How to grow Malabar spinach? Understand the planting method in one article
As people's understanding of Malabar spinach deepens, more and more people will come to love its unique qualities, and growing Malabar spinach will also become a project for farmers to get rich in the future. So what exactly should be noted when growing Malabar spinach? Let's take a look together with the editor below!
Planting methods for Malabar spinach
1. Variety selection
Choose varieties with strong growth vigor, many branches, tolerance to high temperature, drought and moisture, and high nutritional value; thick stems, thick leaves, tender, soft, smooth and fleshy leaves. Such as Large-leaf Malabar spinach.
2. Seed soaking and germination
The seed coat of Malabar spinach is hard and difficult to germinate, so germination treatment must be carried out before sowing. First soak the seeds in warm water at 35 for 1-2 days, then remove them and place them at 25-30 to germinate. After about 4 days, when the seeds “show white”, they can be sown.
3. Land preparation and fertilization
Before sowing, apply 3000-4000kg of decomposed organic fertilizer and 50kg of superphosphate per 667m, deep plow and rake level, and make flat beds. Bed width 1.2m. And set up the greenhouse in time.
4. Cultivation methods
① Direct seeding cultivation. For direct seeding to harvest young seedlings, use 6-8 kg of seed per mu, broadcast sowing. To facilitate emergence, soak the seeds for 1-2 days before sowing and germinate them at about 30℃. About 40 days after sowing, when the seedlings are 10-15 cm tall, they can be harvested.
② Seedling raising and transplanting. Prepare the seedbed well, sow dry seeds, and seedlings emerge in 3-5 days at a suitable temperature of about 28℃. If the soil temperature is low, sow after germination. During the seedling stage, control the temperature appropriately low, and transplant when there are 4-5 true leaves. For harvesting tender shoots, the row spacing is 20-25 cm and the plant spacing is 15-20 cm; for trellis cultivation to harvest tender leaves, the row spacing is 60 cm and the plant spacing is 25-35 cm, keeping 3000-4000 plants per mu.
Growth habits of Malabar spinach
Malabar spinach originates from tropical Asia. It is grown in many places in both northern and southern China, and in the south it has escaped into the wild. It tolerates high temperature and high humidity and generally grows in loose and fertile sandy loam. The suitable germination temperature for seeds is generally about 25℃, and the suitable growth temperature for plants is 25-30℃. Throughout the entire growth period, the soil needs to be moist. A few varieties have strict requirements for high temperature and short-day conditions, while most varieties do not have strict requirements for sunlight. It grows in areas below 2000 m altitude.
Fertilization methods for Malabar spinach
The growth process of Malabar spinach has very large fertilizer and water requirements, so the fertilizer and water management of Malabar spinach must run through the entire daily management work. On the basis of applying sufficient base fertilizer, quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer should also be applied multiple times during the growth period. Fertilizer must not be lacking throughout the entire cultivation process of Malabar spinach, otherwise the shoots will age, the leaves will be small, and the quality will be poor. Topdressing is generally carried out after each harvest. The amount of each topdressing is 800-1000kg per 667 sq m of fully decomposed 30%-50% decomposed organic fertilizer, plus 15kg of urea.
Malabar spinach likes moisture. After each harvest, irrigate once in combination with topdressing to keep the soil often moist. In case of drought, the number of irrigations should be increased.
Harvesting of Malabar spinach
1. The best time to harvest Malabar spinach
Under normal circumstances, Malabar spinach grown for harvesting young seedlings can be harvested about 40 days after sowing, when the seedlings have grown to 5-6 leaves.
When the purpose is to harvest tender leaves of Malabar spinach, harvest once every 15-20 days in the early stage, once every 10-20 days in the middle growth stage, and once every 10-17 days in the later stage. When harvesting tender shoots of Malabar spinach, you can use a knife or scissors to cut. Cut when the shoots are 10-15 cm long, once every 7-10 days. You can also use the method of cutting tender shoots in the early and late stages and harvesting tender leaves in the middle stage.
2. Harvesting methods for Malabar spinach
Both the leaves and tender shoots of Malabar spinach can be eaten. When harvesting mainly for tender shoots, after the seedlings are 30 cm tall, leave 3 leaves and pinch off the top shoot, select strong side buds to grow new shoots, and remove the rest. After harvesting the new shoots, select 2-4 strong side shoots or new shoots. In the later stage, as growth vigor weakens, keep 1-2 strong buds or shoots after pruning to maintain large leaves and strong shoots.
When mainly harvesting tender leaves, keep the main vine and one side vine at the base, and pinch the growing point again when the plant reaches the top of the trellis. Select strong buds or a new main vine from the base of the main vine. After the leaves of the original main vine are all harvested, cut it off near the new main vine. Harvest once every 10 days in the early stage and once every 5-7 days in the later stage, with a yield of 1000-2000 kg per 666.7 sq m.
Growing Malabar spinach is the same as growing other vegetables: every planting procedure is very important. In addition, Malabar spinach also has some unique growth habits and requirements, which also require special attention when growing it. Since you have decided to grow Malabar spinach, just enjoy the growing process!