At the most advanced level, you can even grow vegetables for export. Step 2:Apply fertiliser, manure or compost. The higher nitrogen content in these fertilizers can cause scorching. Other popular leaves includepumpkin leaves, cowpea leaves, and those of the African eggplant. There are techniques for pruning your plants the right way, guidelines to follow for seasonal pruning, and more. Adding a layer of mulch around the plants also can help to maintain soil moisture. Use floating row covers to exclude beetles from plants. They are ready for harvest after about 60 to 75 days. First add richness to the soil by digging in some well rotted garden compost then adding a general fertilizer. Spinach can be harvested in the "cut and come again" method. Clive Masarakufa is a Business & Management Consultant. Instead, place your greens into a resealable bag, and place them in the microwave for one minute, then directly into the freezer. It takes about four pounds of fresh spinach to produce one quart (or two pints) of canned spinach. Spinach does not transplant well, so it is best to direct sow your spinach seeds into rich, organic garden soil. Thin stands when plants have 3-4 true leaves. Sow seeds in rows of 6-8 inches apart, 1/2 inch deep. They can quickly bolt, resulting in bittered leaves and failing plants. Organic mulches help cool the soil and reduce water stress. This will earn roughly US$22 000 in gross revenue so this is worth a try. However, you can grow spinach in pots either outdoors, or grow spinach indoors all year. As long as youve followed the steps mentioned above, you should be able to grow a good crop of spinach. Meeting these conditions is especially important when you grow spinach in pots. Spinach Growing Tips. They are widely consumed by most Zimbabweans either raw or cooked. Do not just think about the local market and just selling raw produce. Continue to fertilize throughout the season, following your product's instructions. Marie's garden writing has been featured in newspapers and magazines nationwide and she has been interviewed for Martha Stewart Radio, National Public Radio, and numerous articles. Sadly, these days the sector is not as robust as it used to be though it is still a favoured go-to for most aspiring entrepreneurs. Love citrus trees? So indoor mushroom farming is a worthwhile and profitable venture. For maximum results, it is best to use modern farming approaches. You can go exotic with alpacas and ostriches, or traditional with chickens or cows or goats but whichever you decide, weve got a little inspiration for your animal journey! At the most advanced level, you can even grow vegetables for export. Lovely lemons, luscious limes, great grapefruit, tasty tangerines and mighty mandarins and even the freaky finger limes and more! Bush okra or jute mallows are thick and succulent leaves that yield a slimy sauce very similar to that of okra pods. Your email address will not be published. Tobacco is the most important cash and export crop in Zimbabwe, Understanding the ZSE Indices and how to use them, Awesome skills you can learn online for free. processing. Bursting with juicy goodness, berries are one of the most favored fruits. Stir in artichoke hearts, spinach, and jalapenos. To dry your spinach, follow the manufacturers directions on your dehydrator or freeze dryer. Here we highlight all of the fantastic seeds and grains you can grow for sustainable food solutions. You can also opt to use a thumbnail to slice through the soft stems. Moisture fluctuations will cause leaves to become tough, slow leaf development, and contribute to off-flavors. These are also referred to as fine beans sugar beans are quite popular in Zimbabwe. Spinach is one of the best cool-weather crops that you can grow. How to grow spinach: Plant spinach at the right time Spinach can be grown in almost any climate if grown at the right time. How to Plant Spinach. While zones 1 through 4 might need to wait another month or so, many of us can begin to get seeds started outdoors in the soil now. Then, place about a pound of spinach at a time into a cheesecloth bag and steam it until its thoroughly wilted. If you want to have a consistent harvest and are in an area where a long, cool spring is likely, you can sow seeds every ten days or so to maintain regular new growing spinach. Apply cup per 10 foot of row of a nitrogen-based fertilizer (21-0-0) 4 weeks after transplanting or at thinning to encourage rapid plant growth. Growing spinach in raised beds, planters, or directly in the ground is best. Stored this way, your spinach may be stored in the refrigerator at a temperature of 41-48 degrees for around ten days. Green leafy vegetables are commonly served with any Sub-Saharan African meal. In this case, it may be better to grow spinach indoors. Spinach grows best in loamy, well-draining soil in full sun or partial shade. Spinach needs at least 10 hours of sun per day to grow well. Call up your soil microbe army andwinthe battle for profit! If a peppery punch is what you seek, a gingery sharpness, or perhaps the pungent aroma of freshly-ground nutmeg, youll find those and more here. Weather conditions may also be to blame. Seeded or transplanted spinach should be spaced 3 inches between plants in the row with rows 12 inches apart. A: Yes! Sow in spring or late summer. There are also huge largely untapped prospects in value addition. The little research which has been carried out relates these greens to the cabbage family. She founded Gaia's Farm and Gardens,aworking sustainable permaculture farm, and writes for Gaia Grows, a local newspaper column. As the young spinach plants come up, assess the young spinach plants for hardiness and thin to 4-6 inches apart. Remember to plant at least 3 inches apart. Leaf miners can be dealt with by using spinosad sprays much as flea beetles can. Thin seedlings or transplant spinach to 3 inches apart in the row with rows 12 inches