Depending on your typical weather conditions, you can sow spinach seeds in fall from August through September and harvest well into the latter portion of the year. If youre growing spinach to harvest baby spinach, you can seed a bit closer together and more aggressively, even broadcast seeding with 1/4 of soil added over the top afterward. They are also a solid source of protein which is why most families buy them. If necessary, use a copper fungicide to treat the problem. While some varieties of spinach are surprisingly cold-hardy and can handle chills down into freezing temperatures, their leaf production greatly slows down as the temperature drops. Add humus and earthworms, Santa Gertrudis bulls: tested for two decades, Scepticism abounds over Zimbabwes compensation offer to farmers, Plant health: Protect your canola from blackleg, Produce shortage prompts rationing of purchases by stores in UK, Cucurbits: A fascinating history of cultivation for over 11 000 years, Husqvarna: Innovative, durable tools for agriculture, Another challenging pome fruit season ahead. Thin seedlings or transplant spinach to 3 inches apart in the row with rows 12 inches apart. A two-year-old seed packet may have 50% or fewer plants germinate, where a new seed packet may have 95% germination. Moments ago I touched on plant nurseries; often time people into that tend to diversify into or couple it with ornamental crops. The fact that we now seasonally encounter maize shortages speaks to the potency of starting a maize farming business. Now that were done saying words that start with P, lets actually focus on the topic at hand: pruning. You can also sow seeds thinly in large containers. From seed to harvest, youre looking at about 40 days. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens,aworking sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. Q: How do you know when spinach is ready to harvest? Stay tuned for the first newsletter in the morning, straight to your inbox. Firm the soil over the seeds, and water to evenly moisten it. I have done articles on tomato farming several times. Step 3:Use a garden fork to mix soil and fertiliser, manure or compost thoroughly, and then even out using a rake. Spinach is a low-acid food, so must be canned with a pressure canner to avoid the risk of botulism. Common pests include aphids and slugs, and downy mildew is a common disease for spinach. Spinach is a very good source of dietary fiber, vitamins A, B6, C, folate, calcium, and iron. It could be one or two pet chickens, or an entire farm the choice is up to you. Harvesting the leaves throughout the growing season is how you prune a spinach plant to keep it vigorous. Fertilizer is an important thing to a plant, as it provides all of the macro and micronutrients that the plant needs to survive and thrive. It creates yellowish spotting on the top of leaves, but underneath the leaves will be white, textured blotches of fungus. Have no fear, weve got you and are providing a list to work from! To harvest baby spinach leaves, wait until its formed a rosette of at least five to six inner leaves, and then harvest. Sadly, these days the sector is not as robust as it used to be though it is still a favoured go-to for most aspiring entrepreneurs. The first one is on growing drought-resistant crops and the second option is using irrigation. Sow seeds in a shallow moist drill and cover lightly with soil. Growing spinach in raised beds, planters, or directly in the ground is best. Spinach can also be dehydrated or freeze-dried. When reusing, you can just pull out handfuls of spinach and add it to whatever youre going to cook. Hydroponics not only manage their own water irrigation, but many of them include growing lights as well. I have even included practical projections of money you can make from tomato farming. African Porridge, The Staple Food of Sub-Saharan Africa, Mutakura - Peanut and Beans Dish from Zimbabwe, How to Get Enough Protein on a Raw Vegan Diet, The Difference Between Sweet Potatoes and Yams, Seeds of Change: Fusion Foods of the African Diaspora. Microgreens are a hot new trend in gardening, urban farming, and restaurantsand theyre shockingly easy to grow. Like many other leafy vegetables, its advisable to regularly harvest spinach leaves from the plant to encourage faster and bushier growth. Plant the stem in a quality potting mix, and water to maintain even moisture. Often the leaves are smooth and medium to dark green in color. Because it contains compounds that can block the absorption of some nutrients, the nutritional content of spinach is most accessible when its steamed. Maize is the staple food or crop of Zimbabwe. The taproot will search deep in the soil for water, but the rest of the roots need moisture too! They require little to zero soil or water which makes the venture very easy to start. Finally, we come to the slugs and snails. Thin spinach to 12 inches apart; s [ace rows 12 inches apart. An example of these come from the amaranth family and the plants areoften mistaken as weeds. Green leafy vegetables are commonly served with any Sub-Saharan African meal. Kale leaves are typically ruffled with spinach is often smooth. Some examples of seedlings that farmers usually look for are cabbages, covo, rape, spinach, and tomatoes, just to mention a few. Celebrated food writer and blogger focusing on African cuisine. Spinach is primarily pollinated by the wind, and varieties will cross-pollinate with one another. Leaf miners can be dealt with by using spinosad sprays much as flea beetles can. Spinach can be eaten fresh or cooked. Learn how to prevent, treat, and kill all of the common garden pests. This can sometimes be treated with liquid copper fungicide. The soil must be cooler than 70 degrees Fahrenheit for germination. If the temperature is cold enough that its snowing, you should protect your plants with a cold frame. The ideal planting site for spinach is fairly sunny with good soil drainage. Sowing depth: Twice the height of the seed. Your guide to summers finest fruits awaits you. At the most advanced level, you can even grow vegetables for export. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. More on growing spinach: The best defense against them is fencing. 