If you’re looking for another plant to grow in your garden, consider spinach. Spinach is a superfood since they are packed with thiamin, potassium, folic acid, and vitamins A & C. They are also great in various dishes. Are you not sold yet? The best part is, they are easy to grow spinach.
Preparation
Spinach is a cool-weather crop that will thrive in neutral to alkaline soil with a pH of 7.0 or above. To grow spinach:
- Make sure your soil is in its optimal health.
- If your soil is sandy and acidic, apply lime based on your soil’s needs.
- Choose a spot that receives full sun with well-drained soil.
Spinach grows deep taproot. For optimal growth, loosen the soil at least a foot before planting the seeds. Prepare your soil with organic feed a week before planting. You can start by putting 2- inches of compost and 2 pounds of fertilizer per 100 square feet of soil.
When to Grow Spinach
In planting, make sure that your seeds are fresh. You can plant the seed as soon as the soil is ready. Cool weather is necessary from seeding to the harvesting of spinach. This whole process usually takes six weeks. If you want to grow spinach, the soil should not be warmer than 70 degrees Fahrenheit. You may plant successively every two weeks in early spring. To protect the young plants during winter, put up a cold frame or thick mulch. Then after winter, you may remove the protection. Take note that ordinary spinach will not grow in midsummer. But if you want a summer harvest, you may want to consider Malabar Spinach or New Zealand Spinach. If you are in a place that is a little cold, plant the spinach in the fall.
How to Grow Spinach
Spinach will thrive if it’s planted directly. Seedlings will be difficult to transplant. Sow the seeds ½ to 1 inch deep. You may put 12 seeds per foot of row. You may also sprinkle the seeds over a wide row. Proceed with covering it lightly with soil. Also, it is advisable to have enough space between the plants. Doing the opposite will leave you with a lot of tiny leaves.
The fall season is optimal for the seeds to germinate. The seeds will germinate in five to nine days as long as the weather isn’t freezing. It follows that during hot conditions, it will be difficult for Spinach’s germination. But you can help in the process by often watering to cool the soil.
Caring for Spinach
If you want to grow Spinach, maintenance is a must. Spinach grows fast. Because of this, they are also heavy-feeders. For dark and healthy leaves, choose fertilizers that are high in nitrogen. For organic choices, fish emulsion and soy meal are your best choice. Also, be sure to check out whether your soil’s pH is adequate. Once the seedlings sprout to about two inches, you may trim them 3-4 inches apart. There is a minimal need for cultivation to grow Spinach. You may want to keep your soil moist by putting mulch. While Spinach can tolerate cold weather, young Spinach will not. So be sure to cover them.
Take Note:
You may side-dress the row with nitrogen when necessary to promote the continuous production of leaves. Application of 2 tablespoons of Ammonium sulfate per row will help the spinach produce all season long. Don’t forget to water regularly. Keep in mind that for spinach to grow, it needs good drainage. When harvesting, don’t do it all at once. Harvest only a few leaves. It will ensure that the plants will continue their production all season. Proceed with cutting older leaves at the outer part. Leave the young inner leaves for later harvest. You may cut the whole plant down to produce a new flush of leaves for a larger harvest if you cut an inch above the crown of the plant’s base.
Pest Management
Look out for pests that may wreak havoc in your spinach. They are prone to several fungal diseases because of their love for cool and damp weather. Downy mildew and fusarium wilt are common. To prevent fungal infestation, place your spinach plants in a way that will ensure good air circulation. Also, keep the water off the leaves in the evening. Aside from fungal diseases, Spinach may also attract pests. The most common of them are the aphids. You don’t want aphids in your plants since they can spread viruses. Monitor your crops regularly to grow spinach healthily. Once you see signs of aphids, hose them immediately.
Growing Spinach is not complicated. You may have to consider some things first. But all will be worth it because, in the end, you will have spinach on your plates fresh from the garden.
