Spinach — Monstrueux de Viroflay Heirloom Organic

$3.69

This French heirloom dates back to 1866. This huge spinach can grow up to 60cm (24") in diameter, with 20cm (8") crisp, dark green leaves. No matter how big it gets, the leaves stay tender and delicious with lower levels of oxalic acid than other varieties. Plant Monstrueux de Viroflay spinach seeds for plants that are ready for baby leaf harvest in just 21 days! This is Mark's favourite spinach variety, and a good candidate for planting in the third week in August. You'll get a small fall harvest, and the following spring it will emerge like magic before any pests are around.

Most of the spinach varieties west coast seeds offer are hybrids that mature early and resist bolting. For growers, these may make the better choice. But they also love the open pollinated heirloom Viroflay, which stands apart from the rest for its sheer size. And the leaves stay tender and delicious even when the plant is fully mature. This is a very nice spinach for the home garden.

Matures in 40-50 days. (Open-pollinated seeds)

Quick Facts:

Low acid and fine flavour
Crisp, dark green leaves
A French heirloom dating to 1866
Open-pollinated seeds
Matures in 40-50 days

Size: 5g (approx. 380 seeds)

How To Grow: The trick to growing spinach is to grow it fast and harvest it fast, and use the right varieties in the right season. Spinach bolts as the days get long and when the soil gets hot. That’s why spinach is usually grown in early spring and fall, in low temperatures and short days. Some varieties do a little better in long day, hot conditions. Pick them promptly in hot weather. Continue reading below for tips on how to grow spinach from seed.

Difficulty
Easy

Season & Zone
Season: Cool season
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade

Timing
Spinach does best in cool weather. Direct sow in the period four weeks before, and three weeks after the last frost date. Spinach will bolt once days get long and hot. Some varieties grow enough to harvest before they bolt. For continuous supply, plant every 3 weeks.

Sow again in the middle two weeks of August for a fall crop that, if cut at the soil level, will come back early the following spring where winters are mild. Shade summer-sown seed beds, keep very well watered, and sow more seeds than you need, as warm soil will reduce germination rates marginally. Thin seedlings, and use cloche protection as cold weather approaches. Late sowings like this can be harvested into December – in mild winters if cloche protection is provided.

Optimal soil temperature: 5-20°C (45-70°F). Seeds should sprout in 7-14 days.

Starting
Sow seeds 1cm (1/2″) deep, 10 seeds per 30cm (12″), in rows 30-45cm (12-18″) apart. Thin to at least 5-8cm (2-3″) between plants, or further if you want larger leaves.

Days to Maturity: From direct sowing.

Growing
Ideal pH: 6.0-6.5. This heavy feeder requires rich soil. Dig in ¼-½ cup balanced organic fertilizer beneath every 1m (3′) of row. Overwintering spinach requires well drained soil.

Harvest
For baby greens, pick when the leaves are 7-10cm (3-4″) long. Individual leaves can be picked at anytime, until the plant has started to bolt. Cut the whole spinach plant just above soil level.

Seed Info
In optimal conditions at least 65% of seeds will germinate. Usual seed life: 3 years. Per 100′ row: 400 seeds, per acre: 174M seeds.

Diseases & Pests
Pale, soft tunnels on leaves are probably leaf miner damage. Prevent by covering with floating row cover. You can kill the little insect causing the damage by pinching it inside the leaf. Destroy any affected leaves. Downy mildew is a fungal disease that causes greyish mould on the leaves. To avoid it, provide ample ventilation and avoid overhead watering.

Rating: 4.2 stars based on 15 reviews from westcoastseeds.com