Planting Methods and Timing for Water Spinach, a Green Vegetable

Water spinach is one of the most common green vegetables on our family dining tables, mainly grown in southern regions; in the north, due to climate reasons, it is rarely planted. It is nutritious and also has the effect of cooling the blood and removing toxins, making it a fairly popular vegetable. Below I will introduce the planting methods and planting time for water spinach.

1. Planting Time for Water Spinach

Water spinach needs an environment with ample sunlight, high temperature and high humidity. Its seeds require a temperature above 15 degrees to sprout, so it is generally planted from April to July. In northern regions, where temperatures are relatively lower, it is generally planted from June to August.

2. Planting Methods for Water Spinach

1. Environmental Requirements

Water spinach is not demanding about soil, but it prefers heavy, clayey soil with sufficient fertility. It likes high-temperature, high-humidity environments and can tolerate high temperatures of 35-40 degrees. Its optimal growth temperature is 25-30 degrees. It is not tolerant of frost; when exposed to frost, its stems and leaves will wither and die. It is not cold-tolerant, and growth stops below 10 degrees. It likes environments with relatively high air humidity; if the environment is too dry, the fiber increases, the stems become thick and old, and the eating quality decreases.

2. Sowing

Water spinach seeds have a relatively thick and hard seed coat. If sown directly, they will sprout extremely slowly, affecting the planting cycle, and if there is long-term rainy weather, the seeds may rot. Therefore, before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water at 50-60 degrees for 15-30 minutes. Stir while soaking to avoid scalding the seeds, then soak them in clean water for one day, and then place them in a greenhouse environment to promote sprouting. During sprouting, rinse them once a day until they begin to turn white over a large area, at which point they can be sown. They can be broadcast sown or sown in rows, with a seeding rate of about 2 kg per mu. After sowing, cover with a layer of fine soil and water to maintain soil moisture.

3. Field Management

Water spinach has a relatively large demand for fertilizer and water during growth. In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer at planting time, once it grows to 5 cm it should be watered and fertilized to let it grow quickly, and afterward it should be watered frequently to keep the soil moist. In addition, after harvesting, fertilizer should also be applied promptly so it can regrow. Fertilization should mainly use nitrogen fertilizer. In addition, although water spinach can be planted somewhat densely, if it is too densely planted, it cannot receive sunlight and may rot.

4. Land Preparation and Sowing

Water spinach is generally direct sown. Before sowing, deeply plow the soil and apply 2500-3000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer or 1500-2000 kg of human manure and urine, plus 50-100 kg of plant ash per mu, mix evenly with the soil, then rake it level and fine. Before sowing, first treat the seeds, that is, soak them in warm water at 50-60°C for 30 minutes, then soak the seeds in clean water for 20-24 hours. After removing and washing them, place them at a temperature of about 25°C to promote sprouting. During sprouting, keep them moist and rinse the seeds with clean water once a day. Once the seeds split their coats and show white spots, they can be sown. The seeding rate is 6-10 kg per mu. Sowing generally uses dense drilling in rows, with a row spacing of 33 cm, and after sowing, cover with soil. Broadcast sowing or hole sowing can also be used.