The Family Kitchen Gardener (1856)/Spinach
SPINACH, OR SPINAGE.
Spinàcia oleràcea.—Epinard, Fr.—Spinat, Ger.
This vegetable is a hardy annual, said to be a native of Spain, and has been cultivated to a considerable extent for many years. If eaten freely, it is of a laxative and cooling nature, but does not afford much nutriment. It is admitted to be innocent in its effects in all kinds of diseases, and allowed by medical men to be eaten when other vegetables are denied. The leaves of the plants, being of a very succulent or moist nature, must be boiled about ten minutes in a very small portion of water, in which a gentle handful of salt has been put. As it boils, clear off the scum which arises. Drain it well in a colander, season it with butter and pepper, or dress with eggs and vinegar. There are three varieties of Garden Spinach in cultivation, which differ in the size and shape of the leaves, and the greater or less prickliness of the seeds.
Prickly-Seeded, or Winter Spinach, is the best for sowing in September for Winter crops.
Round-Seeded is preferred for Spring sowing; and in mild latitudes it is generally used. It produces a rounder, fuller, and more fleshy leaf.
Flanders Spinach—This is a prickly-seeded variety, having great breadth of foliage. It is more luxuriant and of a greener color. It is not in general use, but deserves special attention.
Culture.—This vegetable is generally sown broad-cast, as it is easier performed a system we deprecate, as being unprofessional, without neatness, and giving afterwards more labor to keep clean. Sow very thinly in drills a quarter of an inch deep, and nine inches from row to row. For Winter and early Spring crops, sow about the end of August, and again about the middle of September. For early Summer crops, sow about the end of March, and, frequently, to the middle of May. It succeeds in any common garden soil, but the more it has been previously enriched with manure, the better. Indeed it will not produce its large, expansive leaves, nor fully developed its extraordinary growth, unless highly nurtured. It is a rank grower, and consequently a gross feeder. Always select an open situation, avoiding the vicinity of trees or buildings. If the ground is light and dry, it should be trodden down firmly, or rolled with a roller. The Spring crops can be sown very conveniently between Peas, or on ground where the Pole Beans are intended to be planted. The crop must be well hoed and faithfully cultivated, which draws the moisture to the roots, encouraging the growth. Where the ground is in proper condition, the plants may stand nine inches apart, and the crop will be easily gathered; but if the ground is poor and the plants stinted, the produce is nearly worthless. The seeds will come up in from ten days to two weeks. Thin out the plants when too thick; if they have three or four leaves an inch broad, they may be used till the main crop is sufficiently thinned. When the plants have leaves two or three inches broad, they will be fit for gathering, which is done by croping the outer leaves, the root and heart remaining to shoot out again. We have seen leaves of the Round and Flanders Spinach two feet in circumference. In this vicinity, the Winter Spinach has generally a very thin layer of straw or other light covering laid over it, which greatly protects the roots and prevents their being thrown out by the frost. Gardeners who have any emulation, endeavor to cover a portion of their most advanced crop with mats, or any covering that they can take off in mild weather. This enables them to procure a dish of this vegetable at any period during the Winter months. We would further observe, that if this crop is not kept quite thin, but one plant allowed to touch its neighbor, they will draw up and speedily run to seed. Two ounces of seed will plant five drills, each forty feet long.