In addition to the already familiar to us parsley, dill, lettuce and sorrel in the garden, you can meet spinach. It not only helps to diversify your menu, but also helps to cleanse the stomach of harmful elements. Many even experienced gardeners do not know how to grow spinach at the dacha from the seeds. About the existing varieties of this deciduous culture, and how to grow it we will tell in this article.
Spinach varieties for growing from seeds
Despite the fact that this culture has appeared in our gardens recently, already quite a large number of different varieties are very popular. Very often you can find on the beds the following varieties of spinach:
- Victoria;
- Virofle;
- Godri;
- Fat-leaf;
- Strawberry;
- Gigantic;
- Matador;
- Norvak.
Between themselves, they differ only in the size and color of the sheets, taste and the period of vegetation. The process of growing any kind of spinach from seeds, be it Matador or Victoria, is almost identical. In this regard, we will further acquaint you with the general recommendations on the cultivation and care of this leaf culture.
Spinach - Growing and Care
In order that the spinach grows well, it should be planted on organic fertilized loamy soil. You should also pay attention to its acidity . For him, the optimal pH is 6.7-7.0. It is best to prepare a place for planting spinach in the fall: dig it up, apply mineral fertilizers and add lime if necessary.
Sow the seeds of early varieties of spinach is recommended to start from the end of March, late can also be planted in late summer or early autumn. Such a crop under winter is practiced for harvesting already in early spring. With these bushes you can get even two crops, but then they will need to be removed.
To improve germination, the seed should be soaked in advance for 2 days, changing the warm water in which they are, 3 times a day. After that they will have to be dried and you can proceed to planting.
On the prepared area grooves are made at a distance of 25-30 cm. In them, after every 6-8 cm, we deepen 2-3 cm on one seed. After this, the rows must be filled with earth, a bit of rammed flat side rake and pour.
Seedlings will appear in about two weeks. To get a good and delicious harvest of green spinach leaves, you must adhere to the following rules for caring for it:
- After the appearance of two or three leaves, thinning is carried out, the optimal distance is such that the leaves of adjacent bushes do not touch each other;
- watering should be done 2-3 times a week, at the rate of 1 bucket per 1 m & sup2. In no case should the drying of the upper layer of the earth around the bush be allowed;
- the arrows must immediately be cut off, otherwise there will be no harvest;
- carry out regular weeding of the soil to get rid of weeds .
It is very important to collect the harvest in time and correctly. Tear off leaves better while they are young and they have not yet formed a stem, then they are juicier and more tender. This should be done from the outside. The matured rosette of spinach is considered after it has about 10 leaves. Then it can be cleaned completely.
Spinach is very rich in vitamins (groups B, C, D, E and P) and useful substances that are necessary for the human body. It is recommended to use it for various diseases of the gastrointestinal tract and cardiovascular system, as well as for anemia and for strengthening the nervous system. But there are contraindications in its use, so before you enter it into your diet, you should consult a doctor.