All spinach lovers and those who want to try to grow it with their own hands will find this article useful. In it you will find many useful information about growing spinach at home.
By following the advice from the article, you can forget about buying greens in the store forever: you will always have fresh spinach on your table, grown by yourself. Read step by step instructions on how to grow it in open ground and on the windowsill only with us.
Features of spinach: growing and care in the open field
Spinach is predominantly an annual, early ripening cold-resistant plant, ranking first among vegetables in iron content, and second only to legumes in protein content.
Note: In this plant, almost all B vitamins are isolated, and the vitamin K content in 100 g of leaves is 4 times higher than the daily norm.
It is also rich in elements such as manganese, potassium, magnesium, and about a hundred other components no less useful for the human body are contained in this plant.
And yet, possessing such remarkable properties, this is still an infrequent guest on our table. This article will tell you more about growing and caring for spinach outdoors.
What you need to grow spinach at home
How to grow spinach at home? Firstly, this plant is quite demanding on soil fertility. Therefore, the first necessary condition for its cultivation, there must be a cultivated, well-fertilized area.
Note: When choosing a site, it should be borne in mind that vegetable crops are the best predecessors for it, since organic fertilizers have already been applied under them.
Secondly, you need to know that for uninterrupted harvesting throughout the spring and summer, it is recommended to plant at several times.
Thirdly, it is important to observe the conditions of care, consisting in weeding and regular watering, loosening the soil and feeding. Let us consider in more detail all of the above conditions.
Peculiarities
Growing spinach along with other greens is something everyone can do. This can be done both in the greenhouse and in the open field, depending on your desires and capabilities. Growing options are shown in Figure 1.
This culture is cold-hardy and unpretentious, almost unaffected by pests and diseases, and has early maturity. It tolerates small (-6-8 degrees) short frosts. Therefore, crops planted before winter can safely overwinter under the snow. It adjoins well with all garden crops.
The plant is light-requiring, therefore, for example, in the Moscow region, spring crops in protected ground begin only at the end of February. It is in the greenhouses in early spring you can create conditions for obtaining good harvest greenery.
Figure 1. Methods of growing greenery: in the open field, in a greenhouse, on a windowsill and in hydroponics After the snow has completely melted (and this is, as a rule, mid-April), you can start sowing in open ground. For continuous production of greens, such crops are carried out by conveyor belt method, that is, with an interval of 20-30 days. The sown areas are covered with matting or special materials to accelerate the appearance of the first shoots.
In summer, sowing should be preceded by thorough soil moistening. The June and July crops will provide you with greens throughout the fall, and the crops carried out in August become a winter crop.
Care rules
Regardless of how and where you will grow spinach, there are certain rules for caring for the plant (Figure 2):
- After the first shoots appear, weeding and watering should be regular.
- Control of crop thickening has the most direct effect on product quality. Therefore, for the first time, this procedure can be carried out at the stage when 2-3 true leaves appear in the plant. In this case, the torn out sockets can quite safely take root in another bed.
- Watering should be mandatory after transplanting and thinning, in order to maximize the fixation of the roots in the ground.
Since in summer period Since the daylight hours are long enough, it becomes necessary to reduce it specifically for this culture. To this end, the plants are covered in the morning and in the evening, protecting them from the ingress of light, because its excess leads to the arrow of the plant, which affects the growth of the leaves and their taste.
Conditions
Planting and caring for spinach outdoors requires compliance with certain conditions (Figure 3):
- The soil should be well saturated with organic and mineral substances;
- When sowing, the soil must be moist. The optimum level of soil moisture is maintained during the entire growing season;
- Daylight hours should be optimal for the formation of a lush green mass;
- The density of crops is constantly monitored by removing excess plants;
- Weeding and loosening are carried out regularly.
Figure 2. Care of the garden: weed removal, thinning, feeding and watering Additional feeding is also an important condition. But it will only be required if the soil itself does not have sufficient fertility or has not been fertilized with organic matter.
Growing technology
You should know that in crop rotation, spinach is a precursor of heat-loving crops and a re-crop after green ones. At the same time, it is important to wait a certain period of time when growing a crop over a crop in order to avoid plant diseases.
Note: It is known that the yield of greenery is much larger and better in well-lit areas, especially in spring and autumn, when there is not enough daylight.
Even if the land in the allotted area is fertile enough, it will still not be superfluous to slightly feed it. To do this, it will be enough to add a little organic (half a bucket per 1 sq. M.) And complex mineral fertilizer. Acidic soil additionally needs liming.
Everything preparatory work it is better to carry out in advance, that is, to prepare the soil for sowing should be in the fall. This is due to the fact that the introduction of organic matter directly under the crop negatively affects its taste qualities... In addition, in early spring, urea is applied under a rake in an amount of 20 g per 1 sq.
Note: For continuous production of greens, it can be sown from late April to early August with some time intervals.
Before sowing, it is advisable to soak the seeds for 1-2 days in warm water. Swollen planting material dry and sow in rows to a depth of 3 cm. The distance between rows should be 30 cm. The sown area should be compacted.
Further care consists in thinning after the appearance of the first true leaves, regular watering, loosening and weeding.
Particular attention should be paid to watering, because spinach is especially sensitive to lack of moisture. This is especially pronounced during seed germination and after the appearance of a large number of leaves. However, in too humid weather, plants can be damaged by powdery mildew, and in drought conditions, leaf aphids can be damaged.
The harvest begins to be harvested in the phase of formation of a rosette of 5-8 full leaves. It is best to cut them early in the morning, while removing any yellow or damaged leaves.
Spinach soil
Spinach prefers fertile soil or soil that is well fertilized with organic matter. The plant is sensitive to both waterlogging and lack of moisture, as well as to the acidic reaction of the soil. Under unfavorable conditions, plant growth slows down, it turns yellow and dies.
What should be
So what kind of soil should you choose? The best option there will be loamy soil. Sandy requires frequent watering. Acidic soil needs to be calcified beforehand, but even then it will not be good enough due to the low content of the required amount of iron. And yet, whatever the soil was initially, it needs some care.
