Detailed Explanation of Spinach Field Management Technical Points

Spinach can generally be cultivated in all four seasons, but spring cultivation produces the best quality spinach. Field management measures for spinach are particularly important and can directly affect quality and yield. Let's take a look at spinach field management techniques.

1. Soil

Establish a seedling bed on flat land. If the soil is compacted and the acid-base balance is off, soil replacement cultivation can be carried out. Replace the 30 cm thick soil layer with a prepared nutrient soil mixed with decomposed organic fertilizer and river sand, or with natural black soil, humus soil, or similar soils. This can enhance the soil's fertilizer retention and aeration, which is beneficial to spinach growth.

2. Seedling Raising

For early spring spinach cultivation, it is generally necessary to set up a small film-covered shed for seedling raising. The seedling bed is best at a width of 1 m to 1.2 m, so that a person standing in the ditch can reach both sides. The ridge surface can be about 4 cm above ground level, and the ditch depth is best at about 20 cm. Before sowing in the seedling bed, solarize the bed for 3 to 5 days or carry out chemical spray disinfection. After emergence, promptly remove seedlings damaged by pests and diseases, as well as thin, small seedlings and yellowed, poor-quality seedlings. When the seedlings grow to two true leaves, thin them out once more, leaving enough growing space until transplanting. Water thoroughly before transplanting, and keep as much soil as possible around the roots when lifting the seedlings.

3. Fertilization

When improving the soil, add some compost, waterlogged manure, and other farm organic fertilizers as base fertilizer. If it is natural humus soil, less fertilizer can be applied. After the seedlings emerge, immediately use diluted fertilizer water, applying thin fertilizer frequently to promote growth. After the seedlings emerge uniformly, topdress once with nitrogen fertilizer to prepare the seedlings for transplanting. After transplanting, apply less fertilizer water to avoid burning the roots. During the spinach growing period, topdress with nitrogen fertilizer in a timely manner, along with a small amount of phosphorus and potassium fertilizer. Applying too much potassium fertilizer tends to harden the stems, but not applying it makes the leaves prone to yellowing.

4. Water Control

After spinach grows leaves, water once. When two leaves have grown, combine thinning, weeding, and fertilizing with one watering. During the vigorous growth period, a large amount of water is needed to maintain nutrient transport, so water thoroughly once every three days at this time. In cold winter, water several times when the leaves have grown to three leaves, but reduce watering frequency afterward to prevent frost damage.

5. Temperature

Seeds can germinate at around 18 to 30 degrees, and the optimum temperature for emergence is around 20 to 25 degrees. During the growing period, temperatures above 30 degrees make it prone to wilting and water loss. Autumn weather is suitable, so generally not much management is needed. In winter, during low-temperature frost days, a shed can be built for overwintering to prevent frost damage to the leaves or bolting. Natural growth in open fields generally meets the light requirements, but covered cultivation can adjust the light exposure time.

If the above management points are done well in spinach planting, then no matter in which season spinach is cultivated, good spinach growth can be maintained and diseases can be resisted. Harvesting high-quality spinach also greatly increases its market value.