Detailed Explanation of Spinach Planting Techniques and Management Methods

Spinach is a common vegetable, known as the “nutrition model student.” It can be used to make soup, served cold, stir-fried on its own, or stir-fried with meat dishes. It is widely cultivated in our country. Below, the editor will introduce spinach planting and management.

1. Land preparation and bed making

Choose loose, fertile, water- and fertilizer-retentive, well-drained and irrigated, slightly acidic loam soil, with a pH value of 5.5-7. During land preparation, apply 4000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer and 40 kg of superphosphate per mu. Level and finely crumble the soil. In winter and spring, it is suitable to make high beds; in summer and autumn, make flat beds. The bed width is 1.2-1.5 m.

2. Sowing

Spinach fields generally use broadcasting. For summer and autumn sowing, soak the seeds in water for 12 hours 1 week before sowing, place them in a well or in a refrigerator or freezer at about 4°C for 24 hours, then germinate them under conditions of 20-25°C. Sow after 3-5 days when they have sprouted. In winter and spring, dry seeds or wet seeds can be sown. Sow 3-3.5 kg per mu.

3. Seedling raising

After watering the bed surface sufficiently with bottom water, sow, then lightly rake the surface soil with a toothed rake so that the seeds enter the soil, and cover the bed surface with a layer of plant ash. For summer and autumn sowing, after sowing, cover with rice straw or use a small arch shed covered with a shade net to prevent high temperature and heavy rain from washing it away. Keep the soil warm and moist frequently. Complete seedlings can appear in 6-7 days. For winter sowing, when the temperature is relatively low, cover the bed with plastic film or a shade net to keep it warm and promote seedling emergence, and remove it after emergence.

4. Field management

Water and fertilizer: after autumn spinach produces true leaves, pour 1 application of clear manure water; after 2 true leaves, combined with thinning and weeding, topdress fertilizer, first light and then concentrated, applying more decomposed manure in the early stage; during the vigorous growth period, topdress 2-3 times, with 5-10 kg of urea per mu each time. After sowing winter spinach, keep the soil moist. When there are 3-4 true leaves, control water appropriately to help overwintering. When there are 2-3 true leaves, the seedling spacing is 3-4 cm. According to seedling conditions and weather, topdress with water and fertilizer, mainly decomposed human feces and urine. Apply quick-acting nitrogen fertilizer 15 days before harvest.

Heat preservation: during frost and ice-snow weather, cover with plastic film and a shade net to keep warm, and a small arch shed can be used for covering. After the beginning of spring, choose sunny days to topdress with decomposed dilute manure water to prevent early bolting. In the early stage of spring spinach, cover with plastic film to keep warm, and it can be directly covered on the bed surface. After emergence, remove the film immediately or change to small arch shed covering. For the small arch shed, uncover during the day and cover at night, uncover on sunny days and cover on rainy days, so that the seedlings can see more light, be hardened more, and be thinned in time.

5. Pest and disease control

Aphids: spray with 40% dimethoate 1000-fold solution, or 50% pirimicarb 2000-3000-fold solution.

Leafminer: spray with 50% phoxim emulsifiable concentrate 1000-fold solution, or 80% trichlorfon powder 1000-fold solution.

Downy mildew: spray with 58% Ridomil 500-fold solution, or 75% chlorothalonil 600-fold solution.

Anthracnose: spray with 50% thiophanate-methyl 500-fold solution, or 50% carbendazim 700-fold solution for control.

Spinach planting and management are relatively simple. If planting in autumn and winter, be sure to take good heat preservation measures.