Monstrueux de Viroflay

$3.99

In stock

Description

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.

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

5g – approximately 380 seeds

Difficulty
Easy

Season & Zone
Season: Cool season
Exposure: Full sun to partial shade
Zone: 2-10

Timing
Spinach does best in cool weather. Direct sow March 1 to April 15. For late spring and early summer plantings use Tyee, and for quick harvest use Space and Olympia. 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. 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.

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