Soil care
Soil care begins with site selection. It should be sunlit and well-drained. In case of stagnant water in the soil, you will have to make a raised bed.
Figure 3. The procedure for growing in the open field To make such a bed, it is best to choose a material that does not rot under the influence of water (for example, cedar boards). Do not forget to ask about the acidity of the soil, because the culture prefers slightly acidic soils.
With increased acidity, liming of the soil should be carried out in advance (2-3 months before planting) by adding limestone to it.
To ensure that the soil is sufficiently saturated with nutrients, do not forget to add organic fertilizer (rotted manure, alfalfa and soy flour) to it.
Note: Before applying top dressing, make sure that the area is free of cobblestones and hard lumps of earth, as well as weeds.
The sown soil is mulched with leaves, hay or grass to stop the development of weeds, because the spinach sprouts are too fragile and pulling the weeds can damage the seedlings.
Be sure to spill the planted area. When doing this, remember that a strong jet of water can disrupt the order of the sown seeds or wash them out of the soil. Therefore, use a watering can or a spray nozzle on the hose.
Fertilizing spinach
Most often, fertilization is carried out in the autumn period, when the site is prepared for sowing. In the spring, just before sowing, fertilization with minerals is carried out (for soils with low fertility).
During the growth period, feeding is carried out at urgent need.
The ways
Naturally, the dosage of the applied fertilizers should be combined with the level of soil fertility.
So, potash and phosphorus fertilizers are applied to fertile soil in the fall. At the same time, the soil is fertilized with humus or rotted manure. In this case, fertilizers are applied while digging the soil.
On less fertile soils mineral fertilizers(potassium, phosphorus, nitrogen), it is advisable to apply immediately before sowing.
But with spring feeding you should be careful, since the leaves accumulate in themselves introduced under the plant chemical compounds(for example, nitrates).
The better
Experienced gardeners prefer autumn soil fertilization. Indeed, during the winter period, she manages to assimilate the nutrients introduced in the organic feeding. With the arrival of spring, such soil is already ready for cultivation.
Note: Since spinach is a fast-growing crop, it is not recommended to add fresh organic matter directly under it, because this is reflected in its taste.
Sometimes it becomes necessary to feed with nitrogenous fertilizers. In this case, it is carried out together with watering. And yet, for such a top dressing, there should be quite good reasons, since all substances absorbed from the soil are collected in the leaves of the culture, and it is they that are used for food.
Strawberry spinach: planting and care
Strawberry spinach (raspberry spinach) is both an annual and a perennial herb. Its peculiarity is bright red flowers twisted into spherical balls. They are often mistaken for berries (Figure 4). The plant blooms from mid to late summer and bears fruit between August and September.
The fruits in their shape really resemble strawberries (strawberries), but, unlike berries, they are completely tasteless. Then why is he so good? The leaves are especially juicy, and the plant itself is unpretentious and cold-resistant. It also tolerates drought and hot seasons well.
Note: You can meet this plant near fences and along roads, in garbage dumps and heaps of rubble. Recently, however, it has begun to be grown as a vegetable salad crop.
It differs in average ripening periods and, with the seedling method of growing, the seedlings ripen already in July. In addition, the culture is practically not susceptible to diseases and pests, with the exception of aphids.
Like the usual strawberry variety, it is grown from seed or using seedlings. To obtain an earlier harvest, potted seedlings are cultivated. In this case, the seeds begin to be sown in a special substrate in mid-March. The grown seedlings at the age of 30 days are planted in the ground. The landing procedure is shown in Figure 5.
Figure 4. Appearance of strawberry spinach Sowing directly into the prepared soil is possible only after the complete convergence of the snow cover. For this, 4-5 previously prepared seeds are dipped into the prepared holes. The sown area is mulched.
When two true leaves appear on the seedlings, the crops should be thinned out, removing weaker plants. Further care involves weeding, loosening, watering, feeding and tying branches.
Top dressing is carried out twice a season, using organic fertilizers, for example, wood ash, which is embedded in moist soil.
Figure 5. Seed preparation and planting in open ground At good care the bush grows so much that it "clogs" the rest of the plants, and its branches are literally strewn with berries. Heavy lashes must be tied to previously prepared supports.
Ripe and crumbling berries are perfectly preserved under the snow, and in spring they sprout together. Therefore, it is necessary to provide for the possibility of self-seeding of the plant and take care of the control of growth.
You can squeeze juice from berries, make jam, use for decoration. Young green leaves are added to salads and soups, used as a side dish. In addition, strawberry spinach greens lend themselves well to different types preparations for the winter.
Growing from seeds
Properly organized seed production will allow a good harvest of this deciduous crop. Growing principles are quite simple and affordable.(Figure 6):
- When choosing a variety, you should know that there are two types of spinach - summer and winter. Summer varieties are grown for their delicate juicy taste and are harvested from late May to late September. Winter varieties are distinguished by their thorny fruits, and they are harvested from October to April.
- Depending on the selected variety, it is planted in open ground. So, summer varieties are sown every few weeks from mid-March to late May. The winter ones are sown in August, and the second time in September.
- Prefer fertile soil with good drainage. An ideal place for the summer will be the aisles of vegetable crops, and for the winter - an area well-lit by the sun.
- If necessary, apply organic fertilizer while digging the area before winter. Complex fertilizers should be applied just before sowing with the arrival of spring.
- Sow seeds 2-3 at a time. into well-moistened soil, embedding them to a depth of about 3 cm at a distance of 60 cm from each other. The shoots that appear soon must be thinned out, leaving stronger shoots.
When caring for spinach, keep the soil well hydrated and loose, and take care of thinning the seedlings. Starting in October, winter varieties will have to be covered.
Figure 6. Presowing seed treatment Start harvesting when the leaves are large enough and the flesh is tender. Remove the leaves gradually, thereby stimulating the appearance of new ones. Remember that in summer varieties, you can remove up to half of the leaves at the same time, in winter - less than half.
