Commercial spinach farming is one of the growing agriculture fields. Spinach is a highly nutritive vegetable with the following nutritional benefits:
Spinach Nutrition Facts
| Variables | Amount |
| Protein | 3% |
| Carbohydrates | 4% |
| Water | 91% |
| Fat | 0.4 g/100 grams |
As per verified health resources, types of spinach have the following nutritional components:
- Vitamin A, B, C, K, E
- Magnesium
- Manganese
- Iron
- Folate
- Riboflavin
- Potassium
- Calcium
- Dietary fibre
Spinach vitamins, minerals, and richness in dietary fibre make this leafy vegetable a healthy eating option.
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Little History of Spinach!
Spinach is a perennial vegetable that hails from the “Amaranthaceae” family and is native to central & western Asia. It’s a globally recognised vegetable, called by different names.
Spinach is a powerhouse of nutritional value that aids health in many ways. This leafy vegetable is rich in iron, vitamins and antioxidants.
Eating a bowl of spinach helps improve immunity and aids in better digestion. In addition, spinach also helps in improving the eyes, skin, hair and brain functioning. Experts say that this leafy vegetable also has anti-cancer and anti-ageing properties.
In 2020, the total world production of spinach accounted for 31 million tonnes, where China alone was the biggest producer, with a 92% stake in all production.
However, commercial spinach farming is a very easy and profitable business. You can start with the cultivation of spinach, either with the intent to make money or out of passion. Let’s review spinach benefits to understand why growing these leafy vegetables is the best deal.
Benefits of Commercial Spinach Production in India
Growing and harvesting Spinach benefits in the following ways:
- Commercial spinach farming is easy to pursue. With the right knowledge, even a beginner can grow spinach leaves at home.
- Producing spinach on a large scale is highly profitable; you can earn a profit of up to INR 1,58,000.
- Commercial spinach farming is already a growing area. You can start small and still manage to earn revenue with big huge profit margins.
- Spinach plants are hardy plants that grow in a very fast turnaround time. This means your harvesting cycle will be short, and you will start making money within a short period of time.
- Spinach has high demand in the market, which means you will always find a market to sell your produce.
- It’s a good source for increasing employment. This area doesn’t require highly educated people to do the job.
- Production costs are very less; the average cost you would need to invest is Rs 91,500 per acre of field.
Spinach Farming in India – Tips to Sow, Grow & Harvest!
1. Select the ideal site
Finding the right soil for commercial spinach production is very important, with a ph level ranging from 6 to 7. Spinach can grow very well in any soil, given there are enough drainage channels so that water doesn’t sit in it for too long.
The plants grow very well on sandy loam and alluvial soil. Avoid growing this plant in acidic soils, and ensure the rain or irrigation water doesn’t clog the field. Moreover, do provide good sunlight for better plant growth.
2. Prepare the soil
Preparing the soil is important to grow good-quality spinach plants. You must prepare the field by ploughing at least 2-3 times. Use good quality tillage and ploughing implements from leading brands.
Afterwards, level the soil to get uniform bed formation. In addition, ensure there are proper irrigation channels in the soil bed of the palak plant.
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3. Climatic Conditions
To grow and sustain high-quality spinach plants, ensure the temperature ranges between 15°C to 30°C. The temperature, specifically during the growing period, should be between 25°C to 30°C and during harvesting, it should be between 15°C to 20°C.
Moreover, the annual rainfall should range between 80 to 120 cm to support green and healthy spinach plants.
Popular Spinach Variety You Can Choose From
- Punjab Green
- Pusa Palak
- Pusa Jyoti
- Punjab Selection
- Pusa Harit
- Pusa Bharti
4. Seed rate, spacing & treatment
Using the broadcasting or line sowing methods, you can easily grow this perennial plant any time during the year.
Winter months from September to October are ideal for sowing spinach plants. And during the spring season, months from Mid-Feb to April are highly recommended.
| Spinach Seed Rate Per Hectare |
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| Seed Spacing for Spinach |
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| Seed Treatment |
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5. Planting
Prepare the field or garden with organic compost or farmyard manure. Afterwards, start sowing the seeds one inch apart and almost half an inch deep into the soil.
You will notice the seeds starting germinating within one week from sowing. Ensure you soak the seeds overnight before sowing to experience better germination & growth.
6. Fertiliser
While preparing the soil with the best tillage equipment, add good quality organic farmyard manure. And for chemical fertilisers, keep up the following quantity in the account.
- Apply 35 kg Nitrogen (in the form of Urea @ 75 kg)/ acre of land.
- Apply 12 kg Phosphorus (in form of Superphosphate @ 75 kg) per acre of land.
How to Apply?
Apply half nitrogen along with well-decomposed cow dung and phosphorus. And apply the remaining nitrogen in the two doses right after each cutting. Once the land is fertilised, provide light watering via the drip irrigation method.
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7. Watering & Irrigation
Spinach requires frequent watering to sustain good seed germination and plant growth. Supply the first irrigation right after the sowing of seeds.
- During the summer season, water the field at an interval of at least 4-6 days.
- During the winter season, apply water at an interval of 10-12 days.
| Tips for watering the field:
Ensure the soil is moist during the growing season. Avoid overwatering. You must water the field early in the morning to allow plants to absorb the water all day long. |
For effective watering, drip irrigation is one of the best irrigation methods. The process helps spread the water without causing drought. And moreover, it helps save up large on water bills.
