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The following content is all about Growing Spinach in Containers.
Spinach botanical name is Beeta vulgaris Var. Bengalensis, commonly called Palak, it belongs to the family of Chenopodiaceae and Originated in Indo – china region.
Spinach is grown in north India. Vegetable growers mostly cultivated spinach while spinach is limited to kitchen gardens. Most people are interested to grow spinach in a container or indoor environment. You can assume this information for growing spinach in containers, pots, terraces, balconies, and backyards.
1.Varieties with reddish midrib.
Some of the varieties are:
Prefer sandy loam good watering is given to spinach growing in containers and neutral pH is required to grow spinach. Cultivar Jobner green can withstand a pH of 10.5. the crop is regarded as highly salt-tolerant and grows saline soil. Spinach is regarded as still more tolerant to saline conditions.
Mulches and Row Covers: Use fabric covers to each pot to protect seedlings and transplants from frost. Organic mulches help cool the soil and reduce water stress. Organic mulches such as grass clippings, straw, and shredded newspapers also help control weeds.
Prefer autumn and winter mild climate in plain. Withstand frost and some extent and warm weather. If the temperature is very high, it results in bolting.
Sown 2 to 3 seasons and conditions are favorable. Spinach can be sown throughout the year as consider to indoor growing. In plains spring season and rainy season are the important times of sowing. In hilly areas, it can be sown on a terrace or balcony even in the month of April.
Spinach seeds are soaked in water to hasten up germination. In general, the seeds are sown by hand in pots or containers. But the time of sowing is important. Spacing of 20 cm is kept at the successive times. Germination commences within 10 DAS (days after sowing) will complete in soon. One light watering is given to plantlets or seeds after sowing is essential.
Nitrogen fertilizer is more important. Apply 35 to 40 per ha of well-decomposed farmyard manure( FYM) 25 to 50 kg of N, P, K are given as basal and 25 kg Nitrogen after every cutting. Manuring is applied to the soil. Soil health should be preferred.
For growing Spinach in a pot or container, the container should be in the minimum size of 1 gallon Thinned to 3 inches apart or Plant ½ inch deep; Thin to 4 to5 inches apart. Any size container is comfortable for spinach growing. Seeded or transplanted spinach should be placed in pot or container in the depth of 3 or if it is seedling make a hole of conical shape with a diameter of 3 to 4m, between pot to pot space should be maintained 12 inches apart.
Dense plantings will reduce weed pressure. Spinach grows best when temperatures do not exceed 75°F. Temperatures at 32°F may not seriously damage young spinach plants. Transplanting should be done near the last frost-free date for the growing region. Seeded spinach may be planted 3 to 4 weeks earlier. You can read all the instructions on the seed cover about planting instructions.
High summer temperatures reduce growth, decrease quality, and cause the plants to flower and the leaves to develop bitter flavors. For fall spinach, select early maturing cultivars and plant 50 to 75 days before the anticipated maturity date.
The maturity date is about 1 to 2 weeks after the anticipated first fall frost for your growing area. Plants can be left in the garden after light frosts. Spinach will easily over-winter for an early spring crop if the plant has 4 to 5 true leaves formed late in the year. When over-wintering spinach, mulch the plants heavily and remove the mulch after the snow melts in the spring.
It requires frequent watering and is essential for light or sand soil textures. If planting in summer, this crop requires frequent watering at 3 to 4 days intervals. In case of winter or cold climatic conditions, autumn irrigations are given at 10 to 15 days intervals. Water should be provided in such a way that it can reach the bottom of the pot for the root system in the container
Spinach does not compete well with weeds. Weed control is particularly important during establishment. Closely spaced plants will help control weeds. Rake up the soil in the container and avoid root pruning to ensure uninterrupted growth.
Most spinach is fast growing and is not susceptible to many production problems. As spinach growing in a container most of the insects and diseases which are soil-born are eliminated. sterilized soil is recommended to add to the container, if any symptoms appear, care should be taken.
Insects Identification and Control Measures
Diseases
Control: To control this disease, use tolerant cultivars. Hot water treats the seed.
Control: Do not plant the crop when the soil temperatures are high (mid-June to late August). The cultivar “Packer” has some tolerance.
Spinach Blight or Yellows (virus) Characteristics: Caused by cucumber mosaic virus and transmitted by aphids. Young inner leaves become mottled, later changing.
Harvesting maturity of Spinach attains at 25 to 30 DAS (days after sowing). It may continue at 15 to 20 days intervals. Cut only green succulent tender leaves, winter crops give more cuttings than summer crop varieties. Jobner green gives more cuttings compared to all.
In case if you miss this: Growing Vegetables Hydroponically.
