For most spinach varieties, its recommended to plant in rows that are spaced 12 inches apart. Honestly, this is a great veggie to grow if you have an area that gets partial shade. Those who are in temperate California or other warm climates and warm weather environments can actually grow young spinach seedlings from fall all the way through winter and well into the spring! Remember to plant at least 3 inches apart. This presents two possible options for the type of crops to grow. Step 7:Harvest spinach regularly. Growing spinach seeds from resistant varieties and preventing aphids on your spinach are both essential protections. If vegetables are your thing here are some profitable vegetables to grow in Zimbabwe. They can be propagated on open fields or under greenhouses, by trellising. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens,aworking sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. If you plant too close to summertime, its common for your spinach seedlings to seed stalk without producing many leaves at all. Loosely fill your sterilized jars with the wilted greens and add boiling water, leaving about an inch of headspace. Maize is the staple food or crop of Zimbabwe. Epic Gardening is reader-supported. Transplants should be planted near the last frost-free date for the growing area. This is a very popular variety most sought after by many these days. Spinach is a heavy feeder! I will discuss some of the top crop farming business ideas for Zimbabwe. There are also some great DIY pest control methods that work against slugs and snails! Marie Iannotti is a life-long gardener and a veteran Master Gardener with nearly three decades of experience. Anything from 20 tonnes upwards can be harvested per hectare. Small grains are generally hardy crops i.e. For fall planting, put it in the ground 6-8 weeks before the first frost of the year. Transplants provide an earlier harvest. And kale can have a slightly bitter taste while spinach is sweeter. Finally, we come to the slugs and snails. If the leaves are not going to be used immediately, bunch them and put them in water to keep them fresh for longer. Whether its hot composting, vermicomposting, bokashi, or another method, you need to be doing this essential gardening technique to boost your soil. 2022 Epic Gardening. A significant number of vegetable crops are best grown to start with seedlings. I have done articles on tomato farming several times. Learn more, AboutCareersPressDisclaimerPrivacy PolicyContact. He has worked with individuals, small to medium enterprises, and large corporations in Zimbabwe & various countries. Spinach grows best when temperatures do not exceed 75F. Some of the common ones are green vegetables (cabbage, covo, rape, spinach, and so on), tomatoes, onions, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, green pepper, and so on. Once picked, youve started the clock fresh spinach does not keep well or for very long. Spinach needs around six weeks of cool temperatures to grow from seed to maturity. We do too. It can tolerate a light frost, but heavy freezes will kill the plant. Varieties that are "long standing" or slow bolting are better adapted for late spring plantings. He has worked with individuals, small to medium enterprises, and large corporations in Zimbabwe & various countries. Gardening images, quotes, videos, and more. Green or black soft-bodied insects that feed on underside of leaves. The best temperature for growing spinach is between 16C and 24C. As long as youve followed the steps mentioned above, you should be able to grow a good crop of spinach. In Ghana, they are used to make palaver sauce. Stir in artichoke hearts, spinach, and jalapenos. Farmers can sow other plants between the rows of spinach plants. Tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers are also good plants near your spinach. Spinach can be eaten fresh or cooked. We are taking a deep dive into these good neighbor plants, what works well together, and what should be avoided but more importantly, were explaining why these things may have positive or negative impacts on your plants! Spinach does not compete well with weeds. In general, spinach needs around 1 to 1 1/2 inches of water per week. The leaves are arranged around an upright stem that can grow up to 1,8m high. TIPS ON HOW TO GROW SPINACH Spinach is a nutrient-rich green that is easy to grow in the garden. Spinach and kale have similar growing requirements, both liking cooler weather and taking around the same time from planting to harvesting. The great thing about such vegetables is that they can be successfully propagated through the greenhouse or otherwise. Thats why these spinach pests dont make for a good spinach harvest! In crop farming, there are certain crops that most farmers start from seedlings. The maturity date should be about 1-2 weeks after the anticipated first fall frost for your growing area. Seeded or transplanted spinach should be spaced 3 inches between plants in the row with rows 12 inches apart. processing. Some do not eat meat for religious reasons. Do not just think about the local market and just selling raw produce. Additionally, there are more prospects in targeting the export market. There are a lot of tips that float around on