Although the development of so many different home delivery services has made it easier to get things delivered to your door, but nothing beats the experience of having freshly grown vegetables in the comfort of your own backyard.
And how can our garden be complete without Growing Spinach from Seed ? Spinach is a classic leafy green vegetable high in iron, calcium, and vitamins A, B, and C. This is basically why it is so well-known all around the world. We’ll show you how to produce spinach at home in India in this article.
Spinach Nutritional Content:
Nutritional information
For 3.5 ounces (100 grammes) of raw spinach, the nutrition information is as follows:
- 23 Calories
- 91 % Water
- 2.9 g of protein
- 3.6 g Carbohydrates
- 0.4 g Sugar
- 2.2 g of Fibre
- 0.4 g Fat
The majority of the carbohydrates in spinach are fibre, which is quite healthful.
Sugar is present in spinach at modest levels, usually in the form of glucose and fructose.
Glucose: Spinach contains a lot of insoluble fibre, which can help your health in a variety of ways. As food passes through your digestive tract, it bulks up your faeces. This may aid in the prevention of constipation.
Growing Spinach from Seed: Basic Requirements
Sowing Season: All year, except December-February Soil and PH Requirement: Well-drained soil rich in organic matter, such as compost or composted manure; pH of 6.5 to 7. Temperatures Requirements: For germination temperature range from -10°C to 22°C.
Sunlight ranges from full sun to partial shade.
Avoid over-watering spinach because it grows best in cold weather.
Diseases and Pests commonly found in Spinach Gardening: Downy Mildew, Anthracnose, Cladosporium Leaf Spot, Stemphylium Leaf Spot, Damping-off, Root Rot, and parasites such as Cutworms, Flea Beetles, Slugs or Snails, Aphids, and Leaf Miners are examples of diseases and pests.
Spinach Variety: Savoy Spinach, Bloomsdale, Tyee, Regiment, Indian Summer, Catalina, Space Spinach, Red Carnival, New Zealand, Malabar Spinach are some of the spinach varieties available.
Spinach Kitchen Gardening
If you’re Growing Spinach from Seed on your balcony or in containers, the techniques below will work just as well: Gather your spinach seeds and gardening tools, and let’s get started in the garden.
Make sure the area where you’ll be planting the seeds has a good mix of sunshine and shade.
Additionally, ensure that the soil is well-drained and has a pH of 6.5 to 7. Additional nutrients in the form of compost or manure can also be used to enrich the soil.
At least a week before sowing the seeds, prepare the soil with old manure.
It is recommended that the seeds be planted half an inch deep in the soil, with at least 3” – 4” between each seed. This will allow the plants to spread their roots and flourish.
To speed up the germination process, keep the soil moist during the procedure.
Thin the seedlings to about 2” – 3” tall as soon as they reach a height of 2”.
Always keep an eye on how much water you’re providing your plants. You must keep the soil moist at all times. Don’t drown them in water. Early morning watering is recommended so that the plants can absorb the water throughout the day.
Keep an eye on your plants’ progress. You don’t want them to be afflicted by bugs or diseases.
Bolting is another prevalent concern with spinach plants, in addition to pests and diseases. Your spinach plants are bolting if they are going to seed. During the last phases of the growth process, this could be caused by a lack of water, too much sun, or too much heat. To prevent bolting, remove the plants as soon as possible; otherwise, the leaves will become bitter and inedible. Alternatively, you can let your spinach plants to flower, enjoy the lovely spring blooms, and save the seeds for the following season.
Your spinach should be ready for harvest in approximately 60 days 45-50 days if well cared for.
Growing anything at home needs the same level of attention as caring for your own items. It’s no different when it comes to growing spinach. You don’t want to put the seeds in the ground and then forget about them. At least once a day, pay your plants a visit.
Fertilization is critical to any plant’s development. This assures that by harvest season, you’ll have a good yield. Natural fertilisers, such as food scraps from your home, are recommended by AllThatGrows.
Cutworms, Flea Beetles, Slugs or Snails, Aphids, and Leaf Miners are all pests that can be controlled using natural methods such as Neem Oil. Then just cut the afflicted leaf to prevent the bugs from maturing and spreading to the rest of the plant.
Harvesting Spinach Leaves
Within 45 days, the majority of spinach leaves are ready to harvest. However, it may take up to 60 days in some circumstances. You’ll know your Spinach is ready to harvest when there are 5-6 fully developed leaves on each plant. Don’t put it off any longer. Harvest your crop within a week of the plants reaching maturity. These delectable leafy greens can be harvested in a variety of ways.
One method is to start from the exterior and chop your way inwards, towards the plant’s core, with a pair of scissors. When only a little amount of leaves is required, this method is usually selected. For example, feeding a household of four will necessitate roughly 60 spinach plants.
Another option is to take a pair of scissors and cut the entire plant off leaving an inch above the ground. This will encourage the plants to resprout, providing you with extra spinach to eat.
In any case, don’t let it too long after the crop has matured to harvest it, since the leaves may become bitter. Each time, we recommend utilising fresh leaves.
However, spinach will keep for 10-14 days in the refrigerator at a temperature of 5°C to 10°C if you wish to save it for later use. However, before keeping the leaves, make sure to properly wash them and remove any yellow leaves.
We hope that this post has been useful in assisting you in creating your own spinach garden at home. Please share the delectable dishes you’ve created with this delicious and nutritious leafy green vegetable.
Please let us know your feedback on this article on seed viability test in the comments👇
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