Spinacia oleraceae
Chenopodiaceae
Spinach
Dioecious, erect, annual herb grown for its edible foliage. Grows to 60cm (2 feet). Basal leaves in a rosette are narrowly oblong to obovate.
Uses
Harvest leaves after six weeks. Harvesting can be continuous.
Can be steamed, boiled or used in stir fries.
http://postharvest.ucdavis.edu/Produce/ProduceFacts/Veg/Spinach.html
Culture
Prefering cool, shaded conditions, it grows best between 15-19 degrees C. Warm temperatures will cause the plant to go to seed.
Requires constant moisture and well-drained soil. Requires high levels of nitrogen fertiliser, but do not use nitrate fertilisers as these can cause some human health problems.
Can suffer from attack by chewing insects, slugs and snails. Disease problems include downy mildew, fusarium, damping off, leaf spot, rust and virus.
Good weed control is critical.
Propagation
No information available at this time...
Cultivars
No information available at this time...
Plant Health
No information available at this time...
More info
'Home Vegetable Growing' and 'Commercial Vegetable Production' courses through Australian Correspondence Schools, see www.acs.edu.au/hort.
'Commercial Hydroponics' on CDROM from Australian Correspondence Schools, see www.acs.edu.au/shop
More from ACS
Ebook - Decide what you can produce in your garden and the growing conditions needed for a range of climates.
View eBook
Course - covers all the fundamentals needed for a self-sufficient lifestyle incorporating a common sense approach.
View Course
100 hours -choose and use plants in a permaculture system
View Course