the internet that turn out to be complete wastes of time and effort. Thus it would be strategic to grow them. Spinach can be planted in most areas of the yard which get at least six hours of sunlight per day. Cucumbers are perfect here because they are widely consumed in Zimbabwe. The taproot will continue trying to grow downward, and it can spiral around inside its container. Use a spinosad spray to wipe them out. Clean your spinach thoroughly, and discard any discolored, insect-damaged, diseased, or wilted leaves. The purple varieties with bigger leaves should not be consumed. Use an organic, all-purpose, well-draining potting mix for spinach. I have covered microgreens before and it is an area that is relatively new in Zimbabwe. Mulch around the plant also helps conserve soil moisture and reduce weed growth. they can withstand harsh conditions. Mushrooms are also another profitable farming venture to settle for. To clean it, fill a large bowl with cool water and place your spinach inside. If a plant becomes diseased or damaged, it's often best to pull the whole plant to prevent it from affecting nearby plants. Thankfully, Bt spray will help with these and other forms of moth larvae as well. Water requirements depend on soil type and temperatures. When selecting a planting location for spring, choose one that gets 6 or more hours of direct sun each day. Do not store your spinach while its still wet, as that will rapidly accelerate its decay. Will my spinach die? STAR Varieties This can sometimes be treated with liquid copper fungicide. Q: How many times can you harvest from one spinach plant? Spinach benefits and side effects. Our raised bed gardening category shares our tips about raised beds and how best to put them to use for you! Dense plantings will reduce weed pressure. Step 6:For a better crop, apply a top dressing about five weeks later as spinach needs a lot of nitrogen for good quality, broad leaves. Step 2:Apply fertiliser, manure or compost. However, they have some clear differences. Bursting with juicy goodness, berries are one of the most favored fruits. Our in-depth guides explain your options and help you determine the best ones for your needs. If not, have no fear, well help you learn the right way to harvest (and in many cases to store) your abundant fruit, vegetables, herbs, and more! Sow outdoors, directly where they are to grow. Are you looking for capsicum or eggplant? Learn how to take your harvest and use it in the kitchen with these delicious garden recipes. Companion planting, sometimes called intercropping, can be used to deter pests and improve yields. Step 3:Use a garden fork to mix soil and fertiliser, manure or compost thoroughly, and then even out using a rake. Lost Password? It needs around 6 weeks of cool weather to produce a decent harvest. A bit of EB Stone Sure Start will help the seeds get started right. Regular watering is essential in warm weather to prevent bolting. Bush okra or jute mallows are thick and succulent leaves that yield a slimy sauce very similar to that of okra pods. Anthracnose and cercospora leaf spotcan both cause blotches and spotting on leaves. Spinach tolerates cool weather. The soil must be cooler than 70 degrees Fahrenheit for germination. As the young spinach plants come up, assess the young spinach plants for hardiness and thin to 4-6 inches apart. Unlike many other green plants, you cant grow spinach from cuttings, as the leaves and stems will not form new roots. A: It depends on the region where you live! I have even included practical projections of money you can make from tomato farming. How to grow spinach: Plant spinach at the right time Spinach can be grown in almost any climate if grown at the right time. Create a new account here There are certain things that we add to the soil that doesnt improve its fertility, but instead offers different benefits like moisture retention, good drainage, and so on. Spinach plants have an erect growth habit and will produce small yellow-green flowers on spikes in hot weather before going to seed. Sow seed: March-May. Seeds should be planted inch deep. Spinach can be grown from seed or transplants. Moments ago I touched on plant nurseries; often time people into that tend to diversify into or couple it with ornamental crops. Given the weather and climate dynamics at play, it would be best to employ farming strategies such as irrigation, greenhouse farming, and the like. Heat any standard pot over medium heat and melt the cream cheese, butter, Parmesan, and sour cream until they start to bubble. 10 health benefits of spinach Here we highlight all of the fantastic seeds and grains you can grow for sustainable food solutions. You'll need a seed tray or container with cells and universal soil to grow seedlings. Be sure to leave at least a portion of the leaf stem on the leaf as removal of the stem will cause the leaf to wilt more quickly. Microgreens are young vegetables typically 2.5 to 7.5 centimetres in height. Thin it to at least 3 inches apart and harvest as the plant reaches 5-6 inches in height. It needs soil temperatures of at least 40 degrees to germinate, and at least six weeks of cool weather to mature. Northern and eastern parts of Zimbabwe are the most suited for tobacco production.