Planting and care in the open field
Most often, spinach is not taken away separate section, and sown in spring as a precursor to heat-loving vegetable crops, or in summer after harvesting early vegetables. Sometimes the crop is grown as a sealant or as a lighthouse plant. And yet, it is better to give preference to the beds where cucumbers, tomatoes and greens were previously grown, because they are the best predecessors.
Although spinach is not particularly whimsical plant, take care of the fertility of the soil: when digging, add humus (5 kg per 1 sq.m.) or ash (200 g per 1 sq.m.) into it. It would be best to carry out such a top dressing in the fall. If the soil has not been fed, you can add mineral fertilizers to it 2 weeks before sowing.
Note: In order to continuously obtain green products, the crop is sown at intervals of two weeks from mid-April to the end of August.
For autumn consumption, the crop is sown in June - July. The harvest from the August crops is harvested in early spring as a winter crop. In regions where the air temperature in winter does not fall below -12 degrees, the crop of spinach sown in autumn is harvested during the winter.
For the early emergence of seedlings, the seeds are pre-soaked for 1-2 days before they swell. Swollen seeds are sown in the prepared and moistened soil in rows.
So, on light soils, spinach is sown with multi-line tapes, and on heavy soils, in a two-line method or across the bed. In this case, the seeds are planted to a depth of 4 cm (for loose soil), 2-3 cm (for heavy soil).
Seedling care consists in thinning, regular loosening of row spacings, weeding and watering. After the appearance of two true leaves, the sprouts are thinned at an interval of 10 cm 3-4 days after thinning, the crops can be fed with a urea solution (5-10 g per bucket of water).
Harvested selectively, preferably in the morning. With continuous sowing, the greens are mowed in the phase of 4-5 true leaves.
The author of the video will tell you how to plant spinach seedlings in open ground.
What to do if you don't have your own plot, but you really want to pamper yourself with juicy greens all year round? Then there is no crop that is more successful than spinach. After all, it can also be grown in pots on a windowsill.
Since this is a cold-resistant plant, it can withstand temperatures down to + 8 degrees, and grows well behind glass until late autumn.
Peculiarities
You should know that the bush on the windowsill brings green foliage within 2 months from the moment the first edible leaves appear. Therefore, after several harvests, the shooting process begins, and the leaves are already unusable. In this regard, it is recommended to update the planting every 2-3 months.
Seeds sown in spring and summer receive a sufficient amount of natural sunlight and are capable of producing a good harvest, provided the substrate in which they grow is fertile and sufficiently moist.
If the sowing of seeds is carried out in the fall, when daylight hours are insufficient, it is worth taking care of artificial lighting. It can be arranged using fluorescent lamps, both during the day, in gloomy weather, and after sunset.
Figure 7. Growing spinach on a windowsill It is recommended to choose vermicompost in combination with coconut fiber(1: 2), which retains moisture well, preventing it from drying out or stagnating in the soil. You can also use universal seedling soil. When purchasing it, pay attention to the acidity level, because spinach does not tolerate acidic soils. Therefore, the composition of the substrate should not contain peat, which contributes to its oxidation. Don't forget about drainage. Thus, on the bottom of the pot, it is necessary to put expanded clay (drainage) in a layer of 2-3 cm, then cover it with a moist substrate.
For indoor growing conditions, they are better suited early varieties(Figure 7). It is advisable to pre-soak them for some time to swell. Then dry it and plant it in a special planting pot to a depth of 1.5 cm. Then the pot is covered with cellophane until the first shoots appear and is no longer used.
Note: Wait for the formation of one or two pairs of true leaves and dive the seedlings into permanent containers. Moisten the soil abundantly before removing the seedlings from the planting container. So the root system of plants will more easily transfer the transplant.
After another month, the greens will be ready for use, but remember that after 1-2 months the shooting process will begin, and the plant will become unsuitable for cutting leaves.
To delay this process, be sure to water your plants frequently and abundantly, especially in dry and hot weather. Pay attention, however, to avoid stagnant water in the pot. Daily spraying is also acceptable, especially in winter time when they work heating devices and the air is dry.
The video shows how to plant and grow spinach on the windowsill with your own hands.
Since spinach is one of the earliest vegetable crops and has sufficient cold resistance, it can be sown quite early (mid-April), as well as crops for the winter.
Note: Seeds begin to germinate at a temperature of + 3-4 degrees, but still, optimal for growth will be + 15-18 degrees. Adult plants can tolerate slight frosts, unlike heat, when at +20 it begins to throw out arrows.
The culture develops well on fertile loose soils, well fertilized earlier when growing predecessors, with a neutral reaction.
Introducing fresh organic fertilizers directly under the bushes has a negative effect on the taste of greens.
Growing and nursing outdoors includes some important rules.:
- The plant is one of the most moisture-loving crops, therefore requires almost daily watering. At the same time, an excessive amount of moisture provokes rotting of the sockets.
- Sowing can be carried out both in early spring and at a later date. For the early emergence of seedlings, it is practiced to soak the seeds for 1-2 days.
- Prepared planting material sown in shallow (2-3 cm) grooves, distributing crops at a distance of 5-8 cm from each other. In this case, the row spacing is about 20 cm.
- The sown soil is slightly compacted and spill gently. After about one to two weeks, the first shoots will appear. After waiting for the first 1-2 true leaves to appear, thinning is carried out, leaving the plants at a distance of 15 cm from each other.
- Follow-up care consists in systematic weeding, loosening and watering. To facilitate the work, you can mulch the soil around the bushes, then you will have to loosen and water much less often.
Watering can be combined with fertilizing with complex fertilizers. However, care must be taken with nitrogenous, phosphorus and potash fertilizers. Nitrogenous ones can contribute to the accumulation of nitrates in the leaves, and phosphorus and potassium ones - accelerate the shooting process.
Spinach: benefits and harms, cultivation
Spinach is the richest source of vitamins and minerals, so its beneficial properties are undeniable.
