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Spinach

Spinacia oleracea

INTRODUCTION

Spinach is closely related to Beetroot but is grown for its foliage that with careful scheduling of varieties and sowing dates, is available on the plot year-round.

Originating from south-east Asia, this versatile vegetable is highly nutritious with above-average levels of iron, folic acid and vitamins A and C.

Surprisingly, Spinach is not the easiest crop to produce well as it has a tendency to bolt and run to seed in less than favourable growing conditions.

Soil Preparation

Spinach is a relatively straightforward crop to grow but good soil preparation is preferable for the best results.

The growing site should be in a sunny position but the crop will tolerate light shade.

The ground should be fertile and moisture-retentive but free-draining.

Add organic material to the soil well in advance of sowing.

Spinach dislikes acidic soils. Check your soil pH and add lime if necessary.

Sowing & Planting

Prepare the seedbed by removing any weed from the soil and rake level to a fine tilth.

Sowing can begin from mid-March onwards, weather permitting.

Cover early sowings with cloches or fleece to assist germination.

It should be noted, Spinach is a cold-weather crop and seed will not germinate in temperatures above 30oc.

Carefully take out a drill (shallow groove) and sow seed thinly. Cover seed to a depth of 2cm. Leave 30cm (12 inches) between rows.

Water well with a watering can with rose, try not to disturb the newly sown seed. Keep moist until seed has germinated which will take 5-10 days.

Later sowings can be made during late summer for harvests over winter and the following spring. Some winter protection may be required in periods of extreme cold.

Growing & General Cultivation

When seedlings are large enough to handle, thin out to15cm (6 inches) between plants.

Thinning can be carried out in two stages several weeks apart.

Keep growing area weed-free but take care not to damage plants when hoeing.

Regular watering is essential to maintain growth and to avoid crops from bolting.

Feeding should not be necessary.

Pests & Diseases

Spinach is a reasonably trouble-free vegetable in general but issues can arise:

Bolting will be the most common problem. Although neither a pest nor disease, it can result in total crop failure.

Bolting occurs when the plant becomes stressed and prematurely flowers and runs to seed. Spinach is particularly prone to Bolting during hot, dry weather when inadequate watering has been provided.

Ensure the soil has had plenty of organic material added before sowing and water well during periods of drought. Mulch growing crops if possible.

Slugs and Snails can be a problem for young plants - for remedies - see product directory.

Downy Mildew which shows as yellow patches on foliage and affected leaves should be removed. To prevent, ensure good air circulation and low humidity. Resistant varieties are available.