Spinach is a source of iron, vitamins, protein and fiber. To eat such a useful plant all year round, it can be not only frozen, but also grown in an apartment on the southern windowsills. Within a few weeks after planting, greenery will grow, which can be cut and eaten. Read more about planting and caring for the plant.
What varieties to choose?
Varietal features determine the early maturity and quantity of the future harvest, so you need to approach the choice of variety with all responsibility. Experienced gardeners recommend a closer look at early ripening varieties, which yield an average of 30 days after sowing, have a good rosette and large fleshy leaves.
Based on these criteria, it is best to grow the following varieties at home:
- Victoria. It belongs to a very early and early ripening leaf culture - after emergence, the crop can be harvested for 25-30 days. The variety is characterized by round-shaped leaves (length - 8-10 cm), which are collected in a small outlet and tightly pressed to the ground. Victoria's petiole is thick and short (length - 3.4-4.7 cm), and the mass of one plant is 25-28 g.
- Matador. It is a high-yielding hybrid that has oval leaves of dark green color (length - 18-22 cm) and a slightly raised socket. After sowing the seeds, the plant will ripen within 35-50 days. Matador is not afraid of frost and other adverse conditions, therefore it is often chosen for cultivation on balconies.
- Gigantic. The variety is distinguished by gentle taste, so the foliage of the plant is often used in the preparation of various dishes for children. Harvest can be harvested on 21-23 days after the appearance of the first seedlings. The foliage of a light green color has an average size (length - about 20 cm) and forms a dense rosette, which is slightly raised.
- Greasy. This early ripening variety ripens within 30-35 days after the appearance of the first seedlings. The green foliage of the plant has a fleshy structure, oval shape, relief coating and medium length (18-20 cm). Numerous leaf plates form 25-30 cm rosettes.
Each variety has its own characteristics. If it is difficult to make a choice, you can sow several packages of seeds of various varieties in separate containers. As soon as they ripen, they can be compared and choose the best type of spinach for themselves.
It should be noted that the plant also happens to be of two types - ordinary and New Zealand. Both spinach can be grown at home, but the second species will not quickly throw an arrow and give a more abundant green mass, which can be harvested for 2-3 months.
Growing conditions
In order for spinach to grow at home, it is necessary to provide favorable conditions for this - from lighting to air humidity. Each parameter is important, so they should be considered separately.
Temperature mode
Spinach does not require high temperatures for normal development. Seeds can germinate even at a temperature of + 4 ° C, but in the future, for the growth and development of a plant, a temperature of + 14 ... + 18 ° C will be required. The ideal temperature is + 15 ° C, because under such conditions the plant quickly gains power and grows to optimal sizes. The leaves do not burn out and do not fade.
It should be noted that the shrub can grow at a temperature of + 7 ... + 10˚С, but in this case the growth of leaf blades will be somewhat slowed down. It is also impossible to allow air temperatures above + 18 ° C, since in this case the plant will shoot, so its leaves will become unfit for human consumption.
You can keep the plant on a glazed loggia, because in such a room it is easy to maintain the optimum temperature.
Air humidity
Spinach is a hygrophilous crop, therefore it is important not only to produce regular watering and spraying, but also to maintain high humidity - about 50-60%. Otherwise, the plant will begin to wither and will not be able to give a full crop. So, in hot weather or during the heating season, it is recommended to regularly spray crops from the spray gun or place water containers around flowerpots.
Lighting
Spinach is a light-loving plant, so it should be grown on well-lit southern window sills. In extreme cases, flowerpots with plants can be located on the southeast or southwest window sills.
In this case, it is worth taking additional measures depending on the time of year:
- in the spring-summer period, plants should be shaded to prevent severe overheating and burning of delicate leaves;
- in the autumn-winter period, especially during cloudy or rainy weather, the room should include fluorescent lamps to ensure a full daylight hours.
