Spinach is a green leafy vegetable that is rich in vitamins and nutrients and rated among the most nutritious vegetable according to the fruits and vegetable nutrients ranking.
Spinach helps lower blood pressure and protect against heart diseases, can help prevent cancer, improve eye health and protect it from sunlight damage, fight diabetes and promotes healthy skin and hair.
Spinach is enjoyed when cooked and can also be eaten raw.
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There are two main types of spinach namely the savoy or crinkled leaf and the smooth leaf according to media reports.
Spinach varieties grown in Kenya as listed by biznakenya.com include Ford Hook Giant, King of Denmark, New Zealand, Bloomsdale Long Standing, Giant Noble and Early Hybrid No. 7.
Ford Hook Giant is the best variety as it can do well in a wide range of environmental conditions and is also the most common variety of Swiss Chard in Kenya notes farmerstrend.co.ke
Planting
They thrive in fertile, well-drained loamy soils with a soil PH of 6.5 to 7.0
They do well in cool weather with temperatures between 4 and 16 degrees Celsius.
They are planted from seeds which are first raised from nurseries before transplanting into the farm.
Well-watered seeds germinate within five to seven days and seedlings are transplanted after four to five weeks.
Planting land is ploughed two to three weeks in advance and harrowed then raised beds prepared which allow proper drainage and roots growth.
The soil is then mixed with farmyard manure to add soil fertility before transplanting.
In warm climates, it is advisable to plant spinach in the shade.
Farm practices done on the farm to ensure good growth of spinach include weeding, mulching, and irrigation.
Weeding helps keep off pests and diseases and reduces competition of soil nutrients, water, space, and sunlight.
Mulching helps preserve moisture, suppress weeds, add soil fertility on decomposition, keep away pests causing diseases and prevent soil erosion.
Irrigation ensures the soil is moist and the plants receive adequate water supply. Overhead irrigation is not recommended to avoid diseases on the leaves rather drip is the most preferred method.
A farmer is encouraged to practice crop rotation with crops like potatoes, beans, peas, and tomatoes to avoid pests and diseases building up in the soil.
Pests and diseases
Common pests that affect spinach include cutworms, aphids, slugs, snails, beetles, and armyworms which can be controlled by spraying with appropriate pesticides and insecticides.
Diseases listed to attack spinach are the Downey mildew, damping-off, root rot and leaf spot which are treated with effective fungicides to control them.
Harvesting
Harvesting is done in six to eight weeks and preferably using a knife.
Older big leaves are usually harvested first when the plants have about eight leaves.
Spinach is highly perishable thus should be sold and taken to the market immediately for sale.
The leaves can be refrigerated for about a week or the stems placed in freshwater in order to keep them fresh and increase their shelf life.
