Cut individual leaves, starting with the older, outer leaves and letting the young inner leaves remain to continue growing for a later harvest. How to Grow Spinach in Pots Spinach grows in a range of humidity conditions, including very dry climates. Clive Biggs spoke to Mike Burgess about the family’s well-adapted Nandi Nguni stud in the foothills of the Drakensberg near Cedarville. As gardeners, the biggest payoff comes when baby leaves are left intact so the plants can quickly grow into robust, almost-mature teens. Cool-season weeds must be plucked out to keep them from overrunning the bed, but spinach seedlings are sturdy little plants. I direct-sow a second planting later in spring, when the soil has warmed enough to support steady germination. Remove the mulch, and the plants should resume growing, giving you an even earlier harvest. Happy farming and gardening week! It does not really need much space and care to grow. Cover the seed with soil and press gently. Spinach is a easy to grow green leafy vegetable which is rich in nutrients. deep. Provide good care for growing spinach. Plant spinach during the cool weather of spring and fall. Essentially, once you can easily work the soil in the spring, it is time to plant spinach. Spinach planting can also occur in containers. Use flood irrigation, a sprinkler, a watering can, a hosepipe or drip irrigation. Water spinach frequently to keep the soil moist; this also helps keep it cool during hot weather. Spinach can be harvested in the "cut and the come again" method of harvesting leafy greens like lettuce. Will eating plenty of fresh spinach pump up your muscles like it did for Popeye? Difficulty— Easy. If you need help designing your vegetable garden, try our Vegetable Garden Planner. In warmer climates, you could quite possibly be harvesting well into winter. The ideal germination temperature for spinach is 70°F (21°C). Sow about 12 seeds per foot of row, or sprinkle over a wide row or bed. Plant spinach when it is still cold outside. Cover the seeds lightly with soil, firm it in place, and water well. Spinach is sown throughout the year. Water the plants regularly. This type of spinach has attractive and dark green leaves. Spinach can be frozen for later use. Sow your spinach seeds about 1/2 an inch deep, pushed directly into the container or a seed tray. For winter season, best time for sowing is from September to October. Plant as you would in the garden. For a spring crop, spinach can be planted as early as four to six weeks before the last frost date, or as early as the soil is able to be worked. Starke Ayres is the foremost African specialist and global supplier of premium vegetable seed, flower seed and lawn seed – both for commercial farming and home garden planting. Spinach prefers a well-draining soil with a neutral pH and won't be happy at a pH lower than 6.0. Spinach seedlings throw out long, strappy seedling leaves that make them easy to identify when a new bed is bursting with unknown green things. Fill the pot loosely with moist, nitrogen-rich soil. However, it’s important to note that spinach seeds do not germinate well at soil temperatures above 85 degrees Fahrenheit. But this Southern African nation has not been spared the irony of food wastage at a time of food shortages. If the ground freezes before the plants mature, mulch them with hay and leave them be until the temperatures warm again in spring. How to Plant Spinach Although seeds can be started indoors, it is not recommended, as seedlings are difficult to transplant. In warm climates, plant spinach in the shade of tall crops such as corn or beans. If space is tight or rabbits are many, you can easily grow spinach in containers. She can be reached on Cell: 0779 730 880 or 16 Metcalf Road, Greendale, Harare. In any area, don't wait all week, then deep-water; it's better to water several times per week at a minimum. Light, frequent watering will help the leaves develop quickly and produce a high-quality plant. Frozen spinach is best used within three to six months. For new gardeners, one of the great things about growing spinach is being about to distinguish the seedlings from weeds. You can also add nitrogen into soil using fertilizer or compost. Spinach prefers full sun, but it is one of the few vegetables that can also tolerate some … At a well-stocked produce market, you might choose between baby spinach, larger leaf spinach known as teenage spinach, or mature plants tied into a bundle. Monitor your crop for aphids regularly and hose them off immediately if you find them. Since spinach is grown when the weather is cool and damp, several fungal diseases, such as downy mildew (blue mold) and fusarium wilt, can become problems. Spinach varieties come in Savoy, Semi-savoy, and Flat-leafed types, with many cultivars of each. You will need to water more frequently, since containers dry out faster. Fertilize your spinach after the seedlings are well established and growing rapidly. Well watered, well nourished spinach will have a