apart. The basic structure of the flower is similar to amaranth, in its small, spiked, and inconspicuous nature. Most plants will send down one deep taproot and a multitude of other thinner roots. Find out how to grow Spinach/. Green or black soft-bodied insects that feed on underside of leaves. How to Grow Spinach Keep spinach consistently moist, not soggy. This is a broad class that constitutes over 20 different types of peppers. But animal care is part and parcel of many homestead adventures. You should plant from fresh seed under a year in age. Clean your spinach thoroughly, and discard any discolored, insect-damaged, diseased, or wilted leaves. Use fabric covers to protect seedlings and transplants from frost. To harvest baby spinach leaves, wait until its formed a rosette of at least five to six inner leaves, and then harvest. If the ground freezes before the plants mature, mulch them with hay and leave them be until the temperatures warm again in the spring. Your guide to summers finest fruits awaits you. Plus, wild animals, rabbits chief among them, also might raid your spinach patch. However, they yield leaves which are much greener than the standard cabbage. Such vegetables form a huge part of the Zimbabwean diet daily. Other greens come from naturally occurring foliage or shrubs. Avoid water or fertilizer stress during growth. When you grow spinach, its best to prepare in advance rather than risk weak plants. Here are 55+ plants you can grow in a hydroponic gardenno trowel required. These approaches enable you to capitalize on several variables such as limited space and erratic natural weather conditions. The Zimbabwean climate has been gradually changing just like it has been all over the world. Humidity typically isn't an issue as long as its soil moisture needs are met and there's air flow around the plants. A 10-foot row at 3 inches apart with 12 inches between rows will produce 4-6 pounds of spinach. Spinach blight is another name for the cucumber mosaic virus, which is spread by cucumber beetles and aphids. In this article, I will be focusing on crop farming. Water spinach frequently to keep the soil evenly moist but not soggy. Spinach does not compete well with weeds. Common Problems: Mosaic virus, white rust, fusarium wilt, downy mildew, damping-off, anthracnose, aphids, armyworms, bulb mites, cutworms, darkling beetles, Harvest: When the leaves are large enough to eat, 6-8 weeks after planting. Most spinach is fast growing and is not susceptible to many production problems. Spinach also can be frozen for later use. This collection of articles provides insight and understanding of some of the many different things used as organic fertilizers, from fish fertilizers to bone meal and everything in between. Microgreens. Harvesting and eating: Pick leaves as needed. In Francophone Africa, cocoyam leaf stew is referred to as sauce feuilles. Some do not eat meat for religious reasons. One of the most active domains for that is vegetable farming. Our in-depth guides explain your options and help you determine the best ones for your needs. Once youve got a bunch of spinach plants, its definitely time to start harvesting your produce and eat spinach! How to begin growing spinach: Step 1: Loosen your soil by digging down deep. As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases. You can also blanch the spinach by steaming the greens for about one minute if you dont want to use the microwave. Older leaves are often stripped off the plants first allowing the young leaves to continue to grow. I love to grow spinach in my raised beds, but you can also grow spinach in containers that are at least 6 deep. Powdery mildew can also become a problem on spinach, but it can be treated with repeated applications of neem oil. Zimbabwe is the biggest producer of tobacco on the African continent. Spinach grows best in temperatures between 25F and 75F. They have substantial nutritional value i.e. If you plan on using your spinach within six months time, you do not have to blanch it before freezing. While it may seem simple to plant spinach, theres a limited window of time which you should plant seeds in. Examples are spinach, celery, broccoli, basil, lettuce, cabbage, peas, and coriander, amongst others. For faster germination, place the container in a warm location and cover with plastic. Want easier, better farming? Learn how to do it with our in-depth tutorials! Companion Planting is often used. White rust can often be confused with downy mildew. Typically, the only pruning you need to do when you grow spinach is to harvest spinach leaves during its season. Thinned plants can also be eaten. The ideal planting site for spinach is fairly sunny with good soil drainage. You'll need a seed tray or container with cells and universal soil to grow seedlings. Both of these can cause black, brown or yellow splotches to appear, and as the spots spread, they cause the plant to fail. This means its possible to grow spinach indoors. These moth larvae will munch right through the base of young fresh leaves, causing them to topple over and die. Posted by Clive Masarakufa | Oct 28, 2021 | All Articles, Business Ideas | 0. If you are using fertiliser, use one handful for every square metre of soil. Other good cool-weather choices include cauliflower, celery, cabbage, peas, or strawberries. So lets talk about how to grow spinach, and the best ways to produce a big supply of this nutritional powerhouse! Spinach works well growing in pots alongside herb planter ideas. Also, pick a location where you can guarantee reasonably cool temperatures for the growing period, as this will help prevent bolting. Side-dress your plants with compost tea or a nitrogen-rich liquid fertilizer regularly, and be sure to work ample amounts of compost into your beds before planting spinach. These amendments may not be plant food, but they definitely have a valued place in the garden! For fall planting, put