What are the methods for growing Ceylon spinach on a balcony?
Ceylon spinach, also known as Malabar spinach and tofu vegetable, is a perennial tall herb in the genus Gynura of the Asteraceae family. The young leaves of Ceylon spinach are tender and smooth, with high nutritional value, and taste crisp and refreshing like wood ear fungus, which is why it is called Ceylon spinach. So how do you grow Ceylon spinach on a balcony?
1. Growth habits of Ceylon spinach
Ceylon spinach originates mainly from the tropical regions of Asia and tolerates high temperatures and high humidity. It generally grows in loose, fertile sandy loam. Ceylon spinach grows quickly and is usually propagated by cuttings. We can grow Ceylon spinach on a balcony or open space at home, which is both convenient and safe. Generally, a new crop can be harvested 25-30 days after cutting.
2. Methods for growing Ceylon spinach on a balcony
1. Variety selection
The main varieties of Ceylon spinach are red Malabar spinach, green-stem Malabar spinach, leaf Malabar spinach and white-flowered Malabar spinach. Generally, choose varieties with strong growth vigor, many branches, tolerance to high temperatures, drought and moisture, high nutritional value, thick stems, thick leaves, and tender leaves that are soft, smooth and fleshy, such as large-leaf Ceylon spinach.
2. Seed treatment
Soak the seeds in warm water at 25 for at least about 48 hours. During soaking, keep rubbing them, then remove them and place them in an environment of about 25-30 degrees to promote germination.
3. Sowing and planting out
If there is no open space at home, you can use a foam box on the balcony instead as the growing container. The plow layer depth for Ceylon spinach is about 20cm. Before sowing, bury decomposed organic fertilizer. When half of the treated seeds have sprouted white, they can be sown. Seedlings can emerge after 6-7 days. When 4-5 true leaves have appeared, they can be planted out, with plants generally spaced about 10cm apart.
4. Daily management
Ceylon spinach likes a moist soil environment, and it is best to keep the soil often moist. Water a small amount at a time but frequently. In dry conditions, increase the number of waterings. Generally, water once in combination with topdressing after each harvest.
5. Plant adjustment
When the seedlings are 30cm tall, keep 3-4 leaves and harvest the tender shoots, select and keep 2 strong lateral buds, and remove the rest. After the second harvest, keep another 2-4 strong lateral buds. During the peak growth period, 5-8 strong lateral buds can be selected and kept. In the middle and late stages, flower buds should be removed at any time. At the end of the harvest period, when the plant's growth vigor weakens, select and keep 1-2 strong lateral buds.
6. Disease control
The main diseases of Ceylon spinach are brown spot, purple spot and gray mold. Zineb or chlorothalonil can be used to control brown spot, chlorothalonil wettable powder or procymidone wettable powder can be used to control purple spot, and benomyl or vinclozolin can be used to control gray mold.
7. Harvesting
When the goal is to harvest the tender leaves of Ceylon spinach, in the early stage it can be harvested once every 15-20 days, in the middle growth stage once every 10-20 days, and in the late stage once every 10-17 days. When harvesting tender shoots, you can cut with a knife or scissors. Cut when the shoots are 10-15cm 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.
The above are the methods introduced by Tuliu.com for growing Ceylon spinach on a balcony. Growing vegetables on a balcony has become the choice of many families, as it is both convenient and safe. Friends who have an unused balcony at home may wish to refer to the methods introduced in this article and try growing smooth and refreshing Ceylon spinach!