Water Spinach Hydroponic Growing Methods and Planting Time Explained

SummaryPlanting time: April to July. Seed treatment: soak in clean water for 1 day, remove and rinse clean, then place in an environment at room temperature of 30°C to sprout. Prepare plug trays and substrate: choose 72-cell or 123-cell plug trays, and use peat and perlite as the substrate. Planting: place the seedling substrate in the plug tray, water until it soaks through to the bottom, and then planting can begin. Transplanting: row spacing must be well controlled during growth. Fertilizer and water management: apply fertilizer once after each harvest.

I. Planting Time

1. Water spinach is a vegetable that loves light and high temperatures, so the planting time should be chosen according to its characteristics. Generally, April to July each year is the suitable time for planting water spinach. After planting, once water spinach grows to a height of about 30cm, it can be harvested, and water spinach can be picked about once every 1 week.

2. If you want to be able to eat water spinach throughout the whole season, you need to apply fertilizer once after each harvest, which helps promote the growth of its stems and leaves. While harvesting, you can also remove stems that are too long or too dense, which helps with ventilation and even light exposure. The whole harvest period is also relatively long, and it can basically be eaten until around October in autumn.

II. Seed Treatment

There are many varieties of water spinach. Generally, you can choose varieties with strong disease resistance and good growth. Soak the purchased seeds in hot water for about 30 minutes, then soak them in clean water for 1 day, remove and rinse them clean, and place them in an environment at room temperature of 30°C to sprout. During the entire sprouting stage, rinse the seeds with warm water every day. After 7 days, the seeds will have small white dots, and at this point they can be planted.

III. Preparing Plug Trays and Substrate

Generally, 72-cell or 123-cell plug trays can be chosen for seedling raising. For the substrate, use peat and perlite; as long as water retention and air permeability are good, it is fine. The substrate needs to be disinfected and sterilized in advance to avoid pest problems later.

IV. Planting

First place the seedling substrate in the plug tray, then scrape off the excess substrate, then water thoroughly. Wait until the water soaks through to the bottom, and then planting can begin. After planting is completed, cover with film to retain moisture. After the seedlings emerge, uncover the film to allow ventilation and light.

V. Transplanting

During the growth of water spinach, row spacing must be well controlled. When transplanting, water thoroughly. After the water soaks through, the water spinach seedlings can be transplanted into the substrate.

VI. Fertilizer and Water Management

1. After planting, not only should base fertilizer be maintained, but fertilizer should also be applied once after each harvest. Watering should be determined according to growth conditions. In general, water spinach loves a moist growing environment, so water about once every 5 days.

2. Most people like the fresh and crisp texture of water spinach, especially the taste when eaten immediately after being taken out of the pan. Besides being eaten as a vegetable, water spinach can also be considered a kind of feed and can also be used as a medicinal material, so it has many uses.