Matador Spinach: Delve into the robust qualities of Matador spinach, a late-variety spinach known for its large, thick, dark green leaves and high productivity. Whether enjoyed raw in salads or cooked in dishes, Matador spinach offers a fresh, nutritious option straight from the garden.
Key Features:
Leaf Characteristics: Features large, thick, dark green leaves.
Special feature: be careful of the heat which accelerates the rise
Species-specific cultivation instructions
Growing Instructions:
Sowing Time: Plant from February to May. Prepare the soil with a broadfork for aeration, and sow seeds 2 to 3 cm deep in rows spaced 25 to 30 cm apart.
Germination: Compact soil lightly with the back of a rake after sowing and water well. Consider covering seeds with a forcing fleece to encourage germination.
Care: Thin seedlings to 10 cm apart. Regular weeding and mulching between rows are crucial to reduce weed competition and retain soil moisture.
Watering: Keep the soil moist, especially in dry periods, to prevent bolting. Be cautious during hot weather as heat can accelerate bolting.
Companion Planting:
Beneficial Companions: Spinach grows well near peas, broad beans, cabbage, celery, strawberries, lettuce, and chicory, which can help enhance growth and flavor.
Harvesting:
Timeframe: Ready for harvest approximately 2 months after sowing. Frequent picking encourages the growth of new, tender leaves.
Storing: Fresh spinach has a short shelf life. For longer storage, blanch and freeze the leaves.
Pest Management:
Slugs and Snails: Protect crops with anti-slug traps.
Mildew: Avoid copper treatments as they can damage spinach leaves. Employ preventive measures instead.
Noctuids (Night Caterpillars): Treat organically with Bacillus thuringiensis to manage leaf damage effectively.
Origin
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