The spinachwith their delicious taste and fast growth, are a gardener’s dream. But how to ensure a rich and continuous harvest?
Learning the harvesting techniques used by experienced farmers can transform your garden into an inexhaustible source of green leaves.
Find out how to get the most out of this precious crop for abundant and regular production.
Understanding the life cycle of spinach: the key to a perfect harvest
To collect the spinach at the right time, it is essential to understand their life cycle. These annual plants grow quickly, making them perfect for the impatient.
Generally, after alone 4 to 6 weeks from sowing, it is possible to begin harvesting. The young, tender leaves can be harvested when they reach a size of approximately 5 a 10 cmwhile the larger leaves are suitable for cooking.
Supervise your plants carefully, especially when temperatures rise above 20°Cto avoid the phase of “bolting”or flowering, which reduces the quality of the crop.
Acting promptly will allow you to maintain high quality and quantity.
Harvesting techniques: how to prolong production
Adopt the correct one collection technique can make a noticeable difference in your overall spinach yield. There are two main methods that can help:
Pick leaf by leaf
This technique consists of taking the outermost and largest leaves, leaving the central ones intact. In this way yes stimulates the plant to continually produce new leaves.
Cut the entire plant
If temperatures start to rise, it may be wise cut the entire plant about 2 cm above the ground. By doing so, the roots remain intact and can encourage new growth.
Increase the productivity of spinach
A bountiful harvest begins long before harvest. It is important to implement some practices to ensure continuous and copious production.
Choose subsequent sowings
Scatter the seeds of spinach Everything is fine 15 days approximately to ensure a prolonged harvest in the spring and autumn months.
Improve the soil
The spinach they prefer a soil rich in organic matter and slightly acidic (pH between 6,5 e 7). A regular supply of compost or well-rotted manure promotes vigorous growth.
Smart irrigation
Maintain constant humidity, avoiding wetting the leaves to prevent fungal diseases such as mildew.
Provide partial shade
During the summer, protect the plants with a shade cloth or grow them next to taller plants to avoid too high temperatures that trigger flowering.
Protect spinach from garden enemies
The irrepressible aphid and the annoying ones altic they are attracted to spinach. We need to recognize them and intervene promptly. A black soap solution or the use of cold water may be enough to remove them.
In case of fungal diseaseslike the mildewSpacing plants to improve air circulation and avoiding watering during the evening helps maintain plant health.
Preserve the freshness of the harvest
Once collected, keep them spinach in the fridge in a perforated plastic bag to prolong their freshness. If you want to keep them for longer, consider blanching them before freezing: they will retain their color, texture and flavor.
