More frequent sidedressing may be required if the garden is sandy or if leaching rains occur. Watering Water the garden to provide a uniform moisture supply to the crop. The garden should be watered in the morning so that the foliage is dry before dark. Water sufficiently to moisten the soil to a depth a 6 inches. Light sprinklings will encourage shallow rooting of the plants.
Spinach requires a uniform supply of moisture to produce a high quality crop.
Cultural Production Practices Control weeds in the planting with shallow cultivation. Do not cultivate deeply because this will damage the roots. Do not move soil toward the plants because spinach leaves that are covered by soil will rot rapidly. The primary disease problems with this crop are downy mildew, white rust, and seedling damping-off. Insects that may be a problem in growing spinach are aphids, cutworms, cabbage loopers, corn earworms, and diamondback moth caterpillars.