It is now simpler than ever to have things brought to your door thanks to the proliferation of home delivery apps, but nothing compares to the feeling of eating freshly picked veggies in the silence of your own backyard. A common crop that may grow in the autumn and even winter in certain regions is spinach, a leafy green that withstands extreme cold. Very early in the spring is another time to plant it.
While lettuce and spinach both require cool-season growth conditions, spinach is more adaptable in terms of nutrients and preparation options. It is one of the richest sources of vitamins A, B, and C and has more iron, calcium, and vitamins than other cultivated greens.
Spinach Planting Guide
Here's how you can grow spinach in your backyard:
Planting Period
For spinach to reach maturity, it requires six weeks of cold weather. This implies that you should sow seeds in the garden as soon as the springtime soil is suitable for working. In order for seeds to germinate, the soil has to be below 70 degrees Fahrenheit.
Similar to this, you may plant in the autumn once the weather cools down, provided that the soil temperature stays above 40 degrees for six weeks. In order to increase your crop, you may also reseed every few weeks in the spring or autumn.
Suitable Planting Site
For spinach, a location with decent soil drainage and some sunshine is best for planting. Another alternative is container growth. Spinach plants bolt, or send up a floral spike and go to seed, when the temperature warms. Planting under the partial shadow of taller plants will help to postpone this a little.
Efficient Spacing And Depth
Plant seeds in rows 12 to 18 inches apart, 1/2 to 1 inch deep. Plants should be spaced around 6 inches apart once seedlings have produced their first set of genuine leaves. A support system won't be required.
Full To Partial Sunlight And Soil Quality
Wherever it will receive full sun to some shade, plant spinach. It might benefit from some shade from the intense afternoon sun, but on most days it needs three to four hours of direct sunlight.
Loamy, organically rich, well-draining soil is ideal for spinach growth. And it likes the pH of the soil to be slightly neutral.
Sufficient Watering
To keep the soil uniformly wet but not waterlogged, water spinach often. In warm weather, frequent watering is necessary to avoid bolting. Generally speaking, spinach needs one to one and a half inches of water per week. Watering many times a week is preferable to deep watering once a week. Another way to keep the soil moist around the plants is to apply a layer of mulch.
Ideal Temperature
Temperatures between 50 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit are ideal for spinach growth. Light frosts are acceptable, but prolonged freezing will destroy the plant. In addition, heat will drive it to bolt and turn the remaining leaves bitter. As long as the plants' demands for soil moisture are satisfied and there is airflow surrounding them, humidity usually isn't a problem.
High-Nitrogen Fertiliser And Pollination
Spinach is also a strong feeder because of its rapid growth. When planting, incorporate a high-nitrogen fertiliser into the soil as directed on the package. This will support the growth of healthy foliage. Throughout the season, keep fertilising as directed by your product. Soy meal and fish emulsion are excellent organic options for spinach.
Wind is the main source of pollination for spinach, however various types can cross-pollinate.