This is one of the oldest varieties of spinach and probably the most popular heirloom variety. I liked growing this one better than Olympia because the leaves actually got large before the plant bolted. Although some plants still bolted, this is a more reliable variety. Leaves are very crinkly and still retain good flavor for a short time after bolting.
Annual or Perennial?: Annual
Germination time: 5-12 days
Days until maturity: 50 days
Light requirements: Full sun (6+ hrs) to Partial Shade (4-6 hrs) (The more sun, the better)
Plant size: Small
Spacing: 3 inches
Temperature: Cool climate. Winter crop in warmer areas
Difficulty: Easy
Traits: Withstands bolting better than other varieties of spinach
Companion Plants: Beans, peas; both fix nitrogen in the soil for the spinach. They also provide shade in warmer months.
Special needs: None
When to plant: Grow spinach as a fall through spring crop in warmer areas. The summer heat will cause this variety to bolt quickly.
How to grow: Plant seeds in soil at 3 inches apart. For containers, make sure the container is at least 4 inches deep. Give about a cubic inch of water every week. Spinach are nitrogen consumers, so apply fertilizer high in nitrogen once in a while
How to harvest: Snip leaves as they are bigger in size. Rinse leaves in water before using. This plant is an heirloom, so the seeds can be saved after the plants bolt.
Photos:
 |
| Seeds |
 |
| Seedling |
 |
| 2 weeks old |
 |
| 3 weeks old |
|
| 4 weeks old |
 |
| 5 weeks old |
 |
| Harvested leaf |
No comments:
Post a Comment
Hi folks, please only leave comments relative to the blog post. All spam will be removed and spammers will be blocked.
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.