It saturates the body with nutrients and increases hemoglobin, has a positive effect on metabolism and helps cleanse the body of toxins.
It is clear that with such useful properties, these greens are used not only as food product but also how medicine... For example, it is assigned as additional diet for patients suffering from radiation sickness. In addition, the use of the plant helps to strengthen the teeth and gums, prevents the appearance of anemia and weakening of blood vessels, stimulates the pancreas and normalizes the intestines.
Note: Unlike rhubarb, spinach can be beneficially consumed by pregnant women and young children. This plant is well absorbed, has a tonic and anti-inflammatory effect, a slight diuretic and laxative effect.
If you are frequently stressed, spinach is your vegetable. He will restore efficiency and put the nervous system in order. Are you constipated? Spinach contains a fairly large amount of fiber and chlorophyll, which stimulate the intestines.
Do you spend a lot of time at the computer? And here spinach will help you, because the lutein contained in it improves visual acuity and reduces eye fatigue. Useful properties are possessed not only by green leaves, but also by juice from them. It is used for both external and internal use.
Drank on an empty stomach, the juice cleanses the body and replenishes energy reserves. For inflammation of the mouth and throat, it can be used as a gargle. Freshly mashed leaves will help with insect bites as it shrinks tumors.
The leaf paste, cooked in olive oil, is used to treat eczema and burns, as well as for cosmetic purposes.
Note: However, people with medical conditions genitourinary system and kidneys, gout and rheumatism, diseases of the duodenum, as well as liver and biliary tract, it is not recommended to eat spinach because of the high content of oxalic acid in it.
There is especially a lot of such acid in old leaves, so you shouldn't include dishes from overgrown plants in your diet at all.
Whatever useful properties the plant possesses, it should be grown in places with favorable environmental conditions: away from roads and industrial zones, and also, at a minimum, resort to chemicals feeding and protection.
You will learn interesting information about spinach and its beneficial properties from the video.
But in order to get useful macro- and microelements even in the middle of winter, many sow spinach seeds at home and grow them on the windowsill. If you can observe the easy rules of sowing and maintenance (create the necessary light and temperature conditions), you will have fresh and juicy greens all year round, even if you don't have a summer cottage.
Which varieties of spinach are suitable for growing on a windowsill
Before you start growing spinach on a windowsill, you should purchase high-quality planting material. And for this, first of all, carefully study the instructions on the package - familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the varieties in order to choose the most suitable for indoor growing.
As a rule, the following spinach varieties are used for sowing, which perfectly tolerate greenhouse conditions and give a bountiful harvest:
To determine the most suitable grade, it is worth planting several packages of seeds in different containers. Only after that you can understand which kind of spinach will suit you best by all criteria.
How to plant spinach on a windowsill: features, conditions and step-by-step instructions
After the required variety has been selected, sowing work should be started, namely: preparing the container, soil for growing, soaking the seeds. To do this, planting spinach at home requires a competent approach and performing all stages of growing according to certain rules.
Growing container
Root system in spinach, for example, unlike sorrel, it is rather shallow, so the container requires a small depth.
By the way! Many people dislike spinach because it tastes like grass by grass (not sour like sorrel). Indeed, it is a tasteless plant. But a neutral taste is gorgeous, you can make such delicious dressings! For example, Caesar salad with spinach turns out to be very unusual.
Naturally, the pot must have drainage holes for excess moisture to drain out.
In addition, a small layer of expanded clay or foam should be laid out at the bottom of the planting tank as drainage.
What soil to plant
Spinach will only grow well in neutral soil.
In other words, spinach loves soil. with an acidity level of about 6.5-7 pH!
You can buy ready-made soil for growing vegetables such as cabbage, pumpkin, beans, peas.
Or cook it yourself. To do this, take a neutral garden soil and mix it with compost or humus, as well as river sand.
Advice! Any soil, even purchased one, is recommended to be disinfected beforehand, for example, by frying it in the oven, so that all pathogenic organisms and fungi die under the influence of high temperatures. And / or spilling with potassium permanganate solution or.
Presowing seed preparation
Planting spinach with dry, unprepared seeds is not recommended (unless it is coated, i.e. already processed seeds). The seeds have a dense outer structure, so they should be pre-soaked for a day or two in water at room temperature (above 18 degrees).
And then (if desired) hold for another 20-30 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate to disinfect the seedlings from diseases.
Direct landing
Step-by-step instruction sowing spinach seeds for further cultivation at home:
- Drainage and soil are poured into the planting tank.
- Barbs are made with a depth of 1.5-3 cm.
- The seeds are sown at a distance of 2-3 centimeters from each other.
- Next, you need to fill the rows with soil.
- Carry out its (soil) moistening. For example, you can spray from a spray bottle.
- To create greenhouse conditions, the container is covered with foil or glass.
- The pot is placed in a warm (+18 .. + 20 degrees) and dark place.
- When shoots appear, the shelter (greenhouse) is removed, and the container itself is rearranged in a bright place - on the windowsill.
Note! In the next video, the author uses unsuitable ground for growing spinach (not that acidity). In general, everything is shown very well and clearly.
Video: sowing spinach seeds for growing on a windowsill
Transferring spinach from open ground to a pot for growing in an apartment
By the way! It is not necessary to grow spinach from seeds, it is much easier to take and transplant it from the garden.
All that is needed is to dig in the bushes in the fall and transplant them into a pot.
Video: spinach in winter on the windowsill (results after transplanting a bush from open ground)
How to care for spinach on a windowsill at home
Caring for spinach is quite simple - maintain optimal light and temperature conditions, and water on time.
What should be the place for growing: light and temperature
Spinach is a relatively light-loving plant. It is recommended for him to choose a well-lit southern window sill (either western or eastern, but at least southwest or southeast is better).
The optimal daylight hours are 12-14 hours.
But in order for the sun to not get too hot on especially hot days, burning delicate leaves, it is recommended to shade it.