better chance of keeping insect pests and diseases at bay. Spinach is a cool weather crop that doesn’t grow well in hot summer months when the days are long. Space your spinach plants so they get good air circulation and try to keep water off the leaves in the evening. For spring season complete sowing from Mid-February to April. Almost anything that grows in a garden can be grown in a container. (We won't display this on the website or use it for marketing), (Please enter the code above to help prevent spam on this article), Expert Tips for Growing Extra-Early Salad Crops, Charmed by Chicories: Growing Garden Endive, Escarole, and Radicchio, Keep Growing! A fertilizer high in nitrogen, the first number on the fertilizer package, will help produce dark, healthy leaves. Choose an indoor potting mix from a gardening center. Growing spinach in containers is an easy crop to start with. When this happens, new leaves become smaller and more pointed, and the center of the plant rises and elongates into a stalk – a process called bolting. Spinach is very fast-growing and can be ready to harvest in as little as one month after it's planted as seed. Fish emulsion and soy meal are good organic choices for spinach. Wash the leaves well and allow them to dry somewhat before placing in a resealable freezer bag. Add your own thoughts on the subject of this article: If you've seen any pests or beneficial insects in your garden in the past few days please report them to The Big Bug Hunt and help create a warning system to alert you when bugs are heading your way. Sow the spinach seeds thinly in rows spaced about 12 to 18 inches apart, or simply scatter the seeds in blocks. It can even be used as a cover crop for other plants like egg plant or tomatoes. The best temperature for growing spinach is between 16ºC and 24ºC. If you cut about an inch above the crown or base of the plant, it is very likely the plant will send out a new flush of leaves. You can also grow spinach in the shade cast by taller vegetable plants and near plants that will begin spreading out as the spinach finishes its season, such as pole beans and corn. Growing spinach in containers is an easy crop to start with. Winter Salads and Herbs for Your Windowsill. You can begin harvesting whenever the leaves are large enough for your taste. The biological processes that release soil-borne nutrients to plants proceed slowly in cold soil, so early spinach often benefits from a thorough drench with an organic, water-soluble plant food such as fish emulsion. Leave around 3 inches of space in between seeds for the best results. If you choose to plant spinach in October you are for sure planning for the future. I start seeds indoors for my earliest planting, because in late winter spinach seeds germinate better inside where it’s warm. The harvested crop can store up to 3 months in a clean well ventilated room. Harvesting is done when butternut is about 15cm length. The name “chaya” is derived from the Mayan name “chay”. Keep the seedlings shaded and watered and in the summer heat, and they should be ready to harvest beginning in September. The best defense against them is fencing. Once the plants have a grown their true leaves, you can begin to thin the plants to about 6 inches apart. Allow to cool slightly and place in the freezer. Plant spinach 4-6 weeks before the last frost in the spring. Spinach is one of the few vegetables with beets and chard that prefers a neutral to alkaline soil (pH 7.0 or above).If your garden soil is sandy and acid, be sure to get a lime recommendation based on a soil test before planting spinach. Even a relatively small 10- to 12-inch pot or a window box will do. Spinach grows quite quickly, so don't start plants indoors more than a two to three weeks before you plan to transplant them outdoors. Tree spinach grows around 3 meters tall, with a thick main stem up to 4 inches (10 cm) in diameter. Plant seeds in a shallow rut about a quarter-inch deep and an inch apart. In most climates, it grows best when planted in spring and fall, since it needs relatively cool temperatures to thrive. Spinach is one of the most satisfying cool-weather crops to grow, producing large yields of vitamin-rich, dark green leaves that are excellent for salads and for cooking. Probably not, but growing a spring crop of spinach will maximize your garden’s nutritional output of delicious, garden-fresh greens. Prepare Site. Expect to stop sowing spinach seeds sometime in May or June, depending on your climate. Of course, you can eat your thinnings. Loaded with vitamins and minerals, spinach is considered a superfood because of its many health benefits. BULAWAYO, (IPS) – Piles and piles of rotting vegetables at food markets situated right in Zimbabwe’s central business district would elsewhere be viewed as a sign of plenty. This type of spinach takes an average of 25 days to grow baby leaves and 5 weeks for full maturity. Space spinach plants 12 inches apart in fertile, well-drained soil with a pH of 6.5 to 