving a certain gap, and generally keep a distance of 10 15 cm between each spinach, so as to avoid spinach robbing each other of nutrients and light, and can also reduce the occurrence of pests and diseases. In the process of spinach growth, it is necessary to fertilize regularly, generally every 10 15 days, you can use diluted liquid fertilizer or urea, etc., do not apply too much, so as not to cause fertilizer damage. At the same time, we should pay attention to weeding to prevent weeds from affecting the growth of spinach, and also pay attention to the prevention and control of pests and diseases, such as powdery mildew, gray mold, aphids, locusts, etc., which can be controlled with biological pesticides or organic pesticides, and do not use chemical pesticides, so as not to remain on spinach and affect people's health.
The harvesting method is when the spinach grows to 15 20 cm tall, the leaves are full, and the color is bright green, you can continue to harvest until the leaves of the spinach begin to turn yellow or flower, at which time the quality of the spinach will decline and it is not suitable for consumption. When harvesting, use scissors or knives to cut off the roots of the spinach, and do not pull out the roots, so as not to damage the soil. After harvesting, wash and eat it in time, or keep it in the refrigerator without leaving it for too long to avoid losing nutrients and freshness.
The above are the six steps of spinach cultivation method and time, I hope it will help you. If you follow these steps, you can grow good spinach at home, enjoy the fruits of your labor, and also provide a healthy food for yourself and your family. Spinach is not only delicious, but also has many ways to stir-fry, boil, salad, make soup, etc., which are very delicious. You can try different spinach recipes according to your preferences and surprise yourself and your family. Happy planting and happy eating!
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