By the way! Spinach generally does not like direct sunlight and a lot of sunlight, besides, from this it becomes bitter…
In late autumn, winter and early spring days, there is not enough daylight for the shrubs, especially when it is raining outside or simply cloudy. Therefore, for growing spinach in indoor conditions it is recommended to additionally install phyto-lamps or full-spectrum LED lamps.
Spinach doesn't need very warm conditions. At temperature conditions+15 .. + 18 degrees, the leaves of the plant quickly gain strength and grow to optimal sizes.
A grown plant with 4-5 leaf plates can be grown at a lower temperature of +10 .. + 14 degrees, but in such a situation the growth of leaf plates will be somewhat slowed down.
Therefore, an insulated balcony or loggia, where the temperature is slightly below room temperature, is quite suitable for growing.
In too warm conditions, spinach bushes quickly begin to wilt, so it is recommended to maintain an optimal cool temperature.
Watering
Watering should be carried out quite often and abundantly, spinach does not tolerate drying out of the soil.
A low level of humidity provokes shooting, spinach throws out peduncles, which should be quickly disposed of so that the plant does not waste extra energy.
Spinach does not require any special feeding.
Video: how to grow spinach on a windowsill
Dates for germination and harvest of homemade spinach
After sowing spinach, its first shoots, even with preprocessing(by soaking), you should be able to see after about a week (sometimes sooner).
Video: the first true leaves of spinach grown in the window
And already the direct cutting of the foliage (harvesting) will begin only when the plants have fully formed succulent leaves. There will be 5-8 of them, 8-10 centimeters long. In early ripening varieties, this moment comes about 30 days after the first shoots.
Advice! In order not to interrupt the process of constantly obtaining healthy spinach foliage, you can regularly do new crops.
At harvest time, the foliage can be cut off completely, leaving only the outermost young leaves.
Harvesting should be done by gently breaking the leg or cutting with scissors.
It is impossible to pull and tear out the foliage, this can damage the root system.
Thus, you can grow spinach at home, on a windowsill, at any time: in spring, autumn, and even winter. The main thing is to create for the plant optimal conditions and properly care for (periodically water). Growing spinach in an apartment will allow you to feast on at any time useful leaves by adding them to soups or salads.
Video: growing spinach at home
In contact with
Even on tiny plots, gardeners manage to harmoniously place all kinds of vegetables, herbs, berry bushes. Every year the assortment is replenished with new varieties, and some of them are not quite suitable for growing without a greenhouse. Growing spinach in the open field has just begun to be practiced, and it quickly gained popularity among gardeners, because despite the fears, the plant feels great even with proper care, spinach quickly builds up a fleshy green mass.
Spinach - amazing plant, in some countries it is considered a weed and is ruthlessly destroyed, in others it is tenderly looked after, trying to preserve every leaf. The homeland of the green vegetable is the Middle East, where it freely lives in warmth and comfort. In cooler latitudes, some effort will have to be made to provide the plant with the necessary conditions.
What does a green plant need to please with a harvest of delicious leaves?
There are very few requirements:
- regular generous watering;
- bright sunny area;
- timely removal of weeds;
- introduction of nutrients;
- light fertile soil.
If you do everything in a timely manner and avoid annoying mistakes, the handsome spinach will certainly become one of your favorite plants.
When to start planting spinach and how to do it right?
Unlike most vegetable crops, which are planted in spring or before winter, spinach can be planted throughout the year (excluding winter). In autumn, it is recommended to send a plant to the garden bed only in regions with a temperate climate, and you will definitely need a cover.
It is better to give preference spring planting- green leaves will be on the kitchen table throughout the warm season.
Summer planting has its own characteristics: abundant watering before planting and covering the beds with mats to accelerate the emergence of sprouts.
Sowing should be carried out in shallow grooves (up to 3 cm deep). Do not leave the row spacing wide, 30-35 cm is quite enough. The final stage of sowing should be rolling - this will keep the moisture necessary for the emergence of friendly shoots.
Features of growing strawberry spinach
Strawberry spinach arouses curiosity among many gardeners, because this curiosity has recently become popular among lovers of exoticism in the beds. As in ordinary spinach, only the leaves are valuable here (they manage to grow more than half a meter in length), while berries, despite the abundance of nutrients, are not particularly popular - they are completely tasteless.
The plant is completely undemanding to the soil; it can be grown even on loams or sandstones, although the yield will be slightly worse than on chernozems. Planting is usually done in the spring, but seeds sent in the fall are capable of giving small outlets before persistent cold weather. Before winter they will get stronger, and a thin enough covering is enough so that with the arrival of spring the plant starts to grow and already at the beginning of summer pleases with juicy large leaves.
Agrotechnics of strawberry exotic plants differ little from caring for ordinary spinach. Watering and weeding are obligatory, the introduction of nutrients will not be superfluous. The only difference is that you will have to tie up the bushes, otherwise, under the weight of the berries, they will lie on the garden bed.
Spinach care: from planting to harvest
How does planting spinach begin? Growing any vegetable crops, it is important to choose the right variety, and green exotic is no exception. Gardeners already have their favorite spinach varieties, time-tested and pleasing bountiful harvest succulent leaves.
You can safely grow the following varieties in the garden:
- Matador;
- Victoria;
- Fatty;
- Godry;
- Virofle.
Each of these varieties thrives both in the greenhouse and outdoors.
How to properly prepare the soil for sowing
Despite the undemandingness of spinach, it is impossible to grow a good harvest of leaves without top dressing, but experienced gardeners, who have made friends with the plant, advise to make their life easier by introducing nutrients before planting. It is better to prepare the garden 2-4 weeks before sowing the seeds.
On the square meter beds, it is enough to add 4-6 kg of good humus. The plant does not really respect fresh organic matter - the leaves will grow large, but they will lose their fleshiness. If the soil is very poor, you can also add a good handful of potash and phosphorus fertilizers before digging.
Spinach tends to accumulate nitrates, so it is better not to use nitrogen fertilizers.