8. Harvesting & Yield
The harvesting time can vary depending on the:
- Types of spinach
- The location you are choosing
- Agri-practices followed
However, the spinach plants are ready for first cutting right after 25- 30 days from sowing. A sickle or handheld harvesting implement would suit the harvesting job.
Spinach is ready to harvest in the first week of June till mid-July. However, the fall crop is ready to harvest from the beginning of September till late October. The average yield you can achieve from cultivating this nutritive plant is between 10,000 kg to 20,000 kg per hectare.
Furthermore, the second or subsequent cuttings can be attempted depending on the season or the variety you are growing. Harvest only one-third part of each plant. After finishing, water the field and wait for the next growth and harvesting cycle.
By following the above spinach growing stages while making use of agri-resources in good proportion, you can achieve the following profit figures.
Cost & Profit of Growing Spinach in India
| Cost Variables | Amount |
| Planting material | Rs 5000 |
| Planting material cost (Fertilizer cost) | Rs 1500 |
| Manure & cow dung cost | Rs 1000 |
| Medicine & spray cost | Rs 1000 |
| Drip irrigation cost | Rs 55,000 |
| Irrigation cost | Rs 8000 |
| Land preparation cost | Rs 5000 |
| Labour cost | Rs 10,000 |
| Miscellaneous cost | Rs 5000 |
| Total cost | Rs 91,500 |
** This is the cost per acre. The real costs may fluctuate given the differing market and their prices.
Spinach Farming Profit Analysis
- Spinach Yield per acre = 125 quintals (or 12500 kg)
- Price per kg in India = Rs 20
- Total Revenue = 12500 kg x Rs 20 = Rs 2,50,000
- Net Profit = Rs 2,50,000 (total earnings) – Rs 91,500 (total costs) = Rs. 1,58,000 (Net profits)
**Note – This is the tentative profit figure; the actual can vary according to the location, costs, demand, etc.
How to control pests & diseases in Spinach?
| Diseases in Spinach | Cercospora leaf spots are common in spinach leaves, visible with circular spots with grey centres and red margins.
How to treat them? Spraying 400 grams of Carbendazim or 400 grams of Indofil in 150 litres of water per acre can help prevent this disease. |
| Pests in Spinach | Aphid is the common pest that infects the spinach plant. Spraying Malathion 50EC at the rate of 350 ml per 100 liters of water can help curb this pest.
Caution! After spraying, don’t harvest the crop. Harvest at least after 7 days from spraying. |
Leading Spinach Producing States
- Andhra Pradesh
- Telangana
- Kerala
- Tamil Nadu
- Uttar Pradesh
- Karnataka
- Maharashtra
- West Bengal
- Gujarat
Final Thoughts on Spinach Farming!
These were the tips to grow high-yielding spinach plants in India. Commercial spinach farming is one of the lucrative areas for which any marginalised farmer or individual can go. You just need to own land; if you don’t even have land, you can start it within your home or small backyard. In addition, gather the right farming machines, like the best quality tractors and supporting farming implements, to pursue this.
Cultivating spinach is the next best thing, as the income-earning opportunities from pursuing this practice are immense. With a limited investment of around Rs 91,500, you can earn an increased profit of Rs.1,58,000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Ques. How long it takes to grow spinach?
Ans. This differs from variety to variety. Most varieties are ready to harvest within 45 days, while some can take up to 60 days.
Ques. Is growing spinach profitable in India?
Ans. By following the right practices, you can earn profit from spinach between Rs. 1,58,000 to 2,00,000 in India.
Ques. In which month spinach grows the best?
Ans. Spinach is good to grow throughout the year. But for a specific season, the following months are best:
- September to October are the best months for sowing spinach during winter.
- Mid-February to April is the best month for sowing spinach during spring.
Ques. How much is spinach yield per acre in India?
Ans. You can achieve a yield of up to 125 quintals/acre with proper maintenance.
Ques. How much is spinach protein per 100g?
Ans. Spinach has 2.9 g of protein per 100 grams of spinach.
Ques. Who is the biggest producer of spinach in the world?
Ans. China alone produces 90% of the world’s spinach. Their annual average production in China, the largest spinach producer in the world, is 27,540,167 tonnes.
Ques. Which spinach variety is famous in Tamil Nadu?
Ans. Mulai Keerai (Amaranth) is a delicious spinach variety consumed in Tamil Nadu & Kerala.
Ques. How to grow spinach at home?
Ans. You can grow spinach at your home in any confined large space of choice. However, keep the following things in focus:
- Choose well-drained soil, which is rich in organic matter and has a ph ranging between 6.5 to 7.
- Maintain the germination temperature between 10°C – 22°C.
- Provide sun to partial shade for optimum growth.
Ques. What is the nutritional value of spinach?
Ans. Spinach is rich in various nutrients, including vitamins A, C, and K, iron, folate, and potassium. This vegetable is full of healthy fibres.
Ques. What is the spinach growing time?
Ans. Spinach is ready to harvest within 45-60 days from the sowing period.
Ques. How many spinach calories per 100 g bowl?
Ans. One cup of spinach has 7 calories, 0.86 g of protein and 29.7 mg of calcium.
Is spinach a vegetable?
Ans. Yes, spinach is a nutritional leafy vegetable with a maximum H20 concentration.
Ques. What are the health benefits of spinach?
Ans. Spinach helps with good digestion, skin health, improving immunity and brain health.
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