Spinach - an annual plant from the family of amaranth or shiritsovyh, which more often began to grow adherents of proper nutrition. It is unpretentious in care, resistant to light frosts, and with 1 square. m gives up to 3 kg of greenery. Meanwhile, the exact qualities depend on the particular variety, of which several dozen have been bred by breeders. What kind of varieties are these, read on.
Varieties of rapid ripening
To get the earliest harvest of spinach, gardeners choose exactly the ripe varieties. If such seeds are sown in mid-August and covered with covering material from above, seedlings and small rosettes can be observed in September. On average, early spinach can be harvested 18-30 days after the seeds are planted in the ground. It is noteworthy that many varieties are suitable for sowing in the winter. You can find them below.
Gigantic
This is one of the most popular early varieties in Russia. 30-35 days after planting the seeds, you can pick off the leaves for eating, but the first rosettes are formed already on 15-28 days. Fleshy leaves have an elongated shape and a diameter of up to 45-50 cm.
For those who want to prepare spinach leaves for the winter, it is best to choose this variety, because even in canned form it preserves vitamins well and does not change the taste.
Gigantic spinach easily tolerates frosts and sudden changes in temperature, so it is suitable for sowing in early spring and autumn.
Stoic
The variety grows well in the middle lane, easily tolerates small frosts on the soil, but is demanding on watering and lighting. In this regard, it can be grown on the windowsill only when installing a special lamp. Stoik is appreciated for its high productivity - it gives 2-3 kg per 1 sq. Km. m
Rook
Sowing is allowed at the end of April. Leaf collection can begin already on the 15th day after emergence, but full ripening occurs on the 28th day. A beautiful and magnificent rosette grows. The leaves are dark green in color, smooth and slightly directed upwards. Suitable for freezing. One plant weighs about 38 g.
The variety is good in that it has resistance to the release of arrows and tolerates frost on the soil.
Marquise
The variety quickly emerges and matures, but fruiting lasts a long time. The growing season is 35 days. The marquise is versatile, so it can be grown in greenhouses and in open ground. Sowing seeds costs in May, but you can do this in August.
The leaves of the plant are slightly wavy and oval in shape. They contain many vitamins and minerals that are stored even when canning, heat treating or freezing leaves for the winter.
Round dance
This variety attracts with abundant formation of green mass - up to 15 leaves can grow on one plant. Their height is 19 cm and their diameter is 15 cm. The leaves are consumed fresh and frozen.
A round dance can easily tolerate lower temperatures, however, crispy and juicy greens cannot be obtained without timely watering and exposure to ultraviolet radiation.
To constantly harvest spinach, seeds are recommended to be sown at intervals of 2 weeks.
Cougar
This variety is good to grow in the summer. It is recommended to sow its seeds in June. Harvest can be done before the end of September. Juicy leaves grow round, have short petioles and a beautiful color. You can eat not only leaves, but also roots.
Puma is considered resistant to the formation of arrows, and also has a strong immunity to diseases with the formation of mold. Can be grown as root spinach.
Dolphin F1
The hybrid Dolphin variety has large dark green and glossy leaves that are pointed at the ends and slightly directed upwards. Can be grown in open ground. It tolerates sudden changes in weather and lower temperatures. Does not die with small frosts. It ripens completely on day 40, but the first crop is recommended to be harvested already on day 20.
Mid-ripening varieties and hybrids
Such varieties are ready for use only after 30-60 days. If you want to constantly feast on spinach leaves, it is recommended that the early varieties be planted at the same time as mid-season.
To speed up the germination of mid-season spinach, gardeners recommend soaking the seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate for 1-2 days before sowing.
Bloomsdelsky
The variety was created by breeders from the Netherlands and belongs to the hybrid. It is appreciated by gardeners for resistance to shooting. In addition, it is considered unpretentious, because it easily tolerates weather "moods" like torrential rains and spring frosts.
Rosettes are large in size - up to 25 cm in diameter. The leaves themselves are juicy and fleshy, have a dark green color with subtle bubbles (spots) of light green color.