Fertilizing and watering - how to avoid mistakes
Spinach loves moisture, but in hot summer it is able to please with fleshy leaves. If the weather does not indulge in rains, several times a month you will have to arm yourself with a watering can and pamper your plants with abundant watering. Water must first stand in the sun - cold moisture can cause disease and destroy the entire garden.
Usually, spinach has enough useful elements that were introduced into the soil during the preparation of the beds. If the plant grows slowly and is reluctant to grow green mass, you can feed it with urea. It is easy to prepare a nutrient solution - dissolve 15-20 grams in a bucket of water. urea and water the garden (first thoroughly moisten the soil). It is better not to add phosphorus and potassium during the growth period - the plant will quickly throw out the arrows.
When can you collect leaves
It is important not to miss the collection of leaves - if you are late, they will lose their juiciness, become coarse, become tasteless. It is better to go to the garden for the harvest in the morning, but only in dry weather - excess moisture in the soil causes fragility and fragility of the leaves.
You can start harvesting only after the spinach has grown at least six beautiful large leaves (usually 9-11 weeks after planting). You can cut off the entire outlet or pull it out of the ground along with the root, but most gardeners prefer to constantly have fresh leaves on the table, collecting them as they grow up.
Tips to know when growing spinach from seed
The first thing to remember is that two sprouts grow from a round seed, which grow quickly, one of them should be removed. Thinning after the appearance of the second leaf will help you get a healthy plant that does not have to share nutrients and moisture with a neighbor. The ideal distance between plants is at least 15 cm. Before thinning, the soil should be watered generously - spinach roots are very fragile and easily damaged.
Growing spinach from seeds also involves frequent loosening, especially until the plant has discarded up to 5 leaves. Simultaneously with loosening, weeding is carried out - malicious weeds can drown out fragile sprouts.
What plants in the neighborhood will spinach get along well with
Spinach lovers usually set aside large beds for their exotic handsome man, especially if the size of the garden allows. Owners of tiny plots of land should not be upset - spinach perfectly coexists with any vegetable crops, you can plant it even between rows of onions or carrots. Spinach should be grown with care near cucumbers or zucchini - long lashes can break fragile leaves.
Spinach can even be grown in the garden by preparing small garden... The shade from large trees is not an obstacle for the plant, but the planting should be placed so that at least a few hours a day the sun's rays penetrate the leaves. Otherwise, the harvest will be rather meager.
Which pests and what diseases can threaten spinach
Spinach has a lot of enemies, and if the gardener does not respond to the threat in time, it can completely lose the crop. The main enemy is the ubiquitous aphid. It is not recommended to deal with it with chemicals, since many harmful substances can remain in the fleshy leaves.
Better to resort to folk methods:
- Ash broth (300 gr. wood ash pour 6 liters of boiling water, leave for 2 hours, process the plants abundantly).
- Wormwood infusion (grind 400 g of wormwood leaves, pour 5 liters of water, stand for a day, spray).
- Soap solution (dissolve 2 bars in 5 liters of water laundry soap, spray the plants).
Snails also do not mind, enjoy delicious leaves, in a few days with a large accumulation of pests, you can lose the entire crop. Simple traps will help here, which you can make yourself. To do this, take plastic bottles, cut off the bottom, bury in the beds with spinach, being careful not to let the edges of the trap rise above the surface of the ground. It remains to pour some beer into the trap in the evening, which will certainly attract pests. In the morning, you can harvest snails that could not get out of the plastic cup after the feast.
Of the diseases, powdery mildew can threaten spinach. You need to deal with it even when planting a plant - it is important to place the bushes at the required distance. A dense planting is the main cause of the onset of the disease. With a slight infection, you can try to spray the spinach with whey or garlic infusion (insist 100 grams of garlic in 3 liters of water for 2 days).
Root rot can also kill spinach. Measures that will help to avoid the disease are timely loosening of the soil, thinning of plantations. Application chemicals not recommended - if it was not possible to avoid the disease, the plant can no longer be saved.
Not all gardeners / gardeners pay due attention to growing spinach, but in vain. In addition to the fact that it is extremely useful (restriction in use only for a narrow group of people), the greens of this plant have a truly invaluable property - when processed using any technology, all trace elements and vitamins in it are completely preserved.
Cultivation of spinach is advisable not only for the purpose of providing your family with useful substances, but also, with a competent organization of the business, can bring very good income. This article will explain all the nuances of growing from spinach seeds in the open field.
Priming
Most summer residents note that spinach is unpretentious in care. This is only partly true. The plant reacts very painfully to the slightest changes in the composition of the soil. Therefore, the requirements for the soil on which it is supposed to be grown are rather "stringent".
The land should be well saturated with organic matter and minerals. What is recommended?
- Even in the fall, the area planned for planting spinach should be well fertilized with compounds with a high concentration of potassium and phosphorus. As a rule, summer residents use superphosphate. It is available in two versions, differing in the percentage of phosphorus (regular and double), therefore, when determining the dosage, the manufacturer's recommendation should be followed. In addition to it, it is necessary to add compost or humus to the ground at the rate of 6 - 8 kg / m².
- If the land is depleted, it is advisable to use a special mineral fertilizing (in g / m²), consisting of a mixture of potassium (10), phosphorus (5) and nitrogen (10). You should be as careful as possible with the nitrogen supplement. This chemical element is introduced into the soil only when absolutely necessary. The reason is that spinach leaves accumulate nitrates very intensively.
Summer residents with little experience will also benefit from some more explanations on the use of nitrogen-containing fertilizers. And this applies to the cultivation of not only spinach, but also other horticultural crops.
Firstly, nitrogen dissolves well, therefore it is said about its increased leachability. By introducing such preparations in the fall, one cannot be sure that this element will not be carried away from the territory by rain or melt water, especially if the site has a slope. Therefore, the autumn fertilization of the soil with fertilizers of this group is ineffective.
Secondly, nitrogen initiates an increase in the mass of greenery, its development, which prevents the process of lignification of the shoots. By treating the area with such fertilizer, there is a great risk that it will fall on other segments, and not just on the piece of land where spinach will be grown. Therefore, if nitrogen-containing compounds are introduced into the soil, it is best in spring. Moreover, you should pay attention to the proportion of the components of the drug used.
