Growing Spinach

This plant is not a universal favorite, nor is it very successful in the garden, for summer spinach readily runs to seed, whilst plants of winter spinach may decay in excessively damp weather, but the plant has health giving qualities and many appreciate its unique ‘earthy’ flavor.

Summer spinach is best grown from a succession of sowings made from the end of March and every three weeks until late in July. To prevent the plants running to seed, select a position of partial shade and provide a humus laden soil. The plants require a rich diet and should be grown as cool as possible.

As what is wanted is that the plants should produce an abundance of leaf, dig into the soil some nitrogenous manure augmented by a I; ounce per square yard dressing of nitrate of soda to be given as soon as the plants begin to grow.

Sowing Sow the seed in shallow drills made 12 inches apart and thin the plants to 9 inches in the rows. It is the round leaf varieties that are sown for summer use, the leaves being gathered when young and tender. As soon as the plants run to seed, grub them up. Copious amounts of moisture in summer will delay the plants from seeding and an occasional watering with dilute liquid manure will improve the quality and extend the season.

Hoeing between the rows will keep the soil aerated and suppress weeds. It should be said that winter spinach should not be too heavily cut or the plants may be harmed by frost.

Spinach should never be boiled in water but, after chopping, should be cooked in its own moisture. It should be steamed for about half an hour and served with butter.

Disease

DOWNY MILDEW This disease is recognised by the pale yellow spots on the upper surface of the leaves and the blue-grey mildew which forms on the underside. The fungus may winter in the soil so rotational cropping is desirable. Dust the plants with flowers of sulphur if an outbreak is noticed but the best way to prevent an attack is to soak spinach seed in i per cent copper sulphate solution for a hours and then to dry off before sowing.