Post by: Adegbola, Bukola Suliyat – bukola@farmkonnectng.com – 08093016914

Spinach is a green leafy vegetable. Spinach is relatively easy to grow in cool climates and it is packed with nutrients such as iron, protein, vitamin A and chlorophyll.

Whether raw in salads or lightly steamed, spinach is a suitable accompaniment to a wide range of dishes.

Preparation
Germination of spinach seeds can take anything between a week and 2 weeks.

Dig the soil to around 30cm depth as this is how far the plants tap root can develop. Work some organic compost or manure into the soil to help provide the necessary nutrients for growth.

Because of the benefit of organic matter cover crops and green manure crops are beneficial prior to planting spinach.

Check the soils PH and if necessary add lime.

Sowing
You can plant spinach in early spring. To stagger your crop over summer you can plant part rows every few weeks. The last planting should be about 50-60 days before the first frosts.

Sow your seedlings / seeds around 7cm apart in rows about 30-40cm apart.

Position
Position your spinach plants in a position that does not experience high temperatures. Spinach grows well in partial to full sun.

Soil type
Spinach likes a moist but not waterlogged soil. Using a mulch of straw or grass clippings can help to retain moisture levels in the soil.

The soil should contain a good amount of organic matter to provide the spinach with the nutrients it requires.

Spinach doesn't like acidic soils, a good PH is around 6.3 -6.8. Add the appropriate amount of lime to the soil if necessary.

Tending
Make sure the soil is moist. An inch of water per week is adequate when there is little rainfall. Thin out your spinach seedlings as required but try not to damage the roots of the plants you leave in the soil.

Effects of an over acidic soil can be seen in the yellowing of the edges of seedling leaves, low germination rates and slow growth.

Harvesting
Spinach is ready to harvest at about 40-50 days after planting.

The spinach leaves can be harvested whenever they look big enough and ready for your salads etc. Make sure to start picking leaves on the outside of the plant, the inner leaves will then continue to grow and produce a new crop. Alternatively you can harvest the whole plant.

You should aim to eat the spinach straight after picking and washing in cool water. You can store the washed leaves in the fridge for a few days but the taste and nutrient content is best after picking.

Varieties
Slow bolting varieties are varieties that take longer to develop a seed stalk and thus focus more growth towards the leaves. Short days and cool temperatures result in better crop yield as bolting is deterred whereas long days and higher temperatures encourage bolting.

Original Post by: Gardening Patch
Website: www.gardeningpatch.com/vegetable/growing-spinach/

Follow this link to read this post on our blog:http://farmkonnectng.com/2018/01/11/growing-spinach/

Kindly follow this link to read more interesting agricultural articles- http://farmkonnectng.com/blog
Follow us on twitter @farmkonnectng
Instagram @farmkonnectng
Like our page on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/farmkonnect

Internet copy and paste farmer spotted.

DEBJOCH1:
Internet copy and paste farmer spotted.

Very true. That is what a lot of people do here. No addition of information to reflect our climate. Yet they leave the Western climates like Winter and Summer in their post as if we are living there.

Sad!

Curiouscity:


Very true. That is what a lot of people do here. No addition of information to reflect our climate. Yet they leave the Western climates like Winter and Summer in their post as if we are living there.

Sad!

Yes he did copy and paste without local considerations but spinach will do very well locally.

Pavore9:


Yes he did copy and paste without local considerations but spinach will do very well locally.

It was the lack of local consideration that I condemned. Some people are just too lazy to even edit what they copied.

For spinach, it grows well any part of Nigeria. My dad brought some seeds to our compound in the early 90s, we still have it till date. Just that we allow ours to grow and have tendrils like pumpkin. Hence, it produces seeds to perpetuate itself.

Curiouscity:


It was the lack of local consideration that I condemned. Some people are just too lazy to even edit what they copied.

For spinach, it grows well any part of Nigeria. My dad brought some seeds to our compound in the early 90s, we still have it till date. Just that we allow ours to grow and have tendrils like pumpkin. Hence, it produces seeds to perpetuate itself.

Do you have an idea of which variety it is?

Pavore9:


Do you have an idea of which variety it is?

No Sir.

Modified :

Below is a picture of the type we have. A quick Google search shows it is called Malabar Spinach.

Curiouscity:


No Sir.

Modified :

Below is a picture of the type we have. A quick Google search shows it is called Malabar Spinach.

Thanks. I wish it was the Fordhook Giant variety.

I have been looking for that also

Pavore9:


Thanks. I wish it was the Fordhook Giant variety.