Spinach - set of 5 pieces

Spinach is a fast-growing crop that you can grow with the greatest chance of success in spring and fall. With higher summer temperatures, the plant will quickly overshoot. It is a leafy vegetable that is rich in minerals, as well as nitrate and oxalic acid (see "Varia"). The leaf is very soft and tender when cooked or stewed but it is also very tasty raw in salads.

GROUND TIPS:
Spinach likes an airy soil that holds moisture but doesn't get soaking wet. Preferably a soil that is not too acidic, so sprinkle some lime on it if necessary. Because spinach is a strong, fast grower you should still give it the necessary fertilizer but keep nitrogen fertilization on the low side because of nitrate storage in the plant (nitrate is converted into the toxic nitrate. See "Varia")If you want to grow spinach in the summer, then look for a cool and shady spot in the garden, to prevent shot formation.

HARVEST AND STORAGE:
When ready to harvest, cut spinach on time. If you wait too long the leaves will turn yellow. If you make sure that the heart of the plant remains undamaged when cutting the leaves, you can harvest a second time from the same plant.

VARIA:
Spinach contains oxalic acid and nitrate to varying degrees. These are both toxic substances...Most of oxalic acid disappears with the cooking water. Grow your spinach with not too much nitrogen in the soil, so that your nitrate count also stays low. The fresher you eat spinach, the less nitrite is present in the leaves (nitrate is converted by bacteria into the toxic nitrite). In the past, it was often recommended that once cooked spinach should not be reheated, as more nitrite can be formed in the intervening time at room temperature than is healthy. However, this advice dates back to the days when refrigerators and freezers were not commonplace. With today's refrigeration techniques, spinach can also be cooled quickly enough at home so that large concentrations of nitrite do not form.Particularly in weaker people, such as small children, pregnant women and the elderly, however, it is still advisable to be careful with spinach that is not fresh.