Académique Documents
Professionnel Documents
Culture Documents
Gardener
Center for Agroecology
& Sustainable Food Systems,
UC Santa Cruz
T
he Chenopodiaceae or goose foot family (the reference Spinach (Spinacea oleracea)
is to the deltoid-shaped leaves) is a numerically small Spinach is a fast-growing annual crop cultivated for its
plant family (100 genera, 1,500 species). The family nutritious, succulent leaves. It is generally grown in two
has many weedy species and only a few garden vegetable ways
crop representatives, mostly annuals and biennials 1) Baby or loose pack style
Spinacea oleracea Spinach 2) Mature bunching style (whole plant harvested)
Beta vulgarus Beets (table, sugar, Baby or loose pack spinach can be seeded intensively
mangel [cattle fodder]) (1020 seeds/foot), harvested at 2030 days after germina-
Beta vulgarus cicla Chard tion, and enjoyed raw by itself or included in fresh salad
Atriplex hortensis Orach mixes.
Chenopodium album Lambs quarter Mature bunching spinach is seeded at 610 seeds/foot,
Chenopodium quinoa Quinoa harvested at 3050 days after germination, and used either
raw, lightly steamed, or in a stir-fry.
Family members occur primarily in temperate and sub- Environmental Conditions. Spinach is emphatically a
tropical climates. They often populate saline habitatsthe cool season crop. Along with peas, spinach is among the
salt-rich steppes of Central-Eastern Asia, marshes, bogs and first sown and earliest harvested of garden vegetable crops.
river estuaries of the Eastern Mediterranean Zone, the Red It is a cool temperature germinator (60 days to emergence
and Caspian Seas. Chenopodiaceae members are classified at 30F, 27 days at 40F), or so the texts claim. At a more
as halophytes, plants that can tolerate high concentrations genial 5070F, emergence occurs at 612 days and matu-
of sodium salts in the soil and an associated high pH >7.0. ration at 3050 days. Thus it doesnt really make sense to
They also reside where there are high atmospheric salts, sow at temperatures below 50F. At the upper end of the
sea sprays, etc. temperature range, spinach experiences a thermodormancy
Members of the Chenopodiaceae family (Chenopods for and markedly suppressed germination will occur when soil
short) have evolved several ingenious strategies to cope with temperatures are in the mid 70s. Even at 70F, germination
salty conditions. Many species have a deeply penetrating tap can be retarded as much as 50%. This thermodormancy is
root that can draw on fresh water beneath either salty or a natural strategy to prevent germination at a time of year
brackish surface water. They also have a waxy leaf cuticle when growth would be poor. Quality (succulent and sweet)
that both retards the transpiration of precious fresh water and spinach is best produced with 3050 days of night-time
protects against depositions of atmospheric salts. Chenopods temperatures from 4050F, and daytime temperatures
also have very efficient from 5565F.
sodium pumps that Spinach is also a day-length sensitive plant. Most modern
remove sodium from their varieties respond to day lengths greater than 14 hours (early
cells and deposit it either Mayearly August in Santa Cruz at 38 latitude) by bolting
outside of cell walls or and running to seed. Some older varieties and over-winter-
into a membrane-bound ing types bolt at 12 1/2 hours of day length. Thus varietal
cavity within the cell (a resistance to bolting is an important selection criterion.
vacuole), which functions With requisite day length and cool temperatures (<75F)
as a toxic dump. bolting is retarded; with requisite day length and warm
Chenopods are wind temperatures (>75F) bolting is accelerated. Large plants
pollinated, with small, in- and crowded plants respond more quickly and run to seed.
conspicuous flowers. Since A cold exposure (<50F for >10 days) followed by warm
there is no need to adver- temperatures, especially in conjunction with lengthening
tise for pollinators, they
Melisa Beveridge
the production of the hormone florigen, which translocates spinach is tolerant of alkaline soils (pH >7.0), the optimum
from outer leaves to the apical growing point and induces range being pH 6.57.5.
flowering. The home gardener strategy of successive harvests Nutrients [N 60100 lbs/acre; P 1235 lbs/acre; K 50100
of outer spinach (and lettuce) leaves delays bolting by as lbs/acre]. As a fast-growing leaf crop, spinach puts a pre-
much as 12 weeks under cool conditions. mium on quickly available nitrogen in the form of nitrate
Sowing. Because spinach develops a deep tap root (and (NO3-). Availability or uptake can be a problem in cold, wet,
therefore doesnt transplant as effectively as crops with more and poorly drained soils seasonally. The remedies
fibrous roots, such as lettuce) it should be directly sown 1/2 Wait until the soil warms (patience).
deep. It can be planted in rows as close as 46 apart for Incorporate fully mature, fine particle size compost,
baby loose-pack or rows 1012 apart for full size plants. as the smaller the particle size, the quicker and great-
Seeding density er the NO3- availability.
