Detailed Explanation of Key Techniques for Growing Water Spinach in Greenhouses
Growing water spinach in a greenhouse requires mastering tasks such as selecting varieties, sowing and raising seedlings, transplanting, field management, fertilizer and water management, and harvesting.
Greenhouse Water Spinach Cultivation Techniques
(1) Selecting Suitable Varieties
Choose high-quality, high-yielding Thai water spinach or Tu'an large-leaf water spinach.
(2) Sowing and Raising Seedlings
In early to mid-February, raise seedlings in an electrically heated hotbed. Use 30 kg of seed per mu of seedbed. About 30 days after sowing, when the seedlings are 13-20 cm tall, they can be thinned and brought to market or transplanted. The area ratio of seedbed to transplanting field is 1:15-200.
(3) Transplanting
In early March, take advantage of the end of a cold spell and the start of a warm one, and plant on a sunny morning in the greenhouse, with a plant and row spacing of 6.5 cm square, 2-5 plants per hole, and water promptly after planting.
(4) Field Management
1. Greenhouse Management
Before the transplanted plants have taken root and survived, keep the greenhouse tightly closed. After the seedlings have recovered, ventilation can be gradually introduced, but keep them warm at night. In late April, ventilation can be gradually increased. In early May, remove the greenhouse film and cultivate in the open field.
2. Fertilizer and Water Management
Water spinach has a very high demand for fertilizer and water, so the soil should be kept constantly moist. After each harvest, apply topdressing 1-2 times, mainly with dilute human manure and urine.
3. Spraying Hormones
To make the stems and leaves of water spinach grow rapidly and reach the market earlier, spray the leaves with 50 ppm gibberellin at an interval of 20 days.
(5) Harvesting
1. One-time Harvest
When the seedlings in the seedling greenhouse are 18-21 cm tall, combine final thinning with thinning for market. The remaining seedlings can be harvested multiple times for market.
2. Transplanting to Greenhouse Cultivation
For multiple harvests for market, pick and leave 2-3 nodes at the base to promote the sprouting of more tender branches and increase yield.