it in the ground 6-8 weeks before the first frost of the year. As for the other crops, I categorized because I did not want to end up excluding some crops that might be important. Keep the area around the plants weeded. Let us help you figure out whats best for your needs! Add humus and earthworms, Santa Gertrudis bulls: tested for two decades, Scepticism abounds over Zimbabwes compensation offer to farmers, Plant health: Protect your canola from blackleg, Produce shortage prompts rationing of purchases by stores in UK, Cucurbits: A fascinating history of cultivation for over 11 000 years, Husqvarna: Innovative, durable tools for agriculture, Another challenging pome fruit season ahead. This can sometimes be treated with liquid copper fungicide. If fertilizer applications are warranted, work the fertilizer into the top 6 inches of soil. Create a new account here Here youll find cabbages and kale, broccoli and cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, and more! The plant is strong, has vigour and tends to exhibit open growth behaviour. The importance of carrots almost or more or less is in the class of cucumbers. Spinach is low in calories and has no fat or cholesterol. Preserving your harvest can be complex. More on growing spinach: Some of the common examples are covo, cabbage, spinach, and rape, amongst others. This means with proper management you can still realize bumper harvest through open-field farming. Monitor your crop for aphids regularly, and hose them off immediately if you find them. Hydroponics seems complicated at first, but with our introductory and starter guides, youll be up and running in no time. Remove the mulch, and the plants should resume growing, giving you an early harvest. Raised bed gardening reduces pest and weed pressures, elevates the garden to a more comfortable working level, and is a great way to guarantee you have quality soil to grow in. How to Grow Spinach Download Article parts 1 Choosing a Variety 2 Preparing Your Planting Area 3 Planting Your Spinach + Show 1 more. Mushrooms are also another profitable farming venture, Missed opportunities the COVID-19 pandemic has revealed in Zimbabwe, Black Market Forex Exchange Rates Today 4 December 2019, ZESA given the forex greenlight, with conditions, How To Make Money With Google AdSense From Zimbabwe. Tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers are also good plants near your spinach. Be sure to remove any excess air in the bag before freezing! Plants that bolt to produce seed are suffering from weather thats just simply too warm. Common pests include aphids and slugs, and downy mildew is a common disease for spinach. Not only is it a phenomenal food, but its reasonably easy to grow, provided that you follow a few basic steps. 7 Tips for How to Grow Spinach 1. What makes mushrooms appealing is their place as a healthy substitute for meat. Thin spinach to 12 inches apart; s [ace rows 12 inches apart. The spider flower plant, with its five to seven leaves, are also often found growing in many backyards in Africa. Whether its hot composting, vermicomposting, bokashi, or another method, you need to be doing this essential gardening technique to boost your soil. If you are planting in late summer for a fall crop, try to find an area with sun in the morning and partial shade in the afternoon. That means you should plant seeds in the garden as soon as the soil is workable in the spring. We do too. I highly recommend farming tomatoes using greenhouses. However, they yield leaves which are much greener than the standard cabbage. To prevent this, be sure to plant during the cooler months of the year. Most of you are familiar with bell peppers also known as sweet peppers. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Rainfall has become so erratic that relying on natural rainfall is unwise. Q: How many times can you harvest from one spinach plant? Plant spinach seeds as soon as the ground can be worked in the early spring is the best way to get a full crop before the weather starts to get hot. Once you feel resistance when gently tugging on the stem, you'll know a strong root system has formed. When is the best time to plant spinach? Happy farming! Control with appropriate pesticides or traps. Some are also used for their medicinal properties. The leaves are arranged around an upright stem that can grow up to 1,8m high. Keep the soil moist until seed germination occurs, which usually takes 7-10 days. You can opt to either cut the stems off slightly below the leaf, or to snip off the entire plant. The most elementary approach is to simply grow any of these crops at your homestead and supply your immediate community. How about sweet potatoes? Use insecticidal soaps, appropriate insecticides, or strong water stream to dislodge insects. These arebetter known as delele in Zambia and Botswana, murere in Kenya,derere in Zimbabwe, andmolokhiain Egypt and other North African countries. Disclosure. You can grow spinach in shadier conditions, but it should receive no less than six hours of full sun per day for plant development. Spinach is easy to grow as long as it gets cool weather and sufficient moisture. Spinach and kale have similar growing requirements, both liking cooler weather and taking around the same time from planting to harvesting. Remove the plastic once per day to let excess moisture escape and prevent damping off. They are widely used in food preparation so they have a broad market. Varieties suited to local conditions include Bloomsdale, Melody, Teton, and Olympia. Anthracnose and cercospora leaf spotcan both cause blotches and spotting on leaves. Control beetles with appropriate insecticides at seeding or after seedlings have emerged from the soil. Here's how: Aim to plant spinach seeds that are less than a year old, as the germination rate falls the older seeds get. Seeds should be planted inch deep. 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