What fertilizer should be applied after cutting water spinach?

Water spinach is a common fast-growing vegetable. It is afraid of cold and can withstand high temperatures. The stronger the light, the higher the yield will be if there is sufficient fertilizer and water. In the north, due to the low temperature in winter, it is generally planted in the spring, summer and autumn when the temperature is higher. It is more commonly planted in the south of my country. It can be harvested again and again like leeks. So what kind of fertilizer should be applied after harvesting water spinach? Let’s take a look below.

1. What fertilizer should be applied after cutting water spinach?

After cutting a crop of water spinach, it is recommended to apply organic compound fertilizer or compound fertilizer with moderate nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content. This fertilizer not only provides elements such as nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium, but also contains beneficial microorganisms and bacteria, which help improve soil quality and fertility and promote the growth and yield of water spinach. Water spinach has a greater demand for nitrogen fertilizer, but it also needs phosphorus and potassium. Choosing compound fertilizers with moderate nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium content can meet its various nutritional needs and promote sustained high yields.

2. How to grow water spinach?

1. Choose suitable varieties and seed treatment

First of all, you should choose water spinach varieties that are adapted to local soil and climatic conditions. High-quality water spinach seeds should be free of pests and diseases, plump, and have a high germination rate. Before sowing, the seeds can be soaked and germinated to improve uniformity and germination rate. The specific method is to soak the seeds in warm water for about 6 to 8 hours, then take them out and dry them, and you can sow them after the seeds turn white.

2. Prepare fertile soil and sow seeds

Water spinach has strong adaptability to soil, but loose, fertile and well-drained soil is more conducive to its growth. Before sowing, the soil should be deeply plowed and an appropriate amount of organic fertilizer should be applied as base fertilizer. When sowing, you can use the method of broadcasting or row sowing, sow the seeds evenly on the soil surface, then cover with a thin layer of soil, and water thoroughly.

3. Reasonable close planting and thinning

Water spinach grows quickly, and too high a planting density will affect ventilation and light transmission, leading to the breeding of diseases and pests. Therefore, when sowing, the reasonable planting density should be determined based on factors such as soil fertility and variety characteristics. At the same time, when the seedlings grow to a certain height, thinning should be carried out in time to keep the distance between plants moderate to facilitate light and wind.

4. Scientific fertilization and watering

Water spinach requires a large amount of fertilizer and has a short growing period. During the growth process, topdressing should be carried out according to the soil fertility conditions and plant growth conditions. Generally, nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compound fertilizer can be applied once during the seedling stage, growth period and harvest period respectively. Regarding watering, water spinach likes water but cannot tolerate waterlogging. The soil should be kept moist but not too wet. The frequency of watering should be increased during the dry season, while attention should be paid to drainage and waterlogging prevention during the rainy season.

5. Pest and disease control

Common diseases and pests of water spinach include damping-off disease, stem rot, white rust, cabbage loopers, aphids, etc. To prevent the occurrence of diseases and pests, the following measures can be taken: first, choose varieties with strong disease resistance; second, strengthen field management to keep the soil moist and well ventilated; third, remove diseased plants and insect eggs in time; fourth, use biological pesticides or low-toxic chemical pesticides for prevention and control when necessary.

6. Timely harvesting and seed saving

The harvesting period of water spinach should be determined according to the characteristics of the variety and market demand. Generally, it can be harvested when the plant grows to a certain height and the leaves are green. Harvesting should be done on a sunny day to avoid rainy days which may cause leaf rot. At the same time, water spinach can also be saved for seeds. Choose plants that are healthy and free of diseases and pests as seed plants, and collect and preserve their seeds after they mature.

7. Notes

During the cultivation of water spinach, the following points should be noted: first, avoid continuous cropping to reduce the occurrence of diseases and pests; second, rotate crops reasonably to improve soil structure and fertility; third, clean up weeds and dead branches and leaves in the field in time to keep the field clean; fourth, pay attention to protecting the environment and avoid using highly toxic and high-residue pesticides.

To sum up, to achieve rapid cultivation of water spinach and obtain good yield and quality, it is necessary to start from selecting suitable varieties, preparing fertile soil, reasonable density planting, scientific fertilization and watering, disease and pest control, and timely harvesting.