Spinach Monores

Spinacia oleracea - Monores

Spinach originates from the Caucasus, from the area of present-day Afghanistan and Turkmenistan. It grows to a height of 30 cm. The leaves are arranged in a leaf rosette, are long-petioled, entire-margined, and their shape depends on the variety. The flower stalk is up to 30 cm tall. It has a deep green color. During the summer period, yellow-green flowers appear, which are however undesirable in spinach as they reduce its quality.

Spinach can be divided according to planting time into spring, summer, autumn, and winter types. Spinach is a rich source of lecithin, spinacin (spinach protein), and saponins, which have a beneficial effect on peritoneum and gastric mucosa function. Consumption of spinach positively affects heart function, blood formation, strengthens bones and teeth, reinforces hair and nails. The leaves are consumed and contain 2% carbohydrates, 4-5% proteins, 5% fiber; among vitamins, we can mention the high content of vitamin C, A, B1, B2, B6, K, and folacin, and it is a valuable source of potassium, calcium, magnesium, and iron. Spinach leaves are consumed fresh, steamed, or boiled. They are excellent as a side dish with meat.

How to Grow Spinach

• We grow spinach in a bright location in a sheltered spot. Spinach has shallow roots, so we hoe it carefully. High temperatures and long days cause the plants to bolt. Flowering plants are tough and lose their taste.

• We grow spinach by direct sowing. The optimal temperature for germination is 2-4°C. Sowing depth is 4 cm.

  For overwintering crops for early harvests, we sow at a spacing of 15×25 cm in September; leaves can be harvested at the beginning of April.

  Early sowings are done in February at a spacing of 20-25×20-25 cm; spinach leaves can be harvested as early as the end of April.

  Spinach sown in April can be harvested in June. Autumn varieties sown in August are harvested at the beginning of October.

• Spinach requires loamy-sandy soil that retains water sufficiently with an optimal soil pH of 6-7.5. The plants do not tolerate acidic pH.

• We do not fertilize spinach with nitrogen-containing fertilizers or farmyard manure. We avoid physiologically acidic forms of fertilizers. Chloride forms of fertilizers are not harmful. It is suitable to fertilize with well-decomposed compost or calcium ammonium nitrate. Spinach is not demanding on nutrients.

• On the leaves and growing tips, there are colonies of black-green to black-brown colored aphids. If you spot these small black bugs, the plants are infested with black bean aphids. Suitable protection is spraying with selective insecticides based on triazamate, pirimicarb, etc.

  Spinach can also be threatened by slugs and snails, which feed on its leaves. Effective protection is manual collection in the crop.

  An important pest of spinach is the beet leaf miner. Infestation manifests itself in leaf blades, where initially there are thin tunnels that gradually expand into flat mines. These mines are initially whitish with visible larvae and excrement, later they turn brown and dry out. Leaves often tear due to infestation. A suitable protection product is Sumithion Super.

• Leaves are harvested before flowering. Plants with at least 6 developed leaves are harvested. Spring varieties have a growing period of 52 days. Varieties for autumn harvest 65 days. Varieties intended for spring harvest 240 days.