Baby: 1015 seeds/foot, no thinning Potassium (K) is a much overlooked but important
Full size: 610 seeds/foot, thin to 68 early and nutrient for all leaf crops. In laymans terms, potassium
throw the trimmings (sans roots) into a salad bowl. mellows the rapid growth of nitrogen by creating a good
Timing and strategies for sowing rib structure to support the succulent growth. It gives the
Spring crops sow 46 weeks before 14 hour day leaf strength. Potassium speeds growth, enabling quick
lengths maturation while the weather is still cool and days are short.
Summer crops pre-chill (refrigerate) seed 35 days to On a cellular level, potassium regulates the opening and clos-
overcome thermo dormancy. Cold, frequent water, light ing of stomata as well as water retention. This regulation
shade cloth, and a thick mulch can retard soil temperatures promotes rapid photosynthesis and quick, succulent growth,
and prolong cropping. all toward a good end (product). A well-seasoned compost
Fall/Winter crops sow 46 weeks before first frost, that contains poultry manure (high N, high P), and horse
mulch heavily once crop is established. or pig manure (high K) goes a long way toward meeting the
Spinach seed is only viable for 2 to 3 years, so buy small primary nutrient needs of spinach.
lots annually. Seed Saving. Spinach is dioecious (literally meaning
Watering. Spinach can tolerate some soil drying during two houses), with male plants (pollen bearing) and female
germinationbut dont push it. Once germinated, spinach plants (seed bearing). Additionally, plants express themselves
is all about quick, succulent growth: provide 12 of ir- according to their flowering habits
rigation per week at 35 day intervals to a depth of 12 at Extreme male plants small plants, small deltoid-shaped
maturity. Overhead watering is okay, but warm and wet leaves, early bolting. These are usually the weakest plants
weather promotes mildew; T-tape or other drip irrigation and the first 10% of bolters in a stand. They should be
is a valuable tool in preventing mildew problems. rogued out (pulled and discarded).
Vegetative males larger leaves, early bolters.
Soils/pH. Spinach can succeed in a wide range of soils.
Female plants these are largest leaved and the last to
Sandy soils offer quick drainage and early warming in the
bolt. Spinach is a wind pollinated species. Pollen is light
spring. Clay soils offer greater water- and nutrient-holding
and transferred by wind (up to 1 mile) from male to female
capacity. The issue with clay is drainage, which is requisite
plants.
for the 815-long primary tap root of spinach; the well-
Commercial seed mixes contain mostly vegetative males
dug raised bed can be an ally in helping clay soils drain
and female plants. A ratio of 1 male to 2 female plants is
effectively.
adequate for pollen transfer. Only one variety at a time
Spinach is a very pH-sensitive plant (as are all chenopods)
can be saved, or varieties can be isolated by caging them
and does not perform well in even mildly acidic soils (<6.5
with cheesecloth or remay (the fine grained pollen can pass
pH). Under acidic conditions it exhibits chlorotic (yellow)
through mesh screen). The seed is mature when it is hard and
and stunted leaves that mature slowly. Soil pH can be ad-
turns dark, dirty brown and can easily be stripped off the
justed by adding lime. Liming agents (calcium carbonate and
plant. By only saving seed from the last 1020% of bolting
dolomitic lime stone) have ancillary benefits in addition to
plants it is possible to develop an endemic variety in your
adjusting soil pH. Lime increases the availability of nitrogen
garden with higher yields and a longer cropping period.
by promoting nitrifying bacteria (nitrosamines) that convert
ammonium (NH4+) to nitrate (NO3-), a more usable form for Nutrition: 1 cup of spinach
plant uptake. Liming also promotes heterotrophic organisms 40 calories
that speed up the breakdown of organic matter, making 100% RDA Vitamin A
phosphorous and molybdenum more available. Caveat:
62% RDA Vitamin C
Adding too much lime, especially on sandy soils, can liberate
nutrients in the short run but burn out a soil in the long 60% RDA Thiamine
run unless accompanied by the addition of organic matter. 40% RDA Iron*
Thanks to the soil types on which it evolved (see above), It is also a moderate source of vitamins B6 and Niacin
2
Spinach, Beets and Chard
*Note: Oxalates are the salts of oxalic acid, which is a Oriental Giant: (40 days; Territorial Seed Co.) Produces
byproduct (waste) of plant metabolism found in most che- up to three times yield of other varieties. 1215 inches tall,
nopods. Oxalic acid crystals can be seen on the underside of upright, smooth leaf, sweet taste.
