When will spinach be harvested if planted in October?

Spinach is very cold-resistant and has a wide adaptability. It is one of the important vegetables in spring, autumn and winter, and has broad planting prospects. So when should we harvest spinach if we plant it in October? Let’s learn more about it below.

When will spinach be harvested if planted in October?

Spinach planted in October is generally autumn spinach. It can usually be harvested about 60-80 days after sowing, which is around December to January of the following year, but the specific harvest time also needs to consider the variety planted and local climatic conditions.

How to grow spinach in October?

1. Land preparation and fertilization

Choose sunny, loose and fertile soil that retains water and fertilizer, has good drainage and irrigation conditions, and is neutral to slightly acidic. After the previous crop is harvested, the soil is deeply plowed, the remaining roots are removed, and the crops are fully dried and sun-dried. When preparing the land, apply 3000-4000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer and 100 kg of lime per 666.7 square meters, and then level and fine the surface of the soil to make flat or elevated beds.

2. Seed treatment

Place the seeds in a refrigerator or freezer at about 4℃ for 24 hours, then germinate them at 20-25℃, and they can be sown after germination in 3-5 days. In addition, you can also soak the spinach seeds in cold water for 12 hours, then place the seeds in a 4°C environment for 24 hours (you can also put them in the refrigerator for 12 hours), then take them out and wrap them in warm gauze, and place them in a warm place to germinate (make sure the gauze is moist during this period), and then sow them when the seeds are 60-70% white.

3. Sowing method

The most common method of sowing is broadcasting. Apply sufficient water before sowing, spread the seeds evenly on the ground, lightly rake the topsoil, cover the seeds, and pay attention to the need for shading and moisturizing. You can cover with straw or build a shed. The seed amount for autumn-sown spinach is relatively small, generally 3.0-3.5 kg/mu.

4. Field management

After emergence, the soil should be kept moist and watered frequently to lower the ground temperature and facilitate the growth of seedlings; thinning should be carried out appropriately after 2 true leaves, and nitrogen fertilizer should be applied 2-4 times when 4-5 true leaves appear, and weeds should be removed in combination with thinning; topdressing should be done 2-3 times during the peak growth period, with 5-10 kg of urea per mu each time.

5. Harvest at the right time

Generally, when the seedlings are 10 cm tall, they are thinned out in batches and put on the market one after another. Pay attention to harvesting the densely grown spinach and the spinach that is about to shoot first and put it on the market. Usually, top dressing is done once after the first thinning out, and the garden is cleaned the second time.

Generally speaking, spinach planted in October can usually be harvested around December or January of the following year. However, during the planting process, management measures should be adjusted in time according to actual planting conditions to ensure the healthy growth of spinach so as to facilitate later harvesting.