Spinach is a member of the "Amaranthaceae" family and is indigenous to central and western Asia. It is a perennial vegetable that is grown all over the world. In Hindi, spinach is also referred to as "Palak” that contains a lot of vitamins, antioxidants, and iron.
This green leafy vegetable offers several health benefits from increasing immunity, digestion to enhancing skin, hair, eyes, and brain power. It also possesses anti-aging and anti-cancer qualities.
The top states in India that produces spinach are Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Maharashtra, West Bengal, and Gujarat.
Spinach Growing Instructions for Seed Harvest
Soil Requirements and Land Preparation
Although spinach can grow well in most soil types, it will do best in soil that is rich in organic matter. In general, the pH and soil type of a spinach plant rarely become a limiting factor. However, sandy loam soils with a pH of 6,5 to 6,8 have been said to be ideal for spinach growth. Farmers can use P2O5 at a rate of 50 kg per hectare in situations of severe P deficiency a few days before sowing. Remember that every field is unique and has certain requirements. Before planting, growers should do a soil examination. For assistance in creating a logical field preparation strategy, they can also consult a certified agronomist in their area. A few days before sowing, some farmers can additionally plough well and spread well-rotted cow dung, to restore N levels.
Common Varieties
Punjab Green: Semi-erect plant with glossy, black foliage. thirty days after seeding, ready for initial cutting. yields an average of 125 qtl/acre. It has little oxalic acid.
Punjab Selection: The foliage is long, slender, and light green in hue. The flavour of the leaves is somewhat sour. On the stem, there is purple colouring. It produces a yield of 115 qtl/acre on average.
Other Variants: Pusa Bharati, Pusa Jyoti, Pusa Palak, Pusa Harit
Planting Season
You can plant spinach any time of year. The ideal planting window for the winter season is from September to October. Complete sowing from mid-February through April for the spring season.
Spacing: Use a plant-to-plant distance of 5–10 cm and a row-to-row distance of 25–30 cm.
Planting Depth: Plant seeds 3–4 cm deep.
Method to Sowing: Line sowing and disseminating are two seeding techniques.
Rate of Seed: Usage 4-6 kg of seed per acre for winter use and 10-15 kg of seed per acre for summer crops.
Treatment of Seeds: Seeds should be soaked for 12 to 24 hours before planting. It will increase the possibility of germination.
Weed Control
Two to three hoeing is necessary to keep weeds under control and to aerate the soil. Use Pyrazone@1-1.12 kg/acre as a pre-emergence herbicide to chemically suppress weeds. Don't follow it up with weedicide.
Requirements for Water
The root system of the spinach plant is quite shallow. To generate a satisfactory yield, the plant prefers smaller and more frequent watering sessions. As a general rule, farmers should concentrate on maintaining wet soil during the growing season. Expert farmers assert that maintaining a steady moisture level in the soil benefits plants in two ways. The plant will be able to absorb the required water, on the one hand. On the other hand, by maintaining a cool soil temperature, spinach will grow more effectively.
When it's too hot out, spinach often bolts and sets seed. In this situation, plants are genetically programmed to focus on generating seeds rather than developing leaves. The product cannot be promoted as a result. The first two weeks typically involve three to four watering treatments each week. It is strongly recommended to irrigate crops in the early morning or late afternoon. This will stop water from evaporating due to the heat of the sun.
Harvesting
Whether we plant spinach for the fresh market or the processed market will determine when to harvest. The majority of the time, spinach plants for the fresh market are picked 38 to 55 days after sowing in a single cut (the entire plant is killed). On the other hand, spinach leaves intended for the processed market are picked 60 to 80 days after sowing.
After the initial harvesting session, both the smooth and savoy plants (but largely the smooth plants) are frequently let grow and regenerate so that the farmers can harvest a second cut.
How to Produce Spinach Seeds?
Spinach grows swiftly, and because of this farmers frequently plant spinach consecutively to achieve a continuous crop. Spinach plants develop male and female plants separately. The wind can readily fertilize them and can transport pollen for kilometers. Usually, depending upon the variety spinach plants begin to generate seeds 4 to 6 weeks after the leaves are suitable for harvest.
You can preserve one tiny crop of spinach plants for up to four years, which will provide you enough seeds to sow your garden for future years.
Use a 50 cm x 30 cm spacing for seed production. Maintain a 1000-meter buffer zone around the palak seedling patch. For field inspection, it is important to skip one row every five rows. Plants with diseases should be removed, as should plants with different leaf characteristics. When seed stalks turn brown, harvest the crop. Keep the plant in the field for a week after harvesting for curing and drying purposes. Crops need to be properly dried before being threshed for seed.
Identify the male and female plants. This is the male plant if you notice little golden balls under the leaves. Under the leaves, the female will develop bigger, rounder green balls. Each seed from a female spinach plant weighs roughly an eighth of an inch and can number in the hundreds.
When the spinach plants have dried out, remove them. After you have collected the leaves, the seeds are usually ready to be harvested one to one and a half months later. Throw away the male plants. Any female plants that haven't completely dried out should be hung upside down for a week in a cool, dry place.
Grab a pair of gloves. To separate the seeds from the stem of each female plant, rake your thumb over it. As the seeds fall, catch them in a paper bag.
Put your seeds in a glass jar with a tight lid and name it. Put the container somewhere dry and cold.