spinach leaves. Its presence is most pronounced just prior to Space: (37 days; Johnnys Seeds, Fedco Seeds) Slow-
flowering. The sodium and potassium salts are soluble, but est-bolting smooth leaf type. New highly productive hybrid.
the calcium salts are insoluble. They can irritate the mouth Upright growth, smooth, slightly savoyed leaf. Vigorous and
and digestive tract. Calcium combines with the soluble oxa- quick to mature in all seasons, especially fallwinter.
lates to form kidney stones. So while spinach is a healthful Teton: (4550 days) Good for late spring, summer, fall
foodstuff, there can be too much of a good thing. production. Slow bolting, dark green, smooth leaves. Upright
growth habit. Easy to harvest.
Spinach Varieties of Note
Tyee (44 day; Fedco Seeds) An older hybrid. The most
Spinach varieties come in two basic leaf types: flat leaf
bolt-resistant spinach with savoy leaf, upright habit, good
and savoy (wrinkled) leaf (see illustration). In general, west-
taste.
ern growers favor flat leaf types and eastern growers savoy
types. Flat leaf types are more succulent; savoys are sturdy, Beets (Beta vulgaris)
darker, and more nutritious. The leaf vein on savoys grows
Beets are herbaceous biennial plants requiring two seasons
more slowly than the rest of the leaf, giving it more surface
(parts of two calendar years) to produce seed. The species
area and more nutrition per unit of space.
probably evolved from a wild species, Beta maritima (Sea
Beet), native to coastal marshes and estuaries in southern
Savoy leaf (left) and flat leaf Europe. The crop has been in cultivation in one form or
(below) spinach varieties.
another since Roman times.
Beets are an extremely versatile crop offering a variety of
shapes, sizes, colors, and uses. They can be grown as a leaf
crop, using baby thinnings raw in salads to full-size steamed
greens. In fact, there are varieties that are bred primarily for
their abundant, attractive, tasty, and nutritious tops. One cup
of beet greens provides 185% R.D.A. of Vitamin A, 20%
R.D.A. of riboflavin, and 20% R.D.A. of iron (see varieties
section). Other beet types and uses include: round table beets
of diverse colors, pickling beets (cylindrical shape), sugar
Melisa Beveridge
3
For the Gardener
toward the inside and phloem toward the outside). Mixed manganese, copper, and molybdenum. Granulated and liquid
in with these narrow, light-colored conductive tissues are kelp products are an organic gardeners insurance policy
bands of dark, broad storage tissues. This zoning varies in against micronutrient deficiencies.
thickness and color with different cultivars. Probably the Timing. Cool nights (4055F), warm, sunny days
most striking example of this is the Italian heirloom variety (6075F) coupled with an open, permeable soil and a
Chioggiawith its alternating interior rings of pink and steady supply of water (24 every 710 days) promote
white, and its sweet flavor, the epithet candy stripe or candy rapid, uninterrupted growth, good color, and sweetness.
cane befits it. Seed should be sown 46 weeks before the last frost in cold
Beets get their color from a group of pigments called winter areas, and in March to early April in mild winter
anthocyanins. The specific pigment betacyanin contributes sites. Successive sowings are possible through August, with
to red coloration. Golden and yellow varieties derive from the last sowing overwintering for spring harvest.
betaxanthin. Betacyanin is neither heat nor water soluble, so
Growing Tips and Addenda. While beet culture is much
it is not destroyed in the cooking process and will bleed red
like spinach culture, beets remain vegetative under warm
into soups and stews. The yellow betaxanthin is destroyed
conditions and long days. Young beets have poor tolerance
by cooking and thus doesnt stain.
for water stress and weed competition. Established stands
are good at out competing weeds owing to their broad leaf
cover.
Chioggia beets display alternating Despite their relatively shallow tap root system (610
rings of pink and white conductive deep), beets are efficient at foraging for nutrients. Dont over-
and storage tissues.
feedespecially with nitrogenlate in the growing cycle;
this retards root development, suppresses sugar content,
and contributes to hairy roots. Thin early as competition
affects root size.
A tip on thinningdo it carefully so as not to disturb
remaining plants and do it late in the day to avoid heat
Melisa Beveridge
4
Spinach, Beets and Chard
Golden (6070 days; Fedco Seeds, Johnnys Selected Chard varieties fall into two camps
Seeds, Seed Savers Exchange, Territorial Seed Co.) An Old Schoolfull size, thick, dark green, white-stemmed
old Burpee Seed Co. introduction. Green tops, yellow stems or rhubarb with deep crimson leaves contrasted with dark
and bright golden/orange exteriors. Mild, tender, not sweet green veins and an apple-red stem. Old School varieties are
flavor, doesnt bleed when cooked. Thats the good news. actually sweeter and full of flavor as they mature.
