How to grow water spinach well and quickly

The main methods for planting water spinach with fast emergence and good growth include selecting high-quality seeds, soil treatment, reasonable sowing, water and fertilizer management, and pest control.

1. Choose high-quality seeds

Choose fresh and plump water spinach seeds, soak the seeds in warm water before sowing to promote germination. Old or damaged seeds have a low germination rate, which directly affects the germination speed. It is recommended to choose varieties with strong disease resistance and short growth cycles, such as large leaf water spinach or willow leaf water spinach.

2. Soil Treatment

Before planting, it is necessary to deeply plow the soil and apply sufficient base fertilizer, mainly using decomposed organic fertilizer with a small amount of compound fertilizer. Hollow cabbage is suitable for growing in loose soil with a slightly acidic pH value, while sticky and compacted soil needs to be improved by adding river sand. When preparing the land, keep the width of the bed about one meter for easy management and harvesting in the later stage.

III. Reasonable Sowing

In spring, when the ground temperature is stable above 15 degrees, direct sowing can be carried out, with a planting amount of about two kilograms per mu. During the high temperature period in summer, it is advisable to use strip sowing or hole sowing methods, with a sowing depth not exceeding two centimeters. After sowing, cover with thin soil and lightly press to keep the soil moist but avoid water accumulation. Generally, seedlings can emerge within five to seven days.

4. Water and Fertilizer Management

After emergence, keeping the soil dry and moist, and controlling water appropriately one week before harvesting can improve the crispness and tenderness of stems and leaves. Topdressing mainly consists of nitrogen fertilizer combined with potassium fertilizer, and diluted manure or urea should be applied promptly after each harvest. Avoid excessive growth caused by biased application of nitrogen fertilizer, and pay attention to drainage and flood prevention during the rainy season.

V. Disease and pest control

Common diseases include white rust and brown spot, which can be prevented through crop rotation and spraying of mancozeb. The main pests are Spodoptera litura and aphids, which can be controlled by hanging yellow sticky insect boards or spraying matrine solution. Timely remove diseased plants to avoid the use of highly toxic pesticides that may affect food safety. During the growth period of water spinach, sufficient light should be maintained, with at least six hours of direct sunlight per day. Regular plowing and weeding can improve soil permeability, and combined with harvesting and removing old leaves, promote the germination of new shoots. By adopting the above comprehensive management measures, the first harvest can usually be achieved 25 to 30 days after sowing, and a crop can be harvested every 7 to 10 days during high temperature seasons. The continuous harvesting period can last for more than two months. Pay attention to preserving two to three sections of the base during harvesting to facilitate regeneration. During the rainy season, it is necessary to strengthen anthrax monitoring and immediately spray chlorothalonil to control the spread of leaf lesions.