How to grow autumn spinach for high yields? A full analysis of key cultivation techniques

I. Plot selection Choose a sheltered, sunny site with loose, fertile soil, good drainage, and neutral to slightly acidic soil for cultivation.

II. Land preparation and fertilization Overwintering spinach has a relatively long growing period. If the base fertilizer is insufficient, the plants grow thin and weak before winter, which is unfavorable for safely overwintering, and they are prone to premature bolting when growth resumes the following year. After the previous crop is harvested, first remove the residues of the previous crop, then apply sufficient base fertilizer: 4000-5000 kg of decomposed human and livestock manure, 50 kg of high-concentration compound fertilizer, and 50 kg of ammonium bicarbonate per mu, then plow, harrow level, and make beds. Use flat-bed cultivation, with a bed width of about 1.5 m, ensuring both drainage and irrigation are possible.

III. Selection of good varieties For autumn spinach cultivation, choose varieties with strong winter hardiness, late bolting, strong cold tolerance, and high yield, such as Dutch spinach, pointed-leaf spinach, Boza No. 10, Boza No. 9, and so on.

IV. Sowing at the right time Before sowing, generally soak the seeds in cool water for 12 hours, then place them on the lowest shelf of a refrigerator at 7-8°C for 24-26 hours, and then germinate them at 20-25°C. Alternatively, soak the seeds in 0.1% potassium nitrate for 16-20 hours, and sow when the seeds show white sprouts.

V. Scientific sowing Spinach seeds have a hard shell and do not easily absorb water, making uniform emergence difficult. Therefore, before sowing, the field's bottom water must be sufficient. If the weather is rather dry at sowing time, irrigation must be carried out in advance to preserve soil moisture, and sowing should be done 1-2 days later. If the soil moisture is still acceptable, after opening the furrows, also pour enough water into the sowing furrows. Japanese spinach seeds are large, plump and uniform, and have strong germination vigor. For sowing, the method of drilling in furrows can be used, opening furrows along the bed, with a furrow spacing of 18-20 cm, a furrow depth of 2 cm, and a seed spacing of 4-5 cm. Appropriate dense planting is acceptable, with the sowing rate per mu kept at 0.7-0.8 kg. After sowing, cover with soil 2-3 cm deep, then lightly press to preserve soil moisture and help emergence. If the soil moisture is suitable, generally uniform emergence can be achieved 7-10 days after sowing.

VI. Fertilizer and water management Spinach likes fertile, moist, cool conditions and avoids drought and waterlogging; it is a fast-growing vegetable. Therefore, during the growing period, sufficient fertilizer and water must be supplied in a timely manner. From sowing to uniform emergence, the soil must be kept moist to ensure uniform emergence. At the 3-leaf stage, carry out intertillage and weeding to improve aeration and promote rooting; before the rows close, at the 6-7 leaf stage, combine water with fertilizer, integrating fertilizer and water, to promote vigorous growth of spinach. Apply 10-15 kg of urea per mu. As for the fertilization method, apply dry and then water, or take advantage of the weather when it rains to fertilize; after the rows close, if topdressing is needed, ammonium bicarbonate solution can be applied with irrigation water. If drought occurs during the growing period, water frequently to maintain moisture. If continuous rain occurs, drain the water promptly.

VII. Pest and disease control The main diseases of spinach are downy mildew and anthracnose, which mainly damage the leaves. The main insect pests are leafminers and aphids, which should be controlled with timely pesticide application. Control methods: For agricultural control, implement a 2-3 year crop rotation, rational dense planting, scientific irrigation, clean the field, and promptly remove diseased and residual plant parts. For chemical control: for diseases, spray 64% Sandofan 500x solution, 52.5% Yikuaijing 1500x solution, 70% thiophanate-methyl 700x solution, and other pesticides; for insect pests, spray 75% Qianke 3000-4000x solution, 0.5% Haizheng Sanling 2500x solution, 15% Caixi 1500-2000x solution, 70% Aimeile 7000x solution, and other pesticides.

VIII. Timely harvesting When spinach plants have grown to 35-40 cm, they can be harvested in a timely manner. During harvesting, remove yellow leaves, withered leaves, and diseased leaves, and then sell them. Zhang Zhenyu