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Planting Spinach

Spinach is the mostimportant pot herb or green grown in the U.S.It is included in most home garden plantings.Spinach is rich in vitamin A and high inascorbic acid, riboflavin plus some thiamine. Itis also rich in iron and calcium.

Spinach thrives best during relatively coolweather and will withstand temperatures in thelow ao's F. It is what we know as a short-dayplant and, consequently, when grown duringthe long light and high temperatures of summer,develops a seed stalk very quickly. in the Northit is therefore grown as a spring and fall cropand during late fail, winter and early spring inthe South.

Varieties

There are many varieties listed by seecismen;some of which have curly, crinkled or savoyedleaves, while others arc a lighter green with fiatleaves. Good standard varieties for the ;--negarden include 'Dark Greer: Bleeneselaie','American Savoy', Wirg:-•, Fe'igite Resitant'and 'Hybrid #7' (fall planting). resistant toyellows and downy mildew.

Culture

The lighter sandy and silt loam soils arepreferred. Spinach is sensitive to both an alka-line and an acid soli. Soils havhig.a pI-I rangeof 6.o-7.o are excellent (see Lima.). Soil laea.., a-tion should be thorough. Apply 20-30 lbs. of a5-to-to fertilizer per !coo sq. ft. prior toplanting and then side dress with several poundsof nitrate of soda when the plants have a leafspread of 2-3 in. Plant f oz. of seed per too ft.row and space the rows 12-15 in. apart. Plantonly as much as can be used in 4-6 days andmake 3-4 sowings at weekly intervals. The last planting should not mature later than mid-Juneor July t. Fail plantings should start aboutAug. 1. Cultivation should be shallow and onlysufficient to control weeds.

Spinach can be harvested as soon as 5-6leaves have fully developed by cuingthe toproot just below the lowest leaves.

Diseases and Insects

Spinach blight or yellows, is a virus diseasespread by aphids. Affected plants show ayellowing of the leaves and stunted, twistedplant growth. Control aphids and use resistantvarieties such as `Virginia Blight Resistant'. Thisdisease is most common in the fall and winterplantings. Blue mold is a disease showing yellowspots on the upper surface of the leaf and downypurple or blue mold on the underside. it is mostprevalent during cool, high-humid weather. Nospecific control except good drainage, weedcontrol and crowding of plants. Aphids, greensoft-bodied insects usually most common inwarmer weather, controlled with nicotinesulfate or a 5°,;, malathion dust. Be sure thespray material covers the underside of leaf.

New Zealand Spinach, Tetragonia expansa, isnot a true Spinach. The plants are muchbranched, spreading from 21-4 ft. across and1-2 ft. in height. The leaves are thick, darkgreen and are used in the same manner as trueSpinach. The seeds are enclosed in a hard,rough pod.

New Zealand Spinach thrives in hot weatherand, therefore, is an excellent substitute forordinary Spinach for summer culture.

The seed germinates slowly and, therefore,may be treated for several hours in hot waterprior to sowing. Some gardeners prefer to startthe plants in a hotbed and then transplant theminto the garden when 2-3. in. tail. Normalplanting distance is 3 ft. between rows andabout 2 ft. in the row. Actually, only 5-6 plantsare sufficient for the average family. Culturalpractices are similar to those for ordinarySpinach.

Harvesting

The tips of the branches 2-4 in. Ions: are cutoff. New shoots will develop so that a continuingsupply will be available throughout the entireseason. Good growth is essentail to developsoft, succulent and tender growing points.

A prostrate, succulent annual,grown as a vegetable, native to Japan, Australia,New Zealand and South America, especiallyfor its tender young stems and leaves which arecooked and eaten like Spinach. Plants are taller,more vigorous and more tough than Spinachbut it makes a good substitute for growing in hot weather. Leaves are alternate, flowers few,small and without petals, leaves ovate, oftentriangular, up to 5 in. long.

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