When to plant winter spinach?

Spinach is considered one of the most nutrient-dense vegetables , containing a wealth of vitamins and minerals , including vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, B vitamins, iron, calcium, magnesium and potassium. Both the leaves and tender stems of spinach are edible, and its growth cycle is short. Let’s learn together when to plant winter spinach.

1. Planting time

Overwintering spinach is a variety of spinach that is sown in the fall, grows to 4-6 true leaves before winter, and then resumes growth in the spring. Spinach at this growth stage has the greatest tolerance to cold weather. Therefore, depending on the climatic conditions in different regions, the best time to sow overwintering spinach is usually from late September to early November. Planting too early or too late may affect the growth and wintering ability of spinach.

2. Variety selection

Since overwintering spinach needs to grow in a low temperature environment in winter and early spring, it is crucial to choose the right variety. The ideal overwintering spinach variety should have strong cold tolerance, disease resistance, and late bolting (i.e. flowering). Such varieties can better adapt to low temperatures in winter and reduce the risk of spring bolting.

3. Planting method

The process of growing spinach is relatively simple. First of all, you need to apply enough base fertilizer, deep plow the soil, and ensure that the soil is flat and fine. Next, draw small trenches and water the trenches. After the water seeps into the soil, spread the seeds evenly in the trenches and finally cover them with a thin layer of soil. If the seedlings grow too densely, thinning can be carried out when 2-3 true leaves grow, and then thinning can be carried out every 7 days or so until the row spacing of the plants reaches 10 cm × 10 cm.

Before wintering, spinach needs to be watered once with frozen water to maintain soil moisture and help it withstand the cold. During the winter, fertilization and watering should be controlled to prevent spinach from growing too fast and suffering from frost damage. When the temperature rises in early spring and spinach begins to resume growth, it should be watered in time with a moderate amount of water. It is best to do this on a sunny day. At the same time, an appropriate amount of fertilizer can be applied along with the water.

Now is the right time to sow overwintering spinach. Vegetable farmers who want to plant should hurry up and lay a good foundation for a good harvest in spring through careful variety selection and scientific planting management.