my palak leaves have spots and small insects, but it is a leafy crop I eat, how to manage safely
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Because palak is a quick leafy crop that is eaten directly, pest management should lean on non chemical steps and strict pre harvest intervals. Round to angular brown spots on leaves are usually a leaf spot disease, worse in dense, damp, over irrigated plots, so improve spacing and avoid evening overhead watering. Aphids cluster on tender shoots and undersides and can be knocked down with a strong water spray, yellow sticky traps, and natural enemies. If you must spray, use only a product labelled for leafy vegetables, follow the dose, and respect the pre harvest interval so residue is safe before cutting. Always wash harvested leaves well. Ask your KVK for the safest recommended option for leafy greens.
For palak I avoid strong chemicals because we sell it for eating within days. A water jet and sticky traps handle the aphids most of the time. Wider rows cut the leaf spot a lot.