It is worth noting that for the normal development of the bush at any time of the year, exposure to light takes about 10 hours. For additional illumination, you can use fluorescent lamps, placing them at a distance of 60 cm from containers with spinach and including in the evening for 2-3 hours or more.
Excessive light exposure is also contraindicated in seedlings, as it can delay the onset of flowering.
Required Inventory
To grow spinach on the windowsill, it must be sown in a spacious container. For these purposes, you can use boxes or containers, the depth of which is not less than 15 cm. Seeds can also be sown in flower pots, but their volume should be not less than 1 liter, but not more than 2 liters. In addition, when choosing containers, it is worth starting from several parameters:
- will they fit on the windowsill;
- whether there are drain holes for water drainage;
- Is it possible to prepare two layers - drainage (at least 3 cm) and soil (about 12-15 cm);
- will it be possible to maintain the optimal interval for planting seeds (for its calculation, the container should be divided into equal squares and see how many seeds can be sown).
If the container meets the above requirements, then it can be used for the stated purposes. Additionally, it is worth considering whether to pick a grown seedling or not:
- if the crop is cut without replanting the plant, that is, without diving, for sowing seeds, you can use a shallow, long and wide pot or flowerpot, which necessarily has holes for the outflow of excess water;
- if the grown seedlings are transplanted into another container, initially it is worth using small containers for sowing seeds, from which it will be convenient to dive seedlings in the future.
Soil selection and preparation
Spinach can be successfully grown only in loose and nutritious soil, which has a slightly alkaline or neutral reaction. In this regard, the plant can not be planted in the soil with the addition of peat, since it contributes to an increase in soil acidity, which negatively affects the development of the bush.
So, the plant can be planted in any store soil, with the exception of acidic. Of course, the soil mixture can be prepared independently. Here are the most popular spinach substrates:
- Combine 1 part of vermicompost and 2 parts of coconut fibers that will retain moisture, preventing stagnation of water in the container. Such a mixture has high nutritional value, moisture capacity and lightness.
- Mix every 100 cubic meters. cm biohumus with 1-2 tsp. perlite (vermiculite). This substrate can be prepared if coconut fibers were not obtained at the gardener store. Perlite or vermiculite will retain moisture and give the soil all the same properties as coconut fibers, however, it will not rot and will last even longer.
- Combine 2 parts of garden soil, 1 part of humus (cow or leaf) and sand. Before sowing seeds, a similar mixture should be scalded with boiling water or disinfected with a solution, and then sprinkled on a baking sheet with a layer of up to 5 cm and sent for 30 minutes to the oven at a temperature of 100 ° C to carry out additional disinfection.
It is recommended to pre-puncture any soil mixture in the oven to disinfect it.
Regardless of the type of substrate used, it is imperative to pour a layer of drainage onto the bottom of the container, and then fill up the soil. The fact is that spinach involves abundant watering, and a drainage layer 2-3 cm high will not allow stagnation of nutrient moisture. Various materials can be used as drainage, including:
- gravel;
- expanded clay;
- brick chips;
- regular polystyrene, divided into small pieces.
Seed preparation and planting
Spinach seeds are quite large, and they sprout quickly and amicably, guaranteeing almost 100% germination. To achieve such results, before sowing, they must be correctly processed, following the following instructions:
- A day before sowing, rinse the planting material, pour warm water and leave for 24 hours. This will accelerate its germination, as well as ensure uniform germination of young shoots.
- In the morning, drain the water from the tank. If earlier the seeds had a dense external structure, then after soaking they slightly soften and swell.
- 2-3 hours before sowing, pour the seeds with a weak solution of potassium permanganate or potassium permanganate to disinfect them from diseases. Duration of soaking - 30 minutes.
- Seedlings dry slightly and use for planting.
Spinach can be sown for seedlings or immediately to a constant place of growth. In any case, before planting, the soil must be slightly moistened and grooves prepared, the depth of which is from 1 to 1.5 cm.The optimal distance between them is 2-3 cm. Throw the spinach seeds into the prepared holes, and then cover them with soil.