Rembor
The variety is valued because it tolerates short-term frosts and is resistant to flowering. The growing season is 58 days. The plant has a lush appearance and grows to a height of 17 cm. Fleshy leaves have a rounded slightly elongated shape and a dark green color with a slight sheen. Their ends are slightly raised up.
Fortress
Gardeners like it because it gives large yields regardless of weather conditions. Its vegetation period lasts from 20 to 40 days. The socket is quite compact - it has a diameter of about 23-25 cm. The leaves look slightly raised, oval in shape, very smooth with bubbles.
This variety of spinach needs to be watered well so that the leaves do not lose their juiciness. The plant has genetically built immunity against rot and mold. It develops well after top dressing with nitrogen fertilizer.
Greasy
This mid-season variety is popular among gardeners, as it is characterized by high productivity - it gives 3 kg of greens with 1 sq. Km. m. The vegetation period is small - about 30 days.
The plant is easy to care for, as it easily adapts to various climatic and weather conditions. The socket is quite lush - reaches 25-28 cm. The leaves are smooth to the touch and have a rich green color.
Matador
The variety was bred from the Czech Republic. The growing season is from 30 to 50 days. The socket turns out magnificent - with a diameter of about 25-28 cm. Fleshy leaves have an oval shape, smooth surface and grayish-green color.
The plant has a strong immunity to most infections.
Matador loves moist soil very much, it can even grow in water for some time, but it does not tolerate dry weather at all, so timely watering is necessary. It tolerates minor temperature drops. It is resistant to the formation of arrows.
Mariska
This variety is popular, as it is unpretentious. The culture tolerates frost frosts on the ground due to its high frost resistance and has excellent immunity to many infections. The growing season is from 21 to 30 days. The leaves are tender, but large and juicy. They can be consumed in dried or frozen form.
Late-ripening varieties and hybrids
Later varieties are recommended to be sown in mid-August. They give a very juicy and crisp greens, since at the end of summer the days are getting shorter and the weather is cooler. In addition, it rains more often. So, the plant spends more energy precisely on the formation of leaves, and not on the ripening of the fruit, so it gives a large crop. Popular varieties of this group can be found below.
Victoria
The variety tolerates low temperatures well, so it can be grown in open ground from May to November. The bushes are small - with a diameter of up to 20 cm. The growing season is from 20 to 40 days. This plant does not develop mold infection, is resistant to shooting and powdery mildew.
To get lush greens, it is recommended to make complex mineral fertilizers, which consist of phosphorus, potassium and nitrogen. In addition, it is worth regularly moistening the soil.
Corenta F1
Hybrid Korenta attracts vegetable growers with large leaves and rosettes. They turn out glossy and dark green. This hybrid is best grown outdoors. For greenhouses, it does not fit. Gives a lush crop with timely watering and fertilizing.
Sow seeds in April-August, and harvest in May-August.
Varangian
This variety has a long ripening period, which ranges from 50 to 60 days. The leaves are dark green, oval in shape and quite large in size. They are slightly curved and covered with bubbles. One raised socket weighs about 50 g. The variety practically does not shoot.
Nikitos
The variety is resistant to cold and bloom. Leaves will be ready for harvesting 52-55 days after sowing. The rosette looks assembled and compact, with a diameter of about 25-30 cm. The mass of one bush is from 42 g.
The leaves look a little up and have an obovate shape. They are dark green in color, smooth, large and elongated. Suitable for fresh consumption and for freezing.
Spokane F1
One of the best late-ripening spinach hybrids is Spokane. It attracts gardeners in that it can grow and produce large crops under adverse conditions. The growing season is 65 days.
Spokane is considered the best commercial hybrid, as it gives a record number of crops.
The plant rarely gets sick, because it has a strong immunity to mold, fungi, viruses. Almost not affected by pests, but poorly tolerates untimely watering and lack of light. Small-fibrous leaves have a slightly wrinkled surface and corrugated edges.
