Spinach is a green, tender, and leafy vegetable that is native to central and western Asia. It is normally eaten cooked or raw and has a very high nutritional value. Spinach requires well-drained fertile soils with a PH of 6.4 to 7 and the ecological requirements for spinach are temperatures of about 4 to 16 degrees Celsius although they can withstand more harsh conditions depending on the variety

Spinach vegetable is first sown in nursery beds before transplanting. Nursery beds for Spinach are created by raising soil and creating Furrow lines to sow seeds which are then covered with thin soil. The nursery bed should be properly taken care of by watering twice daily and mulching is also preferred to conserve the moisture on the soil.

How to begin growing spinach:

Step 1:ย Loosen your soil by digging down deep.

Step 2:ย Apply fertiliser, manure or compost.ย If you are using fertiliser, use one handful for every square metre of soil. Orย four hands of kraal manure or compost for every square metre of soil.

Step 3:ย Use a garden fork to mix soil and fertiliser, manure or compost thoroughly, and then even out using a rake.

Step 4:ย Put the seed or seedlings into the ground, working according to the instructions on the seed packet or the nursery recommendations.

Step 5:ย Water the plants regularly. Use flood irrigation, a sprinkler, a watering can, a hosepipe or drip irrigation.

Step 6:ย For a better crop, apply a top dressing about five weeks later as spinach needs a lot of nitrogen for good quality, broad leaves. For this top dressing, use either chicken manure or LAN applied between the rows and work it in lightly. Remember to remove weeds regularly.

READ ALSO:   Complete Guide On How To Propagate Apple Trees

Step 7:ย Harvest spinach regularly. Remove only the outer (older) leaves with a sharp knife about 30mm to 50mm above ground level. Donโ€™t damage the new leaves. If the leaves are not going to be used immediately, bunch them and put them in water to keep them fresh for longer.

Step 8:ย Donโ€™t plant spinach on the same plot over and over, because this causes spinach pests and diseases to build up in the soil. Rotate the crop with other vegetables such as pumpkins, beans, peas, lettuce, tomatoes, potatoes and cabbage.

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

Average rating / 5. Vote count:

READ ALSO:   Coffee Farming In Kenya; A Complete Cultivation Guide

No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post.

As you found this post useful...

Follow us on social media!