Which month is the best to sow water spinach?

Water spinach is popular for its crisp taste. As a heat-resistant plant, farmers in southern regions usually start sowing it in March and April. In the north, due to the slow warming of the climate, the sowing time may be delayed accordingly. The specific time needs to be determined based on local climatic conditions. So when is the best month to sow water spinach?

Which month is the best to sow water spinach?

Water spinach can be propagated by sowing seeds or cuttings of stems, among which sowing is the main method of propagation. Water spinach seeds can start to germinate when the temperature reaches 15℃. The ideal temperature range for its growth is 25-35℃. It has strong heat resistance, but its growth rate will slow down below 18℃.

In China, after the Grain Rain season (usually in mid-April), the average daily temperature in various places stabilizes above 15℃, which makes the period from mid-April to the end of August a suitable sowing period for water spinach. Sowing too early may cause seeds to rot in low temperatures, affecting germination rate and seedling growth. In order to sow in advance, you can use a small plastic arch shed for protected cultivation, so that you can sow about 20 days in advance.

Key points for planting water spinach

1. Planting

The land is carefully prepared and 50 kg of diammonium phosphate and sufficient mature organic fertilizer are applied, and then the ridges are made. Planting is done after watering, which helps the seedlings survive. When direct seeding, it is recommended to use a plant spacing of 15×35 cm; if transplanting after seedling raising, it is recommended to use a plant spacing of 30×35 cm.

2. Maintenance

During the seedling stage, apply human manure once, with a dosage of about 1,500 kg per mu. When the plant has about 4 true leaves, apply 20 kg of compound fertilizer and 4 kg of urea. Keep the soil moderately moist and remove weeds in time to improve soil permeability and prevent soil hardening.

3. Harvest

The growth cycle of water spinach is short and it can be harvested about 35-45 days after sowing. The harvest time can also be determined based on the height of the plant. It can be harvested when the plant grows to 25-35 cm. When harvesting, cut off the top, leaving 10 cm of stem to promote regeneration. It is recommended to pinch it off directly by hand to avoid rust on the cut that may be caused by using a knife. Harvesting can be done multiple times, keeping 2-3 leaves at the bottom of the plant each time.

The above is an introduction to the key points of growing water spinach. Water spinach is a vegetable that many friends like to eat. It has a large market demand and has very good planting prospects.