Spinach also called “SiGeumChi (시금치) is a green-yellow leafy vegetable that contains a large number of various nutrients such as vitamins, iron, and dietary fiber. Spinach has strong cold resistance, so it grows well in cool spring, autumn, and winter. Spinach harvested at this time contains more vitamin C. Spinach is divided into Eastern and Western varieties. Eastern varieties are resistant to cold, so they are cultivated in autumn and winter and are called winter spinach, while Western varieties are cultivated in spring and summer and are called summer spinach. Winter spinach leaves are sharp, but summer spinach leaves are thick and round. In the West, young spinach leaves are mainly used for salads. In Korea, spinach is boiled in soybean paste soup and eaten, but in general, it is often eaten as a side dish for vegetables by blanching it and mixing it with sesame oil and minced seasoning.
🛒 You can purchase Korean spinach seeds from my Etsy shop.
■ Scientific Name: Spinacia oleracea L.
■ Classification: Amaranthaceae
■ English Name: Spinach
■ Korean Name: 시금치 (SiGeumChi)
■ Origin: Central Asia
■ Cultivation Condition :
ㅇ Soil pH 6.0~7.0 is suitable, and it likes neutral to weak alkalinity.
■ Physiological Characteristics:
ㅇ It is an annual plant of the hermaphrodite family belonging to the family Myopodaceae.
ㅇ There are two types of spinach according to the thorn of the seed.
ㅇ As a low-temperature germination crop, it germinates even at 4℃ and there is no problem with germination at around 50˚F/10˚C. However, since germination is impaired at high temperatures, the germination rate decreases to less than 50% at 86˚F/30°C or higher.
ㅇ As a representative long-day plant, when the day length becomes longer, the planting is promoted.
ㅇ As a crop that is very weak to acid, it will die at pH 5 or lower.
■ Sowing and Planting Seedlings:
ㅇ Gremination Temperature: 59-68˚F / 15-20˚C
ㅇ Seed Depth: ½ “/ 1.2 cm
ㅇ Seed Spacing: 2 ” / 5 cm
ㅇ Plant Spacing: 6 – 8 ” / 15 cm – 20 cm
ㅇ Row Distance: 14 – 18 ” / 36 cm – 46 cm
ㅇ Maturity Days: 45 Days
■ How to Grow:
❍ Making a Field and Planting Seeds:
After making a trough in the ridge, sow the seeds in rows. After sowing, cover with 1.5 cm-2 cm thick sesame seeds, tap lightly to facilitate absorption, and then cut and cover with straw to prevent drying.
❍ Thinning Out:
In the case of high temperature, it is generally harvested within 1 month after sowing, so it is harvested at once without thinning. After about one day, harvest by thinning twice at an interval of about 2″/ 6cm. Thinning is also a harvest.
■ Harvest:
ㅇSpinach is a crop that grows vigorously in a short period of time, and in spring-summer sowing cultivation, it reaches the harvest period from 25-30 days after sowing. The period from sowing to harvest varies depending on the type of cultivation, but it takes about 50-60 days for autumn sowing, 40 days for spring sowing, and 30-35 days for summer sowing.
ㅇGrowth is slow until two true leaves and the number of leaves increases slowly, but after that, it increases rapidly with the growth of the underground part.
ㅇSpinach grows mostly attached to the stem, and the number of leaves increases conspicuously until about 8-10 true leaves. After that, the number of leaves increases along with the size of the leaves.
ㅇ The number of leaves at harvest time of spinach varies depending on the cultivation period and variety, but about 8-10 sheets for spring-summer sowing and 15-20 sheets for autumn sowing.
Spinach can be harvested from the root, but if necessary, the outer leaves are harvested as if picking lettuce.
■ Nutritional Value :
ㅇSpinach is a completely nutritious food containing large amounts of water, vitamins, and minerals as well as the three major nutrients.
ㅇSpinach folic acid is an effective food for the elderly, women of childbearing age and pregnant women, reducing the risk of dementia by improving brain function and lowering the risk of birth defects by participating in cell and DNA division.
ㅇThe red root of spinach contains large amounts of copper and magnesium, which break down and discharge uric acid, which is harmful to the human body, so it is better to consume it with the leaves.
■ Use:
Salad, Side-dishes, Jeon, Soup, Etc.
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