The soil in the place where this vegetable crop is grown should be neutral in terms of acidity. On soil with a higher pH, you should not rely on good spinach yields. This means that additional measures will have to be taken to balance its chemical composition(liming in the first place). For example, apply the appropriate dressing to reduce the acidity of the soil. For spinach, loam and sandy loam are considered ideal - this is what you should focus on.
It is necessary to ensure effective drainage of the soil. To do this, in the fall, part of the plot where it is planned to grow spinach should not only be dug up, but also thoroughly loosened. If the soil in this place is "heavy", densely knocked down, then it is advisable to add more organic fertilizers to it. What needs to be done additionally in terms of organizing high-quality drainage (outlet grooves, pipe system, deep pits) is determined individually for a specific area.
- Most summer residents know what it is. The best “predecessors” of spinach are cucumbers, cabbage, beets, radishes, potatoes, parsley, and carrots. If possible, it is on these beds (plots) that this garden crop should be grown.
- When choosing a place for planting spinach seeds, you need to take into account the degree of its illumination. The most comfortable temperature for this culture is +15 (± 2) ºС. If the summer is hot, then the excess of sunlight will lead to accelerated shooting of the plant, and it will develop much worse than expected. In this plan best site territory - along the fence. It is under the fence that spinach is most often grown in summer cottages.
Seeds
The process of their preparation is called bubbling.
Main stages:
- careful inspection and rejection of planting material;
- soaking for at least 2 days (always in warm water);
- easy drying;
- repeated revision of seeds;
- disinfection (for this, it is advisable to keep the planting material in a weak solution of manganese for at least several hours);
- final drying.
To some, such preparation will seem troublesome, but it is she who guarantees that all seeds, without exception, will sprout after planting in the ground. The main thing is not to dry them out, otherwise they will not germinate.
Planting spinach
If we summarize all the opinions of experts and experienced summer residents, then the conclusion suggests itself unequivocally - you can do this at any time. Naturally, except for winter, since we are talking about growing in the open field. One of the peculiarities of spinach is that it can be harvested a couple of weeks after sprouting. By the way, this makes this vegetable crop very attractive for cultivation at home - in a private house, apartment.
To place seeds in the ground, it is necessary to mark the rows. Since spinach grows well, the spacing between the grooves is chosen on the order of 30 - 35 cm; denser is impractical, since the sockets will turn out to be small. As for the distance between seeds in one row, it is optimal from 8 to 10 cm.
Spinach is a moisture-loving plant. Therefore, the depth of the grooves should not be great; 1.5 - 2 cm is quite enough. You can focus on forefinger- sufficient deepening by about one of its phalanxes.
Planting time for spinach
- Spring. You can start this work if the soil warms up to +5 ºС. This temperature is sufficient for the germination of spinach seeds.
- Autumn. It is necessary to focus on the spinach variety and the climatic features of the region. The plant should give shoots even before frost. This is the main reference point for the summer resident. After that, the bed is preparing for wintering - covering material, additional insulation, and so on.
Analysis of reviews about different varieties spinach shows that for our summer cottages and vegetable gardens the best in terms of unpretentiousness and yield are Strawberry, Victoria, Gigantic, Godry, Fat-leaved, Matador.
Spinach care
If preparing the soil is a rather troublesome business, then the process of growing a plant is much easier.
Regular irrigation
A common recommendation is about 20 l / m². But there is a nuance here - excess water in the ground will lead to decay of the roots. The author advises to independently determine the need for watering spinach. For example, stick your finger into the ground, and it will immediately become clear how dry it is or, conversely, wet. It is advisable to practice and spray the plant. Since its leaves grow large enough, a fair amount of dust accumulates on them. Sprinkling and the work of spinach "lungs" will facilitate, and the soil will moisten.
Loosening row spacings
This provides oxygen access to the spinach root system.
Systematic weeding
Particular attention is paid immediately after the emergence of sprouts. When planting spinach seeds in the ground (and they are quite small), it is difficult to observe the dosage and maintain the recommended distance between the outlets in the same row. Therefore, excess shoots should be removed. Otherwise, the appearance of many rosettes per 1 m² will lead to the fact that the spinach leaves are small.
Spinach is a heterosexual culture. It is not difficult to distinguish between specimens on this basis - according to the place from which the leaves appear. In the male spinach, they develop from the sinuses. When thinning plots, such plants can be safely removed. Large, succulent leaves, forming a rosette, give only "women", so they should be left in the beds.
Top dressing
The need for fertilizing the soil is determined individually. If he was well prepared, it is possible that his additional feeding with nutrients will not be needed.
Pest control
The main "enemies" of spinach are rot (root) and powdery mildew (false). Treatment of this culture with special preparations is not recommended, so you have to do without chemistry. What should I do? First, adjust the watering to avoid over-saturation of the soil with moisture. Secondly, at the slightest signs of wilting of leaves, immediately remove them.
If all the recommendations for growing spinach are followed, then after about four weeks you can harvest. You need to focus on the height of the leaves (at least 18 cm) and their number (about 6 - 8, at least). They need to be cut off. And it is not worth delaying with this, as they quickly age and lose their taste and their value as a "storehouse" of vitamins.
But they should be pulled out of the ground until peduncles are formed, since spinach is an annual plant. Although a few copies are left for seeds.
Storing spinach leaves is no different from other garden greens - in a cool, dark place. For example, in a refrigerator or cellar, with packing in polyethylene bags. But no more than 2 days, since many of the properties of spinach are quickly lost. It is most useful when fresh.
It remains to wish high yield spinach on your site!
The most famous and most popular type of green vegetable is spinach. It has significant advantages and beneficial substances. Herbaceous (the main varieties are annuals) belongs to the Amaranth family.
For the first time, spinach began to be used in food in Persia, the whole of Asia can be considered the homeland. Greens became very popular after the adoption of Christianity, as they were considered the mainstay of the diet during Lent. Now I grow spinach t and used fresh, as a spice or for pickling.
