VIROFLAY NT MONSTER SPINACH
Spinacia oleracea
Viroflay's Monstrueux spinach is a traditional, hardy, early variety with very broad, fleshy leaves. This variety is highly resistant to summer heat. Spinach is a remineralizing leafy vegetable rich in vitamins. It's a valuable food in winter, when green vegetables are scarce.
Successfully sowing Viroflay Monstrous spinach
Sowing: light in March-April or August-September, in a sunny (autumn/winter) or shaded (summer) location, in fresh soil, previously loosened with a broadfork, in rows spaced 25 to 30 cm apart. Sow 2 or 3 cm deep, then firm down with the back of a rake and water. You can cover the seed with a forcing fleece until emergence.
Thin to 10 cm, then weed between the rows and mulch to avoid weed competition. Water frequently if the soil is dry to prevent bolting.
Be careful of the heat which can cause the seeds to go up quickly.
Good associations
Spinach likes to grow near peas, broad beans, haricot beans, cabbage, celery, strawberries, lettuce or chicory.
Harvesting Viroflay's Monstrous Spinach
Harvest approximately 2 months after sowing. Frequent picking encourages the appearance of new leaves.
Preserving Spinach
Spinach doesn't keep well fresh for long. You can freeze it.
The enemies
Snails or slugs: Place slug traps around your crops.
Downy mildew: Do not treat with Bordeaux mixture, as spinach leaves cannot tolerate copper and such treatment would be fatal. Take preventative action.
Leaf-eating moths: They cause large punctures or bites during the night. Use a biological treatment based on thurengiensis.
