Content
Spinach is an annual herbaceous plant of the Amaranthaceae family. Forms a basal rosette of leaves. Plants are male and female. The foliage of the male ones is less, only the female ones provide planting material. The culture is represented by several varieties; the plant is bred only generatively. Growing Matador spinach from seeds is possible by direct planting in the ground before winter or early spring.
Description of Spinach Matador
Young large leaves of the crop are used in cooking. The plant is universal in use. Spinach Matador is a cold-resistant variety, the optimal temperature for the growing season is 16-19 0C. Suitable for cultivation in greenhouses and outdoors. Matador is one of the few varieties that can be grown indoors on a windowsill.
Spinach Matador is a mid-ripening variety; the leaves ripen 1.5 months after the appearance of young shoots. Sowing is possible before winter, by planting seedlings in early spring, or by sowing seeds directly into the garden bed. Several crops are harvested per season. Sow seeds at intervals of 14 days.
Matador is not afraid of low temperatures, seeds germinate at +4 0C. If the rosette is covered in snow, the negative factor will not affect further vegetation.
External characteristics:
- the plant is medium-branched, weighing 55 g, the basal rosette is compact, dense, diameter 17-20 cm;
- the root system is rod-shaped, deepened by 25 cm;
- leaves are oval, slightly elongated, rich green in color with uneven edges, formed on short petioles;
- the surface of the plate is glossy, lumpy, with pronounced veins.
The productivity of Matador spinach is high, from 1m2 2-2.5 kg of fresh herbs are collected. The culture is consumed in the form of salads; the leaves do not lose their taste and chemical composition when cooked.
Features of growing spinach Matador
Spinach Matador is a cold-resistant plant if the air temperature exceeds +19 0C, the crop begins to form an arrow, the leaves become hard, and the composition deteriorates significantly. Prolonged lighting time provokes bolting. If the plant is grown in a greenhouse, it is recommended to take care of shading.
Matador spinach grows well in cultivated, humus-rich, neutral soil. The root system is weak; for better oxygen supply, the soil must be light, the top layer loose, a prerequisite is the absence of weeds. It absolutely does not tolerate north winds; the crop is planted behind the wall of the building on the south side.
Planting and caring for Matador spinach
Matador is grown in greenhouses, in an open garden bed, in a container on a windowsill or balcony. You can sow seeds in a container and grow them on a covered loggia all winter, having previously taken care of heating.Matador spinach seeds are sown in late autumn in a greenhouse, or in regions with a warm climate - in an open area. Approximately planting work is carried out in mid or late October. If the greenhouse structure is heated, greens can be cut all year round. To obtain leaves early, the variety is propagated by seedlings. Sowing of seedlings is carried out in early March.
Preparing the landing site
The area under the spinach is dug up in the fall and the necessary microelements are added. A prerequisite for acidic soils is its neutralization; without taking measures, the crop will not produce a sufficient amount of green mass. Site preparation:
- Before digging, peat is laid out on the bed at the rate of 5 kg/m2;
- instead of peat, you can use compost in the same proportion;
- scatter over the surface of the seat a mixture consisting of superphosphate, nitrophoska, potassium sulfate and dolomite flour (if necessary) at the rate of 1 tbsp. l of each product per 1 m2;
- then the area is dug up and left for the winter;
- In the spring, the bed is loosened and urea, nitrogen and phosphorus agents are added.
Seed preparation
Matador spinach planting material is located in the hard pericarp. The shell protects the seeds from frost and at the same time inhibits their germination. To speed up the process, seeds are prepared for planting in advance:
- Prepare a solution of the stimulant "Agricola Aqua" at the rate of 1 tbsp. spoon per 1 liter of water.
- Heat the liquid to +40 0C, place the seeds in it for 48 hours.
- Then spread a napkin and dry the planting material.
Landing rules
The bed for Matador spinach is raised by about 15 cm. Sequence of planting work:
- Make parallel stripes along the length of the entire planting area.
- Interval between furrows – 20 cm
- Deepen the seeds by 2 cm.
- Cover with soil and water with organic matter.
After 2 weeks, the first shoot will appear, after the formation of a rosette of 3 leaves, the plant is picked. Thin out so that there is at least 15 cm between the bushes. Spinach does not tolerate dense planting.
Watering and fertilizing
From the moment of germination until bolting, Matador spinach is watered at the root regularly. Only organic matter is applied as fertilizing, since the leaves of the plant quickly accumulate chemicals found in the soil. For feeding use “Lignohumate”, “Effecton O”, “Agricola Vegeta”. The time to apply fertilizer is at the beginning and end of June.
Weeding and loosening
Weeding of row spacing is carried out immediately after defining the rows. Weeds should not be allowed to grow. They are a favorable environment for the development of fungal infections. Removing weeds between the spinach tendrils is done manually so as not to damage the plant root. After forming a rosette of 4 leaves, the spinach is hilled up with a small amount of soil. The event helps preserve moisture and prevent soil drying out. Loosening is carried out as necessary. At the first sign of the appearance of arrows, they are removed.
Diseases and pests
Matador spinach is difficult to classify as a variety with weak immunity. Infection rarely affects the plant. Powdery mildew may occur. The cause of fungal infection is untimely removal of weeds and thickened planting. The use of chemicals is not recommended. Matador spinach is treated with garlic infusion or whey.The plant can be helped only at the first stage of infection; if timely measures are not taken, the affected plant is removed from the garden along with the roots.
With improper agricultural practices, untimely loosening of the soil and dense, unthinned plantings, spinach may be affected by root rot. If the disease cannot be prevented, the crop cannot be cured and saved from death.
The main pests of Matador spinach are aphids and slugs. For aphids they use:
- soap solution – 100 g of laundry soap per 2 liters of water;
- wormwood tincture – 100 g of crushed plant, brew 1 liter of boiling water, leave for 4 hours;
- infusion of wood ash - 300 g of ash is poured into 5 liters of boiling water, left for 4 hours, after the sediment settles, the plants are treated with the top light layer of water.
Slugs appear during the rainy season and feed on leaves. They are collected manually or special traps are installed in the garden bed.
Harvesting
Harvesting of Matador spinach begins 2 months after planting the seeds in the ground and 1.5 months after the appearance of young shoots of autumn sowing. Spinach forms a rosette of 6-8 juicy, large leaves. The plant should not be allowed to begin laying flower stalks. At this point, spinach is considered overripe, the leaves become rough, lose their juiciness and beneficial microelements.
Spinach is harvested by trimming the leaves or together with the root. After collection, the plant is stored in the refrigerator for 7 days, then it loses its beneficial properties and taste. The best option for storing spinach is dry freezing. The collection is carried out in dry weather so that there is no moisture on the leaves; spinach is not washed before freezing and storing.
Reproduction
Matador spinach comes in female and male varieties.One seed produces two sprouts, after the formation of two leaves, the weak sprout is removed. The female plant produces more green mass, the rosette and leaves are larger. The strongest plant from the entire planting is left for the seeds. Spinach forms an arrow with a peduncle. The plant is dioecious; seeds can be collected for planting in the fall. They are used in the spring. The shelf life of planting material is 3 years. For planting in the fall, it is better to take seeds from last year's harvest.
Conclusion
Growing Matador spinach from seeds is the best option for growing the crop. In regions with a mild climate, planting can be done in an open area before winter. In temperate climates, autumn sowing is carried out only in a greenhouse. Matador spinach is a high-yielding, frost-resistant variety; the seeds germinate immediately after the snow melts. A universal-purpose crop, not prone to early shoot formation.