Description and benefits of spinach
Depending on the varietal variety, spinach can be one year old or two year old. Reaches 25-50 cm in height, appearance- naked, simple, branched. The leaves are collected in a neat petiole, they can be rounded, oval, oblong, the edges are sharp or wedge-shaped.
The flowers are miniature, collected in inflorescences, stamens and pistils are placed in dense sinuses. can be either same-sex or bisexual. The fruits are small, of various shapes: in the form of a ball, with horns or with roundness.
Spinach is ranked among the crops (vegetable, green), which have the largest number nutrients... Only cut leaves are a unique antioxidant. saturated with magnesium, calcium, iron, vitamins A, C and E.
Spinach is considered the main storage folic acid among all other products. Contains kerotin, acids (ascorbic, oxalic, oleic, linolenic), manganese, phosphorus, iodine, copper.
In combination with other dietary products, spinach is used for gastrointestinal problems, with a poor blood formula, to increase appetite, to strengthen nervous system... Young children, the elderly and people with chronic ailments of the liver and kidneys must be very careful with it.
Growing spinach from seeds
Spinach wonderful grown from seed, the germination is excellent, but for reassurance, they are sown in two passes. Before sowing, the seeds are prepared: placed in warm water(room temperature) for two days. Then they are dried well with a napkin, removing excess moisture.
The first sowing of seeds is carried out in the fall, and the second - in the spring. Spinach planted in the fall will show its first shoots when the snow melts. Sowed in April / May, there are two typical methods - on ridges and in rows. The first method is used when the soil is very compacted (with an oily structure), the second - for all other types of soil.
Growing conditions for spinach will depend on the zone. For example, in the northern regions, where the summer temperature does not rise above +20 C, spinach is grown in August / September. Already at the end of spring, you can get a full-fledged green harvest.
Planting and caring for spinach outdoors
Growing spinach outdoors, special attention should be paid to the soil. He loves soil rich in organic matter and with good drainage, the optimum acidity should be pH 6.7-7.0. The compacted soil will "hammer" the growth, so you can lose.
In the fall, they resort to the introduction of potassium-phosphorus, as organic matter, rotted manure is used (at the rate of 5-6 kg per 1 sq. M.) The implementation process is combined with digging the soil. It is important to know that spinach, like any other greens, quickly accumulates nitrate toxins, therefore minerals are introduced in a strictly normalized manner.
Rows are made on the ground at a distance of 25-30 cm, grooves no more than 2-3 cm deep. Sowing is carried out and covered with loose earth. If spinach is grown by seedlings, then the landing is carried out in April / May, at a distance of 5-10 cm from each other.
As soon as the first shoots are pierced, make sure that the soil is not "clogged". Access to the root system of oxygen is very important. Weeds should not be allowed among the crops, the latter carry spinach viruses or carry pests.
In hot weather, two-time watering is carried out in the morning and in the evening, after rain - at the end of the day. Watering is systematic, this will help to avoid stalking.
Spinach is used as food (phase 6-8 leaves), harvesting the entire crop. Eat fresh (you cannot store it in the refrigerator for more than a week), freeze for the winter, mix with salt.
Growing and care in general for spinach not whimsical. The only thing that must be adhered to is not to oversaturate the nitrogen-type soil, it is they that accumulate most of all.
Since the end of January, spinach is grown in a greenhouse... perfectly tolerates cold, even frosts down to -7 ° С, germination at + 2 ... + 3 ° С. In greenhouses, a non-seedling method is used.
During the growing season, the rows are thinned out twice. They regularly loosen the soil and make abundant watering (once a week). The collection of the leaf is carried out 25-30 days after germination, the greenhouse is regularly ventilated.
Types and varieties of spinach
Growing spinach at home, the gardener strives to choose the most efficient variety from a fruitful point of view. Therefore, spinach has different stages of ripening: it ripens quickly, ripens late and has an average ripening rate.
* Gigantic spinach- an early ripening spinach variety, the leaves are used for food already on the 30-35 day of the growing season. Planted in late autumn or early spring, it has many benefits.
* Matador. Grow spinach, mainly outdoors, ready to eat 3 weeks after sprouting. Differs in special frost resistance and excellent quality taste. Demanding on moisture, it is appreciated by culinary experts, great for drying or freezing.
* Strong spinach... It belongs to the variety (with average time indicators), you can harvest it for 25-30 days. Suitable for planting in the northern regions of the country, it is resistant to frost. Leaves have many useful properties, they are boiled, stewed, dried and frozen.
*New Zealand spinach... Grown in the driest and hottest regions, reaches a height of 1 meter, the stems spread along the ground. Leaves are small, rounded, edges are pointed, jagged. Requires quality soil and a lot of moisture, the leaves are cut off on the 25-30th day of the growing season, gives several harvests per season.
* Spinach victoria... This variety of spinach is late ripening, the leaves are edible for 30-35 days. Very picky about the soil, loves moisture. Possesses good resistance to powdery mildew and the development of arrows.
* Fat-leaved. By cultivating this sort spinach, gardeners love it for its miniature outlet, pleasant taste and light aroma. Suitable for food one month after the emergence of sprouts.
*Strawberry spinach... This variety with a light strawberry flavor is more exotic than for industrial purposes. The people call it "multifoliate marsh", the leaves are exactly like spinach, the stems are covered with berries that resemble raspberries, but have neither taste nor smell.
Diseases and pests of spinach
Various types of rot are common spinach diseases. It can be both root rot and rot of the upper part. Fusarium rot, peronosporosis, anthracnose, viral (curl, cucumber mosaic) - a list of the main diseases.
Especially susceptible to decay spinach, windowsill-grown where there is central heating. Breeders believe that best remedy from fungal infections is the creation the latest varieties highly resistant to infection.
The mining fly, or rather its larvae, which it lays on the leaves, brings tangible harm to crops. To prevent this harm, spinach is planted away from sugar beets and the affected leaf plates are systematically disposed of.