WILLVINE Matador Spinach France Graines Seed  (500 per packet)

PLANTING INSTRUCTIONS Plant in mid-August for a fall crop, ensuring that soil temperature is on the lower side for that month. Add aged manure to the soil about a week before planting. Although seedlings can be propagated indoors, it is not recommended as seedlings are hard to transfer. Sow seeds ½ to 1 inch deep, cover lightly with dirt. Sow about 12 seeds per ft of row, or sprinkle over a wide row or layer. GROWING REQUIREMENTS WATERING Spinach requires regular watering, especially in autmnal/ spring heat waves. Do provide enough water to keep the soil moist but not soggy. PESTS The pests that attack spinach can cause the following symptoms - Leaves are left curling under, deformed, and yellowish; small shiny specks on leaves appear; Seedlings fail to emerge; poor germination; leaves and stems are partially defoliated etc. Pests affecting spinach mostly are Leaf Miners, Bolting, Mosaic Virus/Blight, Downy Mildew. SOIL Spinach grows most quickly in well-drained, loamy soil rich with a pH of 6.5 to 7. SPOT Select a site which receives proper sunlight or gets lightly shaded. TEMPERATURE Soil should not be warmer than 21ºC [70º F] in order for germination. HOW TO HARVEST Keep an eye on your plants. Harvest when leaves reach desired size. Don’t wait too long to harvest, or wait for larger leaves; bitterness will set in quickly after maturity. The whole plant can be harvested at once, and cut at the base, or leaves may be picked off plants one layer at a time, giving inner layers more time to develop.