Key points and precautions for overwintering spinach
Winter vegetables are no longer as rare as they used to be, and in many places some vegetables are grown in winter, with spinach being one of the choices for many people. When growing in winter, temperature is a big issue, so what should be paid attention to when overwintering spinach at this time? Let's take a look below at several points that need special attention for overwintering spinach!
1. Increase fertilizer to promote growth
Before winter, the size of the spinach is very important; if it is too small, it has no resistance to low temperatures at all, and if it is too large, it increases the area exposed to the outside, making it more likely to freeze. Before overwintering, spinach should be given more fertilizer to promote growth, so that its leaves quickly grow to about 5-6 leaves, which is a relatively suitable stage for spinach to overwinter; at this time the spinach itself has strong resistance, and the area affected by the outside is not very large either. However, when fertilizing, pay attention to the amount and the combination, so as to avoid excessive vegetative growth in the spinach, which would then lead to large-scale death from freezing!
2. Grass mulch and plastic film protection
Grass mulch and plastic film protection are divided into two types: one refers to covering with grass material, and the other refers to plastic film; the choice between the two depends on the actual local conditions. If the local temperature is extremely low and there is relatively more moisture, making it easy to freeze, then it is best to choose plastic film, as its insulation effect is better. If there is a lot of local snowfall and many consecutive snowy days, it is best to use grass material as the mulch. You can also decide between these two according to your own conditions. Generally, when low temperatures occur continuously, you should start preparing to use them, and not too late.
3. Control soil moisture
When the surface temperature reaches below zero, it will freeze, but this is not the case inside the soil. Many people think that making the soil a bit more moist before winter will cause the spinach to freeze, but this is actually wrong; as long as the soil is not so moist that it becomes sticky and slippery, it basically will not freeze. A bit of moisture in the soil is also good for heat retention, because groundwater basically does not freeze, and it can keep the temperature in the soil from dropping below zero, allowing the spinach to overwinter better. Therefore, before overwintering, soil moisture must be well controlled.
4. Prevent frost damage
Frost during the overwintering period is the disaster with the greatest impact on spinach. Some cases are caused by snow and water falling at the same time, while in others the snow and water melt halfway during the day and then freeze again at night; when spinach faces this kind of disaster directly, the losses are basically severe. In the face of such a situation, you can consider covering the top of the spinach plot with plastic sheeting, which can effectively reduce the losses from this disaster. Place the plastic sheeting at an angle, and prepare several fixing points so that it will not be blown apart by the wind.
The above are some of the issues to pay attention to when overwintering spinach. In winter, many people often cannot deal with these problems in time, so it is best to prepare in advance, and then there will be no need to worry once winter arrives.