7.0. Be sure to wash your spinach thoroughly in cool water before eating it, taking care to remove soil that often clings to the undersides of the leaves. Once the weather warms in spring, water your spinach in the heat of the afternoon to cool it down and keep the soil cool for the evening. Sowing and Growing Spinach You can start your spring spinach as seedlings, direct-sown seeds, or both. For a fall crop, sow seeds from late summer to early fall, or as late as 4-6 weeks before the first frost date. Chaya was long used by the Mayans of the Yucatan Peninsula as a food crop and a medicinal plant. You can extend the season slightly by planting in the shade of taller plants and regularly watering your spinach plants. Carmel Spinach | These spinach plants are fast-growing, upright, uniform and semi-savoy types of spinach. It's advised not to tuck spinach in a flower bed, since too many critters will make a snack of it. The plants need 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water per week. Pollen-producing male plants bolt a few days ahead of seed-bearing females, and in both cases it is best to pull up and compost the plants. Grow spinach in full sun or if you live in Texas as I do, or another blazingly hot and sunny locale, it can take partial shade, and may demand it. Introducing "One Thing": A New Video Series, North America, Central America, South America, Asia. You can continue sowing spinach seeds late into the fall season. Sowing Depth Sow seeds at … Spinach also matures and goes to seed quickly, so it is better to re-seed every couple of weeks than to try and plant a large crop to harvest over time. It’s best to plant your spinach in an area with well-drained soil that’s been worked at least a foot deep to relieve soil compaction. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful (and bountiful) garden ever. Other Names— Spinacia oleracea (Scientific Name), Persian vegetable, palak, bōsī cài, 波斯菜, leafy greens. In addition to a spring planting, you can start seeding again at the beginning of August. How to Grow Spinach. Sow seeds in a shallow moist drill and cover lightly with soil. Doreen Mutobaya Badze is a retired nurse and passion-driven gardener. Eating spinach regularly may help normalize blood sugar levels, prevent cancer, promote stronger bones, and undo the damage done to our circulatory systems when we eat too many fats. Start off the growing season right by mixing in several inches of aged compost or other rich organic matter into your native soil. (If you have difficulty using this form, please use our Contact Form to send us your comment, along with the title of this article. Because it is such a fast grower, spinach is also a heavy feeder. Learn how to spinach in pots, it is one of the vegetables that you can grow in some shade.Growing spinach in containers is easy too you can even grow it indoors on a windowsill.. USDA Zones— 3 – 11. Harvest baby leaves for use in salads or mature leaves to wilt for use in … Spinach will grow well in raised beds, planters, or directly in the ground. October planted spinach will likely germinate late in the month and possibly get one or two “true leaves” before the cold sets in. Cover the seeds lightly with soil, firm it in place, and water well. Sow spinach successionally every few weeks to ensure a continuous crop. Sow seeds ½-inch to 1-inch deep, covering lightly with soil. See Growing Spinach for information on how to grow spinach. As the weather warms, spinach plants will bolt more quickly. Spinach can handle cold weather, but hot temps will end your harvest before it ever gets started. Yields can be 10kg per m2. Click this article to find out how to grow spinach in containers and the care of spinach in pots. Spinach can be persnickety, as it is one of the only vegetables that insist on a nearly neutral pH, which in this case is 6.0 to 6.8. I start seeds indoors for my earliest planting, because in late winter spinach seeds germinate better inside where it’s warm. Spinach grows best in the relatively cool days of spring and fall, even during the short days of fall. You can, however, take advantage of the shadier spots of a fenced-in vegetable garden, where most other vegetable plants would languish. 29 March 2019, written by Barbara Pleasant. Spacing Use row to row spacing of 25-30 cm and plant to plant spacing of 5-10 cm. Chill your leaf spinach immediately to limit the loss of vitamin C, which is always highest in freshly harvested spinach. It can be cut and kept at a height of around 1-2 meters for easy harvesting. The leaves of bolting spinach plants taste bitter, and once spinach bolting begins, the plants will not go back to producing tasty new leaves. This way you end up reusing garden space. Tastes great eaten fresh or cooked best time for sowing is from September to October output. The bed, since it needs relatively cool days of spring and fall, during. Such as corn or beans also cut down the whole plant for larger. 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