When is the best time to sow spinach?

Spinach is rich in vitamin A, vitamin C, vitamin K, iron, calcium and dietary fiber, and is a vegetable with high nutritional value. Spinach has a strong adaptability to temperature, but the most suitable growth temperature is 15-25℃. It is relatively cold-tolerant and can grow in low temperatures, but high temperatures and strong light may cause the leaves to turn yellow. So when is the best time to sow spinach?

When is the best time to sow spinach?

Spinach is a relatively resilient vegetable, but may not grow well in hot environments, and seeds have a lower germination rate in high temperatures, which may result in uneven emergence. In northern regions, it is more suitable to plant spinach after the solar term of Beginning of Autumn. Although the temperature at noon may still be high, the temperature in the morning and evening is suitable for spinach growth. For example, the Northeast region can start planting after the beginning of autumn, while the North China region is suitable for planting after the end of summer until September. This refers to the spinach harvested in autumn. If you want to plant overwintering spinach, you should do it in October.

Because spinach seeds have a hard shell, it may affect the speed of germination. The germination rate can be improved by lightly rubbing the seed shells and then soaking them in water for 8 hours. When sowing, you can choose to sow in rows or broadcast, and cover the seeds with about 1.5 cm of soil after sowing. Be sure to water thoroughly before sowing to ensure that the soil remains moist before seedlings emerge.

After the spinach seedlings emerge, if the temperature is still high, the soil must be kept moist to avoid drought. In the absence of rain, frequent watering with small amounts of water should be carried out, and dilute liquid fertilizer can be applied to promote the growth of spinach.

About a month after sowing, the spinach seedlings have grown to a certain size and can be thinned out, that is, removing the overcrowded seedlings so that the remaining plants have more space to grow. The spinach that is thinned out can be eaten, while the remaining plants continue to grow until they are mature and ready to be harvested.

How to grow spinach

1. Variety selection

Spinach can be grown all year round and there are many varieties. Appropriate varieties should be selected according to seasonal changes to ensure yield and quality. When planting in winter, it is advisable to choose cold-resistant, late-bolting, and high-yielding varieties. When planting in summer, you should choose varieties that are resistant to high temperatures, diseases, and fast-growing.

2. Land preparation and fertilization

Spinach prefers fertile soil with convenient drainage and irrigation. Good water and fertilizer retention capacity helps to produce a good yield of spinach. After harvesting the previous crop, remove remaining leaves and roots in the field to reduce the occurrence of diseases. After applying farmyard manure, the soil is plowed and leveled to make flat or raised beds.

3. Planting seeds

There are two ways to sow spinach: broadcasting and row sowing. Broadcasting is to spread the seeds evenly on the soil surface, lightly rake and cover with a thin layer of nutrient soil. Row sowing is to sow seeds in the furrow and then cover them with soil, which usually saves seeds and is easier to manage. Water before sowing to maintain appropriate soil moisture to facilitate germination. When sowing in high temperatures in summer and autumn, the seeds can be refrigerated for one day and then germinated at room temperature to increase the germination rate. After sowing in summer, you can cover the seeds with straw to provide shade and retain moisture, and then remove it after the seedlings emerge.

4. Watering and fertilizing

When spinach grows 2-3 true leaves, thin out the seedlings, remove weak and diseased seedlings, and eventually maintain a plant spacing of 5-10 cm. Large-leaf spinach can be planted densely to increase yield, while round-leaf spinach requires a slightly wider spacing to ensure the thickness, taste and quality of the leaves. Spinach requires less water and fertilizer during the seedling stage. Unless there is an obvious lack of water or fertilizer, there is no need to rush to water or fertilize. When spinach grows 4-5 true leaves, as the growth rate accelerates, the frequency of watering and fertilizing should be increased to promote growth. Fertilization is mainly based on quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer, and 30-40 kilograms of ammonium sulfate can be applied per mu.

Overwintering spinach needs to be watered before winter to increase the ground temperature and prevent frost damage. It is generally not managed in winter, and watering and fertilizing are carried out after it turns green in spring. Since spinach is cold-resistant but not heat-resistant, shade nets should be covered when planting in summer and autumn to protect the seedlings from high temperatures.

The above is an introduction to the planting time and methods of spinach. Through these methods, the germination rate and growth quality of spinach can be effectively improved, ensuring the healthy growth and harvest of spinach.