Spinach Planting Time: The Latest Guide, Months for Sowing at a Glance
Spinach is divided into four types according to different planting times: autumn spinach, overwintering spinach, spring spinach and summer spinach. Because varieties differ, they also respond differently to day length. Once the plant's phase development is complete, it will bolt and flower, completing its reproductive growth.
Spinach Planting Time
1. Planting time for autumn spinach
Autumn spinach is generally sown in August-September, and can be harvested in batches 30-50 days after sowing. It is best to choose early-maturing varieties that are more heat-tolerant and grow quickly, such as Litou Bo, Huabo No. 1, Guangdong Round Leaf, and Chunqiu Daye.
2. Planting time for overwintering spinach
Overwintering spinach is usually sown from mid-October to early November and harvested in batches around the Spring Festival. It is best to choose mid- and late-maturing varieties with strong winter hardiness, late bolting and strong cold tolerance, such as Round Leaf Spinach, Late Round Leaf Spinach, Huabo No. 1, and Liaoning Round Leaf Spinach.
3. Planting time for spring spinach
Sowing can begin once temperatures rise above 5°C after the start of spring. March is the suitable sowing period, with harvest 30-50 days after sowing. Varieties should be chosen for late bolting and thick leaves, such as Late Round Leaf Spinach, Chunqiu Daye, Shenyang Round Leaf, and Liaoning Round Leaf.
4. Planting time for summer spinach
Summer spinach is often sown in stages from May to July and harvested successively from late June to mid-September. It is best to choose Huabo No. 1, Chunqiu Daye, Guangdong Round Leaf and others, which are highly heat-tolerant, grow rapidly and are not prone to bolting.
Land Preparation and Bed Making
Choose loose, fertile, slightly acidic loam that retains water and nutrients and has good drainage and irrigation, with a pH of 5.5-7. When preparing the land, apply 4000 kg of decomposed organic fertilizer and 40 kg of superphosphate per mu, then level and refine the soil. In winter and spring, make high beds; in summer and autumn, make flat beds, with a bed width of 1.2-1.5 m.
Sowing and Raising Seedlings
Broadcasting is generally used. For summer and autumn sowing, soak the seeds in water for 12 hours one week before sowing, place them in a well or in a refrigerator or cold storage at about 4OC for 24 hours, then germinate them at 20-25OC; sow after sprouting in 3-5 days. In winter and spring, dry seeds or wet seeds can be sown. Sow 3-3.5 kg per mu.
After watering the bed surface thoroughly with bottom water, sow and lightly rake the surface soil with a tooth rake so the seeds enter the soil, then cover the bed surface with a layer of plant ash.
After summer and autumn sowing, cover with rice straw or use a small arch shed with a shade net to prevent high temperatures and heavy rain from washing the soil. Keep the soil moist at all times; seedlings can emerge uniformly in 6-7 days. If winter sowing temperatures are low, cover the bed with plastic film or a shade net to keep it warm and promote emergence, then remove it after the seedlings emerge.