Spinach is not tolerant of strong light or high temperatures. How can you grow it well out of season and through the summer?

    Spinach prefers cool conditions and is not tolerant of high temperatures or strong light. Generally, when the temperature is above 25°C, spinach struggles to grow normally. Therefore, for out-of-season spinach cultivation in summer, effective techniques should be adopted so that the economic returns are high.

Spinach

    I. Choose suitable varieties

    Heat-tolerant varieties can be used. Heat-tolerant spinach can still grow normally at high temperatures of around 30°C, and can yield 1500-2000 kg of spinach per mu.

    II. Soaking seeds and promoting germination

    When the temperature reaches 30°C, spinach seeds germinate with great difficulty. At this time, germination can be promoted in a well. The method is to first soak the spinach seeds in deep well water for 1-2 hours. After the spinach seeds have absorbed enough water, wrap them well in a towel, tie them with a rope and hang them in the well, about 1 m above the water surface. Rinse them once each morning and evening. After 3-4 days, when the seeds show white sprouts, sow them.

    III. Land preparation and sowing

    Apply sufficient base fertilizer, then turn and harrow the soil and make beds. With a row spacing of 15 cm, draw shallow furrows 2 cm deep, and evenly dibble the spinach seeds in the furrows, with a plant spacing of 5 cm (single-seed sowing) to 10 cm (double-seed sowing), and cover with 1.5-2 cm of soil. Water after sowing. After 8-10 days, give one heavy watering, and then water another 2-3 times as needed.

    IV. Shade and rain protection

    Because spinach is not tolerant of strong light or high temperatures, shade and cooling are necessary in summer to ensure normal growth.

    V. Pest and disease control

    In summer, spinach is prone to downy mildew, anthracnose, leaf spot and viral diseases. Downy mildew can be controlled with 64% oxadixyl-mancozeb wettable powder at 500 times dilution. Anthracnose can be controlled with 50% carbendazim wettable powder at 700 times dilution or 80% anthracnose Fumei wettable powder at 800 times dilution. Leaf spot can be controlled with 36% thiophanate-methyl suspension concentrate at 500 times dilution or 40% sulfur multi suspension concentrate at 600 times dilution. Viral diseases can be controlled with 1.5% zhibingling emulsion at 1000 times dilution.