How to grow leaf beet seeds? Detailed explanation of sowing time and methods

I. Seed collection

Every year in June, its fruit ripens, and at this time we can pick it, then dry it slightly; once the fruit splits open, we can take out the seeds inside. Also remember that when harvesting seeds, if you want to plant them the same year, you can harvest them immediately, but if you want to wait before planting, it is best to harvest in spring and autumn.

II. Sowing time

In the Changsha area, the period from early August to early October is suitable for planting. If you want to sow in spring, the best specific time is early March; if you sow in summer, the best specific time is June.

III. Sowing

After harvesting the seeds, we can plant them. When planting, we can use direct sowing, or broadcast sowing to raise seedlings and then transplant them. Because its seed coat does not absorb water easily, before planting it is best to soak it in water for 24 hours, and then it can be planted. After all the seeds are planted, cover them with a layer of soil. If planting in summer, also cover them with a layer of shade netting to prevent the light from being too strong. After that, you can wait for them to sprout.

IV. Later care

If you planted them by broadcast sowing, then when the seedlings grow to 6 to 8 cm tall, start thinning them to increase the growing space. Then when the seedlings grow to 20 cm tall, you can begin to set the final spacing, and afterward water them appropriately and let them enjoy sunlight. Very soon, the plants will grow 5 to 6 leaves, and at this point we can harvest the leaves to eat.

Also note that if you set the plants in place very early, before winter you can harvest their leaves about 3 times, and when spring comes, you can strip off leaves once about every 10 days. Each time you strip leaves, generally remove 3 to 4 leaves and leave 3 to 4 large leaves, then apply fertilizer frequently so that they grow faster.