The best varieties for growing in the middle lane
In the middle zone with a temperate climate, many varieties of spinach grow favorably. These include:
- Victoria;
- Stoic;
- Virofle;
- Bloomsdelsky;
- Gigantic;
- Greasy leaf;
- Matador;
- Fortress.
Of course, you can try to grow other varieties as well.
New Zealand (Tetragonia)
This mid-season variety belongs to the crystal family. The bush grows to 1 m, and its rich green leaves creep on the ground. They turn out to be thick and fleshy, resemble triangles with serrated edges.
Seeds have good germination, but the variety is extremely demanding on light and frequent watering. Grows in 20 days. The most successful for growing is considered a seedling method of planting. The New Zealand variety produces crops many times, and pruning can be done after 25-30 days.
Godry
An early variety for growing in greenhouses, greenhouses and greenhouses. In addition, the culture can be successfully grown in open ground from early May to the end of August. It tolerates small frosts. Godri sockets are formed from 18 to 30 days after emergence. They are quite dense, but compact - about 23 cm in diameter. The leaves are egg-shaped, green.
When cultivating a variety, you need to be careful, because it is prone to early flowering.
Rumex
The variety was obtained by crossing spinach with sorrel, therefore it is also called “sorrel” or a bogatyr vegetable. It belongs to perennial crops that tolerate frosty winters and are characterized by rapid growth of green mass.
This variety is good not only for people, but also for pets and birds (chickens, geese, rabbits, ducks), as it has a rich composition of nutrients. When applying nitrogen fertilizers, like bamboo, it can reach almost 2-meter height, so it is given to cattle and pigs. The leaves are juicy, large, have a sour taste.
Strawberry (Zhminda)
This type of spinach attracts gardeners in that it has a strong root system (even the roots that remain for the winter can give the shoot). The plant is somewhat similar to strawberries, which is why it is called Strawberry. Requires cultivation in open beds, well lit by the sun. Leaves grow with small denticles along the edges.
The berries are edible. They have a sickly sweet taste.
The best varieties for growing indoors
Many gardeners grow spinach in a greenhouse to get early greens with a delicate and juicy flavor. Sowing is done already in the fall, around September, and in spring, as soon as the soil warms up, green rosettes will appear. In a greenhouse, it is best to grow plants specifically designed for this. Let's consider them further.
Boss
An early ripe variety that matures on day 28. The rosette can have a diameter of up to 60 cm and a height of up to 20 cm. The leaves are dark green, their length reaches 16-17 cm, and their width is up to 11 cm. Bubbles form on the leaf plate. It is considered resistant to the formation of arrows and colors.
Boa
A hybrid variety that closely resembles sorrel. Has leaves of the same shape, but differs in short petioles. It is characterized by rapid growth - fully ripens after 45 days. Leaves with a smooth surface, emerald color, regular oval shape.
Boa can emerge at a temperature of 4 ° C, because it tolerates frosts up to 6 ° C. The optimum growth temperature is 15 ° C. It is necessary to plant it already in early spring, because when the day is lengthened, the plant gives an arrow.
Virofle
An early ripe variety that surprises with rapid germination and intensive growth. It is considered unpretentious, since the seeds germinate well both in the greenhouse and in the open ground, and even at low temperatures and a lack of ultraviolet radiation. With proper care, the plant grows juicy and lush - its diameter can be about 30 cm.
It is desirable to cut off the leaves as quickly as possible, since the arrows of the plant grow quickly and it begins to bloom. It is for this reason that it is advisable to sow Virofle in early spring.
Cook Misha
Refers to early ripening crops - greens can be torn already on day 12. The leaves are saturated green, smooth and wide. It is especially good to grow in closed ground, since in greenhouse conditions the yield increases significantly.
Breeders bred many varieties of spinach, which have differences in appearance, taste and ripening. After reviewing the descriptions of various varieties, you can choose the suitable option for growing in your own cottage and even at home on the windowsill.