Before seedlings should close the container with film or glass. As a rule, seedlings hatch for 5-7 days.
Landing care
Spinach containers must be set to the south side, and the premises must be provided with competent lighting, temperature conditions and air humidity. After this, the plant must be properly looked after in order to achieve a quick bite of the first seedlings. What is the care, we will understand further.
Watering
Immediately after planting, the planted crops should be slightly moistened. In the future they must be watered frequently and plentifully. As mentioned above, spinach is a water-loving plant and does not tolerate drying out of the soil.
In addition to regular watering, greens should be sprayed with room temperature water from a spray bottle. Thus, the plant will be saturated, and around it the air humidity will increase, due to which it will be possible to prevent the premature development of shooting. The fact is that with a reduced level of humidity, the plant very quickly begins to throw out flower stalks, so the greens will become coarse and unfit for eating.
In the cold seasons, it is impossible to install heating appliances close to the plant, however, if the room temperature is low so that the land does not soften due to heavy watering, it is enough to carry out leaf irrigation from the spray gun only.
Top dressing
If spinach was planted in garden soil, then at the beginning of the growing season it should be fed using liquid fertilizers. For example, ammonia, hydrogen peroxide, or Fitosporin can be used as top dressing.
If the soil mixture was saturated with nutrient additives before planting the seeds, then the need for fertilizing is eliminated. The fact is that excessive application of fertilizers adversely affects the characteristics of sheet plates.
Pick
It is carried out only in case of seedling cultivation of spinach. Dive a plant to a permanent place is necessary when 2-3 sheets appear. Typically, this occurs 2 weeks after sowing the seeds.
When picking, pots with seedlings should be well watered, with caution, extract one plant each without damaging the roots, and plant them in a permanent place. After again, it is worth conducting moderate watering.
Possible diseases
When grown on window sills, spinach seedlings are protected from various pests that can affect the plant when grown in open ground. However, at home, the bush is not protected from such diseases:
- Anthracnose. Brown or grayish-dirty spots appear on the leaves, which can have different sizes.
- Root rot. More often a threat to young plants. The disease manifests itself in the form of spots on the foliage with fungal formations inside.
- Fusarium. Leaf plates cease to develop normally, and their color changes - it becomes somewhat darker, and after that it turns yellow. In the end, the plant dies.
In the fight against any disease, it is required to remove damaged areas, but if the whole plant is completely sick, unfortunately, it will be necessary to completely remove it from the ground, since it is impossible to cure the leaves.
Harvesting
3-4 weeks after sowing, the first greens will appear on the bush. Mass harvesting can be done when the spinach grows to 7-10 cm and forms 5-6 large dense leaves. It should be noted that at first the plant will develop very slowly, but after 20-25 days from the appearance of seedlings, the rosettes will grow rapidly. So, depending on the variety of spinach, leaf cutting can begin after 25-40 days.
The foliage must be cut with scissors or gently breaking the leg. It is impossible to pull and tear out the plates, since this can cause harm to the entire root system. All foliage can be collected at a time, leaving only very young leaves, but experienced farmers advise collecting the plant as necessary, since the leaves have a short shelf life - they wither during the day. Harvesting should be carried out in the morning or evening hours.
During the growing season from one shrub you can collect leaves 4-5 times, and cutting can be done every 7-10 days. When the plant forms a flower arrow, it must be removed and, if desired, carry out a new sowing.
Spinach is an annual plant, so its vegetation does not require much time. After the appearance of the first greens suitable for cutting, the bush will actively grow leaf plates for another 2 months, and after a few prunings, the peduncle will begin to produce, so its leaves will become unusable. So, in order to continuously receive fresh spinach, it is worth sowing new plant lots every 2 months, and old sockets must be uprooted.
You can grow spinach at home at any time of the year. To do this, plant seeds must be sown in small low flowerpots, using nutritious soils for their rapid germination. Of course, to get a good harvest, you will also need to provide proper care for the seedlings.