2022 Epic Gardening. Spinach can be planted in most areas of the yard which get at least six hours of sunlight per day. Thats why these spinach pests dont make for a good spinach harvest! If you remove all of the inner leaves and outer leaves, the plant will not grow to maturity, so if you plan to harvest baby spinach, regularly re-sow spinach seeds to maintain steady production. No support structure will be necessary. You can slightly delay this by planting in the partial shade of taller plants. Once the Spinach seedlings have emerged, thin them to 4 to 6 inches apart. Likewise, you can plant in the fall once the temperature cools, as long as you have six weeks where the soil temperature will remain above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. If the ground freezes before the plants mature, mulch them with hay and leave them be until the temperatures warm again in the spring. Learn tips for creating your most beautiful home and garden ever. In cold winter areas, plant spinach as soon as the soil can be worked. If you cut about an inch above the crown, or base of the plant, it is likely the plant will send out a new flush of leaves. Water well until seedlings appear. Cruciferous veggies that are part of the Brassica family make up an awful lot of the produce we eat! Because 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. Removing any excess air from the bag will help reduce the potential of moisture buildup inside, too. Spinach is low in calories and has no fat or cholesterol. Soft-bodied or shelled mollusks that chew holes in leaves. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Transplants should be planted near the last frost-free date for the growing area. Examples are spinach, celery, broccoli, basil, lettuce, cabbage, peas, and coriander, amongst others. Avoid water or fertilizer stress during growth. Happy farming! Good tools make the difference between an easy job and a hard one. Finally, keep the soil moist, as too little or too much water can also stop germination. Make sure your spot gets at least 4 to 8 hours of sun. Mushrooms are also another profitable farming venture, Missed opportunities the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed in Zimbabwe, Black Market Forex Exchange Rates Today 4 December 2019, ZESA given the forex greenlight, with conditions, How To Make Money With Google AdSense From Zimbabwe. Remember to plant at least 3 inches apart. These moth larvae will munch right through the base of young fresh leaves, causing them to topple over and die. If you have slightly-shady areas, thats fine, but you can practice growing spinach in lots of sun, too. Everything from ladybugs and lacewings to the all-powerful tachinid wasp will be featured here. In Zimbabwe lots of people, from small home-based producers to large-scale producers, are actively involved in vegetable production. Good Products At Amazon For Growing Spinach: Spinacea oleracia is the botanical name for the plant we commonly refer to as spinach. The mostly annual (sometimes biennial) flowering plants in this species are native to central and western Asia. Once theyre clean, remove any damaged, wilted, diseased or discolored leaves, and then dry the spinach leaves completely. They are ready for harvest after about 60 to 75 days. Here, we delve into the world of soil science to learn about why certain things do what they do. If you plant spinach seeds too shallowly or too deep, they may fail to germinate aim for 1/4 to 1/2 planting depth. Water requirements depend on soil type and temperatures. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Beetles can reduce plant stands or may kill seedlings. Because it is such a fast grower, spinach is also a heavy feeder. Many of these green "weeds" can be foragedand cooked in a similar way to how one would prepare spinach. Spinach grows well with a side-dressing of slow-release granular fertilizer when you grow spinach in lieu of liquid fertilizers. Or four hands of kraal manure or compost for every square metre of soil. Unlike many other green plants, you cant grow spinach from cuttings, as the leaves and stems will not form new roots. Planting a range of different types makes salads more interesting. If you are using raised beds with proper drainage, they may need refreshment almost daily during the hottest months. Sow outdoors, directly where they are to grow. In Ghana, they are used to make palaver sauce. Spinach plants have an erect growth habit and will produce small yellow-green flowers on spikes in hot weather before going to seed. Choose a container thats at least 10 to 12 inches deep with a similar width. How to Grow Spinach Spinach is a cool-season crop that needs a location in full sun or partial shade, and nitrogen-rich soil. A 10-foot row at 3 inches apart with 12 inches between rows will produce 4-6 pounds of spinach. Seeking cucumbers or desperately looking for luffa? Yams? Generally 5-6 weeks are required to grow transplants to this size. processing. Be sure not to crowd your spinach seedlings. Make a drill 2.5cm (1in) deep, then sprinkle the seeds thinly along it. You can find out more about our use, change your default settings, and withdraw your consent at any time with effect for the future by visiting Cookies Settings, which can also be found in the footer of the site. There are a million ways to use your homegrown food! Both of these can cause black, brown or yellow splotches to appear, and as the spots spread, they cause the plant to fail. Thin stands when plants have 3-4 true leaves. Be careful: crowding spinach plants will result in weak plants, stunted growth, and quick bolting. We love our root vegetables, whether theyre rutabagas or turnips, carrots, or radishes! When you grow spinach, its best to prepare in advance rather than risk weak plants. There are many good varieties for sale in local gardening outlets and through seed catalogs. Plant a seed every inch or so along the row, and cover with about 1/4 to 1/2 soil. Plant your spinach seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep and no more than twelve to fifteen seeds per foot of garden row. March is when things can really get started in your garden for most of the United States. Tobacco is the most important cash and export crop in Zimbabwe, Understanding the ZSE Indices and how to use them, Awesome skills you can learn online for free. Spinach is an annual plant; once it has gone to seed, its lifespan is essentially over, and other than potential harvesting of the seed the plant can be removed. You can harvest about 15 tonnes of green beans per hectare. As the weather warms, spinach plants will bolt, or send up a flower spike and go to seed. 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Typically ruffled with spinach is often smooth vegetables for export diseased or discolored leaves, and for.
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