How to Grow Chinese Spinach at Home

Cultivate a sunny growing area in late spring after the soil warms to over 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Work the soil with the spade down to a depth of about 4 inches and add 2 to 3 inches of compost to the soil to improve drainage and soil quality. Mix the compost and soil well with the spade, and rake the soil smooth to finish preparing the area.

Scatter the seeds evenly over the soil surface. The seeds are very small, so broadcast them as evenly as possible for thinning later. Cover the seeds with 1/2 inch of soil and moisten the soil immediately.

Keep the soil continually moist during the entire growing process to produce the most tender and flavorful leaves. Water the soil evenly every other day or every day if rain does not fall.

Thin the plants when they reach a height of 3 to 4 inches. Remove the weakest plants to leave the Chinese spinach growing about 6 inches apart.

Pinch off the top inch or two of the plants with your fingers after thinning them. This will encourage lateral growth for fuller plants.

Cut the leaves from the plants to harvest them approximately six weeks after planting. Remove the leaves at the base of the plant just about the soil level with scissors.