When is the most suitable time to sow Malabar spinach?

Malabar spinach is one of the main vegetables in the high-temperature summer season in southern regions. Its leaves contain a variety of vitamins as well as calcium and iron. It is cultivated as a vegetable, and its juice can be used as a harmless food colouring, but it is rarely cultivated and has long been listed as a rare specialty vegetable. It is grown in many places in both northern and southern China, and in the south some have escaped into the wild. Let us take a look below at when Malabar spinach is planted!

When is Malabar spinach planted?

Malabar spinach is generally sown in April and harvested in June. Usually, when the temperature is above 20°C, it can be sown and cultivated in the open field. For those grown mainly for harvesting tender stems and leaves, the harvest period begins about 50 days after sowing. Malabar spinach tolerates high temperature and high humidity, and generally grows in loose, fertile sandy loam. The suitable germination temperature for seeds is generally around 25°C, and the suitable growing temperature for the plants is 25-30°C. Throughout the entire growth period, the soil needs to be moist. A few varieties have strict requirements for high temperature and short daylight, while most varieties do not have strict requirements for sunlight.

Sowing methods for Malabar spinach

1. Land preparation and fertilisation: Before sowing Malabar spinach, prepare the land and apply fertiliser first. Apply about 5,000 kg of fully decomposed high-quality coarse manure per mu. After broadcasting it evenly, plough and harrow the soil and make beds 1-1.2 m wide. When sowing in spring, to raise the ground temperature, you can also cover the ground with plastic film one week before sowing to warm the soil. Sow only when the ground temperature has stabilised above 15°C.

2. Seed soaking and sprouting: The seed coat of Malabar spinach is thick and hard, so the seeds should be soaked and sprouted before sowing. Stir and soak the seeds in 50°C water for 30 minutes, then soak them in warm water at 28-30°C for 4-6 hours. After rubbing them clean, keep them moist at 30°C to promote sprouting. When the seeds show white sprouts, they can be sown.

3. Sowing method: For drilling, first open furrows in the bed, 2-3 cm deep, 10-15 cm wide, with 20 cm between furrows, and sow in rows along the furrows. After sowing, rake the bed level and press it lightly, then water along the bed, just enough for the water to soak the bed surface. For broadcasting, first water the bed thoroughly with bottom water, and after the water seeps down, spread a 0.5 cm layer of fine soil, then sow, and after sowing cover with 1.5-2 cm of fine soil, then cover with plastic film to keep warm and moist. Generally after 3-5 days, seedlings will emerge.

Cultivation techniques for Malabar spinach

1. Thinning and final spacing: For Malabar spinach grown for leaf harvest, the row spacing is 40 cm, the plant spacing is 30 cm, and 1-5 plants per hole; for those grown for tender shoot harvest, the plant and row spacing is 15-20 cm × 30-40 cm, with 1-3 plants per hole.

2. Water and fertiliser management: After Malabar spinach emerges, keep the soil moist and water it in a timely manner. After each harvest, apply a top dressing of human excrement and urine in a timely manner, 50 kg per mu, or 10 kg of urea. In the rainy season, drain water promptly to prevent waterlogging.

3. Harvesting tender shoots: For harvesting tender shoots of Malabar spinach, when the seedlings are 30-35 cm tall, leave 3-4 leaves and cut the top shoot, then select and keep 2 strong, vigorous lateral buds to become shoots, and remove the rest. After harvesting 2 rounds of shoots, again keep 2-4 strong lateral buds to become shoots, and remove the rest. During the vigorous growth period, you may select and keep 5-8 strong lateral buds to become shoots. In the middle and late stages, remove flower buds at any time. At the end of the harvest period, you may keep 1-2 strong lateral buds to become shoots.

4. Harvesting leaves: When cultivating Malabar spinach for leaf harvest, set up a trellis for the vines to climb, and also select and keep main vines. Generally, strong lateral buds at the base should be selected to become vines. When the main vine grows to the top of the trellis, pinch off the growing tip, and after pinching, again select and keep strong lateral buds from the base of the main vine to become vines. 40-50 days after sowing, for harvesting tender leaves, generally harvest once every 15-20 days in the early stage, every 10-15 days in the mid-growth stage, and every 10-17 days in the late stage.

5. Pest and disease control: Insect damage to Malabar spinach is very slight, occurring only in a few continuously waterlogged spots. Diseases include brown spot and grey mould. In the early stage of occurrence, spray 600 times dilution of 72% Kelu wettable powder, or 600 times dilution of 75% chlorothalonil wettable powder, or 1000 times dilution of 70% thiophanate-methyl wettable powder for control, spraying once every 5-7 days, for 2-3 consecutive sprays.