The bad news is: an erratic seed supply year-to-year, poor New Schoolplants with stems of many colors: gold,
germination, especially in soils cooler than 65F, prone to pink, yellow, purple, red, and white. They have smaller,
damping off fungus problems, slow to size up, variable size less-savoyed leaves. The
and rough odd-shaped exteriors, and expensive seed (aver- catalogues tout them as
Melisa Beveridge
age price/oz [1500 seeds] for beets $3$5; Golden beets mild tasting, arguably
$9$12/oz). a euphemism for bland.
Cokes Golden (55 days; Fedco Seeds) Salinas area Additionally, plants of
grower Dale Coke has been growing his own golden beet this type are often weaker,
seed for over 10 years. He has developed a more vigorous, to the point of lacking
quicker-maturing, rounder, more uniform variety. enough turgor to stand
Albino (50 days; Seed Savers Exchange) A white, fully erect, and are easily
sweet beet owing to its sugar beet parentage. A little rough damaged in post-harvest
textured. handling.
Blankoma (55 days; Johnnys Selected Seeds) An
improved white beet. Best taste when harvested 23 Old School Varieties of
across. Note
Cylindra, a.k.a. Formanova and Forono (Fedco Seeds, Argentata Vigor-
Johnnys Selected Seeds, Seed Savers, Territorial Seed Co.) ous; the most cold hardy
An old, carrot-shaped, oblong variety 68 long, that is chard. Wide silver mid-rib.
sweet, peels easily, has a smooth texture, and is easy to slice Sweeter with less salty, ox- Chard leaves have a
for canning and pickling. Keep shoulders hilled to prevent alic acid taste than other characteristic broad,
fleshy rib or petiole.
sunburn. chards.
Fordhook Giant In-
Red Types troduced by Burpee Seed
Kestrel (53 days; Territorial Seed Co.) A great baby beet! Co. in the early 1900s. Broad white stems, dark green leaves.
Sweet, smooth, dark red beets that are the most bolt-resistant Vigorous 3-tall plants.
variety. A clean leaf that is resistant to cercospora fungus. Rhubarb An heirloom European variety (1850s). Deep
Red Ace (55 days; Fedco Seeds, Johnnys Selected Seeds, crimson stalks and leaf veins. Dark, metallic-green foliage.
Territorial Seed Co.) An improved hybrid that is quick to A striking ornamental plant as well as good tasting.
grow, sizes up quickly and uniformly. Uniform beets that Italian Silver Rib Old Italian variety. Wide ribs of sil-
are large, smooth, and sweet even when older. ver-white. Large, glossy, heavily savoyed leaves. Big plant,
Moneta (46 days; Johnnys Selected Seeds) A hybrid big succulent leaves.
monogerm variety containing only one seed. Most beet
seeds are fruits containing 26 seeds. Eliminates the need New School Varieties of Note
for thinning. Bright Lights Originally selected and bred by amateur
Early Wonder Tall Top (45 days; Johnnys Selected Seeds, gardener John Eaton of New Zealand. Brought up to com-
Territorial Seed Co.) As the name implies, this early cool mercial standards by Johnnys Selected Seeds (All American
season beet allows early seeding. Staggered maturation, Selections winner 1998). Many-colored stemspurple, pink,
non-uniform roots. Mild, sweet taste. gold, yellow, red, and white. Smaller, flatter-leaf type with
light green or bronze color. Mild taste. Impressive looking
Swiss Chard, Beta vulgaris cicla on the shelf and in salad mixes. There are a number of in-
The word chard is derived from the French word char- dividual colors offered from this mix: bright yellow, pink
don for thistle, owing to its large, succulent, savoyed leaf passion, magenta sunset, pot of gold, etc. A word of note,
similarity. Chard is also referred to as perpetual spinach, or in the nothing new under the sun category: Aristotle first
sea kale beets in England. In essence it is a beetless beet, or observed colored pigmentation in chard in 400 BC!
a spinach with panache. Orin Martin
In the kitchen chard is actually two different vegeta- Seed Sources
blesthe leaves (leaf blade) and stem or rib (petiole). In Fedco Seeds, fedcoseeds.com
cooking they should be separated and prepared separately. Johnnys Selected Seeds, www.johnnyseeds.com
The leaves steam or saut quickly; the ribs are tougher and Seed Savers Exchange, www.seedsavers.org
require longer cooking. Territorial Seed Co., www.territorial-seed.com
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For the Gardener