Spinach growing: from planting to harvesting
Spinach and baby spinach are very common on our tables, appreciated for their versatility and nutritional value. This article addresses some of the most common queries concerning spinach seed-time and harvest, the risks associated with manual harvesting and how our specialized harvesters can resolve this issue.
Why choose to plant spinach?
Spinach is a rapid-growth plant, able to reach maturity in just 5 weeks from planting, depending on the variety and climatic conditions. This makes it a popular choice for farmers who want a quick and constant harvest. The benefits of growing spinach include the strong and constant demand for this product from the market – owing to its nutritional properties and rapid-growth cycle (thanks to which it can be harvested several times a year) and its ability to adapt to different climatic and soil conditions.
Which is the best time to plant spinach?
Spinach reaches its maximum growth capacity in cool temperatures (10-20°C) and in areas where the soil is moist.
This is why we recommend planting spinach between February and October.
How is spinach planted?
If you want to plant spinach, it is advisable to choose well-drained soil in a sunny place. The seeds must be planted at a depth of1-2 cm, about 5 cm from each other and in rows spaced 25-30 cm apart. The soil must be kept constantly moist. Avoid water-logging. Spinach harvesting can begin when the leaves are sufficiently developed.
How is spinach harvested?
Spinach can be harvested by hand, or by specialized agricultural machines.
When spinach is harvested by hand, the workers select the mature leaves and cut them from the plant, making sure they do not damage the remaining leaves: this method requires time and manpower, but it does allow the quality of the harvest to be accurately monitored.
The leaves can be damaged when harvested by hand, while productivity is obviously low and the operating costs high; in addition, the quality of the product can be compromised if handled to an excessive extent.
On the other hand, use of agricultural machinery such as specialized harvesters can lead to increased efficiency and reduced operating costs. Designed to cut the leaves in a precise and rapid way, these machines maintain the quality of the product during large-scale harvests.
The choice of the harvesting method depends on the size of the farm, the available resources and the farmers’ preference.
Our specialized spinach harvesters
DE PIETRI harvesters are designed to guarantee the quality of harvested spinach thanks to the use of sensors and hydraulically operated adjustments to obtain a precise cut. They are suitable for both fresh-cut (fourth range) and industrial harvesting since they guarantee versatility and efficiency. Discover all the technical characteristics here.
Spinach harvesting in closed spaces
Our electrical harvesters are the ideal solution for farmers who work in protected environments such as greenhouses. Since they are powered electrically, these machines ensure emission-free, silent operation, thereby reducing environmental impact and guaranteeing optimal work conditions. They harvest the product efficiently and delicately, preserving its quality and meeting both sustainability and environmental impact reduction requirements.
Large-scale spinach harvesting
Our industrial harvesters are designed to meet the needs of farmers who manage extensive farms and need maximum productivity and efficiency. They are sturdy, powerful and are able to rapidly deal with large volumes of product, enabling harvesting to proceed in a large scale without compromising the quality of the spinach. This type of machinery is an essential investment for large farms focused on high productivity and profitability.
Harvesting of fresh-cut products
Our harvesters for fresh-cut (fourth range) products are designed to meet the needs of farmers who produce vegetables intended to be consumed fresh and packaged, such as ready-to-eat salad vegetables or cut vegetables. These machines are optimized to guarantee the utmost quality and integrity of the product as it is harvested and transported, while preserving both freshness and flavour.
Trimming the raw material to present a fault-free product
Our vegetable trimmers are designed for farmers who need their harvested vegetables to be precisely and uniformly trimmed, but with the least possible waste and an improved appearance of the end product. These machines ensure the vegetables are presented in an impeccable way, with an enticing appearance and increased shelf-life. The main benefits include less waste and an improved presentation of the product. In addition, the plants grow in a homogeneous way after being trimmed.
Invest in quality harvesting
The decision to use specialized agricultural machinery not only optimizes the spinach harvesting process but also guarantees a top-quality end product. Opting for innovative, technologically advanced solutions enables farmers to successfully face their harvesting challenges while ensuring productivity and efficiency in the fields.