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Spinach is one of those leafy green vegetables that you either love or you hate, so you are either very much interested in growing it or not at all. If you are, you’ve landed in the right place.
In this article, we cover everything you need to know about growing these beloved greens at home, on your own, from start to finish.
Spinach is considered a real superfood and is consumed in almost every corner of the world. Popeye the Sailor eats it whenever he needs energy, thus inspiring dozens of generations of children to eat this green vegetable with more appetite.
Growing most leafy greens can be done both for your own consumption or for commercial purposes, including this one, as it does not involve high production costs or efforts, and has a high demand on local markets.
Read on below and discover everything you need to know about growing this nutritious leafy green veggie!
About Growing Spinach
The plant is native to Central Asia and has been cultivated in a controlled manner since the 4th century. In Europe, it first reached Spain, then spread throughout the continent, including into the colder climates. The popularity of the leaf green veggie grew rapidly.
Today, these leafy greens are a vegetable that can be grown at home and eaten for free for most of the year. The leaves are used in fresh salads, as well as dehydrated, boiled, scalded, and added as an ingredient to countless other recipes and dishes.
The edible part of the plant is the nutritious leaves, but also medicinal.
The leaves of these greens have a long petiole, arrow-shaped and oval-elongated, are dark green and fleshy. These delicious leafy greens are plants with shallow half to one-inch roots (with the possibility of a central root that grows as deep as a foot or more).
Quick Spinach Growing Information
| How much light is needed: | 8 to 10 hours of full sunlight (with shade in the morning, afternoon, or evening) |
| How much water is needed: | Spinach needs 1 to 2 inches of water per week. |
| Is it best to start with seeds or plants: | It is preferable to start with seeds. |
| The best month to plant: | Between March 1 and 30 and between July 15 and August 10. |
| Preferred climate/temperature: | It is a cold-resistant plant – spinach seeds germinate at 2-3 degrees Celsius. The optimum growth temperature is between 15 and 17 degrees Celsius. |
| Is indoor or outdoor growing better: | Both indoor and outdoor growing are suitable, though outdoors is easier. |
| Do indoor plants need to be pollinated: | Yes. Pollination is done naturally with the help of bees, or by hand indoors. |
| Level of difficulty to grow: | Easy. |
| Plant height: | Spinach typically grows between 6 and 12 inches (36 or more when flowering). |
| Time from planting to harvest: | Two months. |
Tips for Growing Spinach
1. Practice Crop Rotation
Spinach is grown in successive crops. That said, regarding crop rotation in order to obtain high-quality spinach production, it is recommended that it be planted before or after vegetable plants such as potatoes, cucumbers, peas, beans, tomatoes.
Crop rotation is done once every 3 to 5 years so that the soil restores its nutrient supply and avoids the spread of diseases and pests.
2. Feed the Soil and Keep an Eye on pH
In terms of soil requirements, humus-rich soils with a pH of 6.5 – 7.5 are recommended. Further, spinach is also a plant with high mineral requirements – nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium.
At the same time, the soil on which spinach is grown may be shaded, because excessive light encourages the emission of flower stalks and inhibits that of leaves.
3. Keep Things Moist and Humid as Possible
High-yield spinach production requires semi-high humidity. The optimum soil moisture level is 75-percent at all times. Even more, it is crucial that spinach’s soil should be wet at least 2 inches deep.
Spinach Growing FAQs
What do I do before planting spinach?
Before tilling, or breaking up the ground by hand with shovel or hoe, remove all plant debris from the previous crop if you haven’t already. Likewise, pull any weeds and transplant anything you want to move and grow elsewhere. Till or turn the soil by hand to a depth of 4 to 8 inches and leave it to be rained on. If it doesn’t rain, water it yourself for a day or two before planting.
How do you plant spinach from seeds?
The establishment of spinach crops is done by sowing, scattering, or sowing the seeds in rows or patches. Sowing may be done manually or mechanized with a tractor. But, first, you’ll need to properly prepare a garden plot or containers with quick-draining but moisture-retaining soil or growing medium. Water heavily for the first two weeks.
How do you fertilize spinach plants?
Fertilization of spinach is done with nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium in proportions of 150/94/100 per hectare. At the same time, fertilization can be done with manure once every 10 days until the leaves reach a height of 10 cm, after which the mulch provides the necessary nutrients.
As you well know, spinach is an important source of vitamins, with spinach leaves also having a high content of essential minerals in our body. Stop thinking and plant your own spinach crop right in your garden.
Suggested Reading: How to Grow Lettuce: Gardening Guide
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