Organic Spinach: Early Giant Leaf.

Description

Organic Spinach: Early Giant Leaf. Spinacia oleracea.

This variety prefers cool conditions, so is suited to early and late cultivation. Fast growing it produces large tasty leaves. This is a sharp seeded variety.

How to grow:
Sow seeds in drills from March to May and again from August to September in shallow drills 2cms deep with rows 30cms apart. Soil should be rich and hold moisture to help stop bolting. Thin as required to 15cms apart. Harvest leaves as the plant matures or the whole plant before going to seed. Stands well into winter.

Problem solving:
Keep slugs off when young. Can get mildewey, water from the base and take out lower dead leaves if necessary. Pigeons love spinach to enviromesh, or a fake/kite bird of prey can help.

Favourite ways to eat them:
Young leaves often used in salad. Bigger leaves are great in many dishes, from stews to risotto to lasagne to pasta. Often in Indian dishes. Spinach in cooked dishes has an alkalising effect on your body, which is good for you.

Cultural history:
Native to central and western Asia.

Approx 90 seeds per g.