Content
Spinach is an annual herb of the Amaranth family. Forms a root rosette of leaves. Plants are male and female. The number of males is less, only females provide planting material. The culture is represented by several varieties, the plant is bred only generatively. Growing from Matador spinach seeds is possible by direct planting in the ground before winter or early spring.
Description of spinach matador
In cooking, young large leaves of the culture are used. The plant is versatile in application. Spinach Matador cold-resistant variety, optimum temperature for growing season 16-19 0C. Suitable for greenhouse and outdoor cultivation. 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 emergence of young growth. Sowing is possible before winter, planting seedlings in early spring or sowing seeds directly on the garden bed. Several crops are harvested during the season. Seeds are sown at intervals of 14 days.
The matador is not afraid of low temperatures, the seeds germinate at +4 0C. If the outlet is caught in snow, the negative factor will not affect further vegetation.
External characteristic:
- medium-branched plant, weighing 55 g, root rosette compact, dense, diameter 17-20 cm;
- the root system is pivotal, deepened by 25 cm;
- leaves are oval, slightly elongated, saturated green with uneven edges, formed on short petioles;
- the surface of the plate is glossy, bumpy, with pronounced veins.
The yield of spinach Matador is high, with 1m2 collect 2-2.5 kg of fresh herbs. They use the culture in the form of salads, the leaves do not lose their taste and chemical composition during cooking.
Features of growing spinach Matador
Spinach Matador is a cold-resistant plant if the air temperature exceeds +19 0C, the culture begins to form an arrow, the leaves become tough, the composition deteriorates significantly. Provokes shooting for a long time of illumination. If the plant is grown in a greenhouse, it is advisable to take care of shading.
Spinach Matador grows well in cultivated, humus-rich, neutral soil. The root system is weak, for a better oxygen supply, the soil should be light, the top layer is loose, a prerequisite is the absence of weeds. Absolutely does not tolerate the north wind, the culture is planted behind the wall of the building on the south side.
Planting and caring for Matador spinach
Matador is grown in greenhouses, on an open 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, after taking care of the heating. Sow seeds of spinach Matador in late autumn in a greenhouse, in regions with a warm climate - in an open area. Planting works are tentatively carried out in mid or late October. If the greenhouse structure is heated, the greenery can be cut all year round. For early production of leaves, the variety is bred in seedlings. Sowing seedlings is carried out in early March.
Landing site preparation
Dig up a place for spinach in the fall and add the necessary trace elements.A prerequisite for acidic soils is its neutralization, without taking measures, the culture will not give 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) with the calculation of 1 tbsp. l of each product for 1m2;
- then the site is dug up, left for the winter;
- in the spring, the bed is loosened and urea, nitrogen and phosphorus agents are added.
Seed preparation
The matador spinach planting material is in the tough pericarp. The shell protects the seeds from frost while at the same time inhibits their germination. To speed up the process, the seeds are prepared for planting in advance:
- Prepare a solution of stimulant "Agricola Aqua" at the rate of 1 tbsp. spoon for 1 liter of water.
- Heat the liquid up to +40 0C, the seeds are placed in it for 48 hours.
- Then a napkin is spread and the planting material is dried.
Landing rules
Raise the Matador spinach bed by about 15 cm.Sequence of planting work:
- Parallel stripes are made for the length of the entire landing area.
- Spacing between furrows - 20 cm
- Deepen the seeds by 2 cm.
- Fall asleep with soil, watered with organic matter.
After 2 weeks, the first shoots will appear, after the formation of a rosette of 3 leaves, the plant dives. Thin in such a way that at least 15 cm remains between the bushes. Spinach does not tolerate dense planting.
Watering and feeding
From the moment of germination to shooting, Matador spinach is watered regularly at the root. As a top dressing, only organic matter is introduced, since the leaves of the plant quickly accumulate chemicals in the soil. For feeding, use "Lignohumate", "Effekton O", "Agricola Vegeta". Fertilization time is at the beginning and end of June.
Weeding and loosening
The weeding of the row spacings is carried out immediately after the definition of 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 whiskers is done manually so as not to damage the root of the plant. After the formation of a rosette of 4 leaves, spinach is spud with a small amount of soil. The event helps to retain moisture and prevent the soil from drying out. Loosening is carried out as needed. At the first signs of the appearance of arrows, they are removed.
Diseases and pests
Spinach Matador can hardly be attributed to varieties with weak immunity. The infection rarely affects the plant. The manifestation of powdery mildew is possible. The cause of the fungal infection is the untimely removal of weeds and a thickened planting. The use of chemicals is not recommended. Spinach Matador is treated with garlic infusion or whey. You can help the plant only at the first stage of the development of the infection, if timely measures are not taken, the affected plant is removed from the garden along with the root.
With improper agricultural practices, untimely loosening of the soil and dense, thinned plantings, spinach may be damaged by root rot. If it was not possible to prevent the disease, it is not possible to cure the culture and save it from death.
The main pests of Matador spinach are aphids and slugs. From aphids 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 are poured into 5 liters of boiling water, infused for 4 hours, after the sediment settles, the plants are treated with an upper light layer of water.
Slugs appear in the rainy season and feed on leaves. They are collected by hand or special traps are installed on the garden bed.
Harvesting
Harvesting of spinach Matador 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 succulent, large leaves. The plant should not be allowed to start the laying of peduncles. By this time, the spinach is considered overripe, the leaves become rough, lose their juiciness and useful trace elements.
Spinach is harvested by cutting the leaves or together with the root. After harvesting, the plant is stored in the refrigerator for 7 days, then it loses its beneficial properties and taste. The best way to store spinach is to dry-freeze it. The collection is carried out in dry weather, so that there is no moisture on the leaves; spinach is not washed before freezing and storage.
Reproduction
Spinach Matador comes in female and male species. One seed gives two sprouts, after the formation of two leaves, the weak sprout is harvested. The female plant gives more green mass, the rosette and leaves are larger. The strongest plant of the entire planting is left on the seeds. Spinach forms an arrow with a peduncle. The plant is dioecious, in the fall you can collect seeds for planting. They are used in the spring. The shelf life of the planting material is 3 years. For planting in the fall, it is better to take seeds from last year's harvest.
Conclusion
Growing from spinach seeds Matador is the best option for breeding a crop. In regions with a mild climate, planting can be carried out in an open area before winter. In temperate climates, autumn sowing is carried out only in the greenhouse. Spinach Matador is a high-yielding, frost-resistant variety, the seeds germinate immediately after the snow melts. A culture of universal use, not inclined to early education of shooters.
