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“The Ultimate Guide to Growing Water Spinach in a Clean and Safe Container”

Growing water spinach in a styrofoam box is a popular method among urban families. This easy-to-follow guide will teach you how to cultivate this delicious vegetable in your own backyard.

Administrator

16 July, 2024

Water spinach is a popular vegetable in Vietnamese cuisine, and its main benefit is to provide various vitamins to the body, as well as help manage diabetes. Water spinach is a tropical plant with a simple growing technique. If you plant water spinach in a polystyrene box, you can harvest it in just 4-6 weeks. Here’s how to do it:

1Preparation

Prepare a polystyrene box for planting water spinach

– Water spinach seeds.

– Nutrient-rich soil: Use soil with a high mud content or loamy soil. You can also purchase nutrient-rich soil from a garden store.

– Polystyrene box with holes punched in the bottom for drainage.

– Coconut coir that has been treated with microorganisms.

2Planting Water Spinach

Step 1 Soaking and Germinating the Seeds

Soak the water spinach seeds in warm water for 3-6 hours, using a ratio of 2 parts boiling water to 3 parts regular water. Then, wrap the seeds in a damp cloth and let them germinate for 6-8 hours.

Step 2 Sowing the Seeds

Check if the seeds have cracked before planting

Once you see that the seeds have cracked, it’s time to plant them. Fill the polystyrene box with the prepared nutrient-rich soil and add the treated coconut coir, mixing them together. Maintain a ratio of 2 kg of coconut coir to 2 kg of soil.

Moisten the soil by adding a little water, then level the surface and make straight furrows about 0.5 cm deep.

Place the box in a shaded area with a net or board cover

Scatter the water spinach seeds and cover them with a thin layer of soil.

Note: Keep the box in a shaded area with a net or board cover.

When watering, use a spray bottle, and water twice a day, in the morning and evening.

Step 3 Caring for the Plants

Once the plants have grown about 4-5 leaves, thin them out by eating the smaller plants, leaving a distance of 10-15 cm between each plant and row. Move the box to a sunnier location.

Remember to water regularly, especially during the dry season. There is no need to fertilize frequently; simply add nitrogen, phosphorus, and urea to promote healthy growth.

Step 4 Harvesting Water Spinach

Harvesting water spinach

In just 4-6 weeks, with proper care, your water spinach should reach a height of 35-40 cm and be ready for harvest. When harvesting, cut the stems about 3 cm above the root and apply fertilizer. You can harvest a second time after about 20-25 days.

You can also propagate water spinach using stem cuttings. For this method, prepare the polystyrene box and soil as mentioned above, but instead of seeds, use mature, hardened water spinach stems about 20 cm long.

After creating the furrows, insert the stems into the soil, burying them to a depth of 3-4 nodes. Space the plants about 10 cm apart. After planting, place the box in a shaded area, protect it from direct sunlight, and water regularly. Your cuttings will soon take root and thrive.

Water spinach is a leaf vegetable belonging to the Convolvulaceae family. It is a tropical plant that can be grown on land or in water. Water spinach typically grows in tropical and subtropical regions, spreading along the ground with hollow, thick stems and adventitious roots. The leaves are triangular with pointed tips and are sometimes narrow and long. Water spinach is highly nutritious, containing ample fiber and few calories, making it a popular choice for weight loss.

That’s it! You now know how to grow water spinach in a polystyrene box, ensuring a simple and productive gardening experience. If you want fresh, homegrown vegetables, get started today!