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Growing Spinach

How to grow spinach in containers, garden beds and allotments

Leaf Beet and Swiss Chard

Family/Latin Name	Chenopodiaceae - Beta vulgaris var. cicla
Type of Plant	Leaf - Crop Rotation Group = Others
Suitable for	Garden Beds, containers and Allotments

See also:- Vegetable Growing Glossary | Container Growing | Buying Seeds & Plants

Plant Dimensions	Height up to 30cm/12" - Spread up to 20cm/8"
Yield per 1.5cm/5ft row	1.8kg/4lb
Time between sowing and harvesting	8-12 weeks
Where to Sow	Outdoors - in open ground or in containers
Sowing time	Outdoors late March to May - temperature +10C/50F.
How to Sow	2.5cm/1" deep - thinly in rows 30cm/12" apart or in groups/blocks
After Germination	When the seedlings are large enough to handle, thin to 7.5cm/3" apart. Throw away the thinnings as these do not transplant well.
Growing on - in Pots	Once the plants have reached 15cm/6" high, thin again by removing alternate plants. Do not delay thinning. These thinnings can be used in cooking. Keep very well watered and avoid dry spells.
Growing on - in open ground	As above
Aftercare	Keep the plants well watered and weed free. Winter varieties may need protection from frosts.
Harvesting	Start picking young when the leaves have reached 5-7.5cm/2-3", starting with the outer leaves. Only pick a few leaves from each plant (no more than half the total leaves per plant at any one time). Pick regularly to encourage new growth and prolong the cropping season. Crops over 16-20 weeks.

Pests and Diseases

Companion Plants

Downy Mildew
Indications	Yellow patches on leaves with a greyish mould underneath
Treatment	Organic Remove the infected leaves and apply an organic copper spray/dust to diseased and surrounding plants every 7-10 day Chemical Remove the infected leaves and spray with Dithane at first sign of attack
Prevention	Avoid damp or humid sites and overcrowding. Practice crop rotation.

Leaf Spot
Indications	Numerous small holes with a central brown colour
Treatment	Organic Remove the infected leaves and apply an organic copper spray/dust to diseased and surrounding plants every 7-10 day Chemical Remove the infected leaves and spray with Dithane at first sign of attack
Prevention	Practice crop rotation. Apply a balanced fertiliser before sowing

Spinach Blight
Indications	Leaves roll inwards with puckered edges and a yellowing surface
Treatment	None - destroy all infected plants
Prevention	Organic This virus is carried by greenfly (cucumber mosaic virus). Spray young plants with a weak solution of soapy water as soon as you see aphids. Use water through a hosepipe to knock the aphids off the plants Chemical Spray with an insecticide containing Dimethoate or Pyrethrum

Companion Flower Graphic

Strawberry, Cauliflower, Celery

Create a bio-diverse environment by planting flowers nearby to attract bees, ladybirds and other "friendlies".

To learn more about companion planting click here.

In the Kitchen

Storage: Refrigerate for up to 4 days

Preparing: Remove any thick stalks and wash well in cold water. If steaming or boiling, do not dry. Young small leaves can be cooked whole - shred or roughly chop larger leaves

Cooking:

Boil	3-4 minutes. They should be placed in a dry pan with only the water which is clinging to the leaves from having been washed. Cover with a lid and set over a medium/high heat. It will be necessary to shake the pan vigorously or turn the leaves every 20-30 seconds during cooking.
Fry/Sauté	1-2 minutes. Stir-fry until just wilted
Microwave	Leaves = 2-3 minutes
Steam	Leaves = 3 - 5 minutes

For more preparation and cooking information about Spinach plus lots of recipes visit our sister site www.recipes4us.co.uk.

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