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From the classic palak paneer to crispy palak pakore paired with evening tea, spinach has been a staple in most Indian kitchens. But to move a step towards a more sustainable lifestyle, why don’t you grow palak in your home garden? With spinach being a fast-growing and nutritious ingredient, it is one of the best vegetables to add to your garden.
Also, there's something so satisfying about plucking fresh spinach leaves directly from your backyard or balcony and enjoying them with a full knowledge of where your food is coming from. Whether you want to grow a small quantity in a pot or want to harvest palak in your backyard, here are some tips to plant spinach and enjoy the fresh leaves.
Planting Spot And Season
The ideal temperature required for palak to grow ranged between 15°C and 25°C. So, in most parts of India, the best season to sow the spinach seeds is from October to February. Also, note that you sow the seeds at a spot with at least four to five hours of direct sunlight. You can either place the pot near a window or choose a sunny spot in your backyard.
Preparing The Soil
Once you have finalised the spot, the next important step is to prepare the soil. Since you would want your spinach leaves to have the maximum nutritional value, you’ll have to feed the soil organic matter, fertilisers, and compost to add nutrients. As for the soil type, you can use either loamy soil or sandy loam with a pH between 6.5 and 7.5.
Sowing The Seeds
After the soil is nutritionally rich, you can sow the seeds. To improve the germination rate, soak the spinach seeds in water for a day and plant them in the soil. If you are growing them in a pot, sow them about 1 cm deep and make sure there is at least a 5 cm gap between them. Then, cover the seeds with soil and water them.
Watering And Fertilising
Regular watering and fertilising are non-negotiable aspects of kitchen gardening. However, even though spinach leaves prefer a moist soil, ensure you are not overwatering. The best way to check it is for the soil to feel damp and not soggy. Furthermore, it is recommended that you regularly add organic fertilisers or compost made with kitchen waste to the soil.
Harvesting
Once you have followed every step, in about six to eight weeks, you will notice the palak leaves getting about eight cms tall. That is the perfect time to harvest them. You can cut off the outer leaves using kitchen scissors, making sure you don’t damage the rest of the plant. And to get the crispiest leaves, you should harvest the fresh leaves early in the morning.
