How to grow water spinach?

Water spinach , a vegetable widely grown in rural areas, has won the favor of farmers for its vigorous vitality and rapid growth rate. The suitable growth temperature range is 35 to 40 degrees Celsius. Under the high temperature conditions in summer, water spinach grows particularly rapidly. Let’s learn how to grow water spinach.

1. Planting time

Water spinach is heat-resistant, with the most suitable growth temperature being 25 to 30 degrees Celsius, and it can withstand high temperatures of 38 to 40 degrees Celsius. Low temperatures will inhibit seed germination, so avoid planting when the temperature is below 15 degrees Celsius. Mid-April to mid-August each year is the ideal sowing period for water spinach.

2. Seed treatment

The seed coat of water spinach is thick, and direct sowing may result in slow germination. You can soak the seeds in warm water for 24 hours, gently rub them and then sow them to increase the germination rate. The seeds will germinate about 7 days after sowing. You can also wrap the soaked seeds with wet gauze, germinate them in a warm place, wash them once a day, and sow them after most of the seeds show the white part.

3. Sowing method

Water spinach can be sown by broadcasting, hole sowing or row sowing. When sowing in holes, plant 4 to 5 seeds in each hole, with the hole distance about 20 cm. When sowing in rows, the row spacing is about 30 cm, and 1.2 to 1.5 kg of seeds are required per acre of land.

4. Water management:

Cabbage prefers moist soil and can even be grown in water bodies in the south. When planting, the soil should be kept moist and watered regularly to promote stem and leaf growth and branching.

5. Soil selection

Choose soil that is easy to irrigate and retains water and fertilizer, such as clay. Apply sufficient base fertilizer before sowing, 1,000 kg of decomposed farmyard manure and 30 kg of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer per mu.

6. Fertilization management

Avoid using uncomposted farmyard manure to avoid root burn. Apply fertilizer several times during the growing season to provide sufficient nutrients and promote vigorous growth.

7. Harvesting techniques

When the water spinach grows to 20 cm in height, it can be harvested. When picking, keep 2 to 3 nodes at the base of the stem to promote the growth of new branches and increase yield.

In short, as a highly adaptable and fast-growing vegetable, water spinach is very popular in rural areas. Correctly grasping the planting time and method is crucial to improving the yield and quality of water spinach.