Hollow Heart Spinach, also known as Malabar Spinach or Vine Spinach, is a common leafy vegetable with high demand. If you're considering planting Hollow Heart Spinach, what's the best time to do it? Let's find out.
Best Time to Plant Hollow Heart Spinach
The best time to plant Hollow Heart Spinach is during the spring season. In the southern regions, it should be planted between April and July, while in the northern regions, it's best to plant between June and August. The specific planting time may vary depending on the climate of each region. Generally, as long as the temperature reaches around 25°C, you can start planting Hollow Heart Spinach.
Planting Methods for Hollow Heart Spinach
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Seed Sowing: Before sowing, deeply turn over the soil and apply 2500 kg of well-rotted organic fertilizer per mu (about 666.67 square meters). Mix it evenly with the soil and rake it flat. Before sowing, treat the seeds by soaking them in 50-60°C warm water for 30 minutes, then soak them in clean water for 20-24 hours. After rinsing and draining, allow the seeds to germinate at around 25°C. Keep the seeds moist during germination by rinsing them with clean water once a day. Once the seeds crack and show white spots, they are ready to be sown.
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Thin Planting: Thirty days after sowing, when the seedlings reach a height of more than 17 centimeters, thin the seedlings to a row spacing of about 7 centimeters. The thinned seedlings can be marketed or transplanted.
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Field Management: Hollow Heart Spinach has a high demand for nutrients and water. In addition to applying sufficient base fertilizer, additional fertilization is required. When the seedlings grow to 5-7 centimeters, water and fertilize them to promote growth. Afterwards, water regularly to keep the soil moist. After each harvest, apply well-rotted compost or animal manure 1-2 times. During the growing season, timely weeding is necessary. After earthing up, weeding may not be necessary. To promote stem and leaf growth and early marketability, foliar spray with 50 ppm gibberellin every 20 days. For paddy fields, maintain a water depth of 7-10 centimeters during vigorous growth. If there is cold and cloudy weather, drain the field to increase soil temperature before irrigation.
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Harvesting: The first harvest should begin when the vines of Hollow Heart Spinach reach about 30 centimeters in length, leaving 2 nodes at the base of the stems. For the second harvest, remove the second node left at the base of the stem. For the third harvest, remove the first node left at the base of the stem to promote new shoots. After the vines age, cut them off after the summer, and strengthen water and fertilizer management. New shoots will quickly sprout, allowing for multiple harvests, with a harvesting period of over 4 months.
Above are the details regarding the best time to plant Hollow Heart Spinach. Planting times may vary between northern and southern regions due to differences in temperature. Choose the appropriate sowing time based on the local climate.
