The multifoliate, or jminda, or strawberry spinach is an annual vegetable that can be classified as an edible herb used in cooking. It can also be grown as an ornamental crop. Only you need to do this with caution so as not to get another weed on your site. About this article.
Description of the plant, its characteristics, growing region
It is an annual herb of the amaranth family. His homeland is North America. The native Indians used the plant to dye clothing and materials. This is probably why another of the unofficial names of this plant is Indian ink. And German monks cultivated it more than four hundred years ago.
Strawberry spinach flowers have both male and female organs and are pollinated by the wind.
In Russia, it grows in the southern, northeastern and central regions. It grows up to 50 cm or more, has spreading branches covered with light green spear-shaped leaves. Its structure is very similar to tender spinach. It contains vitamins, carbohydrates, carotene and many other useful trace elements. As they mature, the leaves become more rigid. From the end of July until frost, it bears fruit with bright red berries, which outwardly resemble strawberries or raspberries.
Strawberry spinach is reputed to be handsome because of its bright red fruits (compound fruits), which resemble strawberries or raspberries.
Strawberry spinach varieties
There are very few varieties of strawberry spinach. Domestic varieties of this culture do not exist at the moment. The most common variety in our country is Strawberry Sticks.
Strawberry Sticks (Strawberry branch)
A variety of Dutch breeding, has such a name because the berries of this variety have a light strawberry aroma. It differs little from the wild-growing form. The variety is cold-resistant, photophilous, can withstand shading, prefers fertile soils with a light structure. One of the fastest growing leafy vegetables.
The variety has become widespread in Russia.
The variety is light-requiring, but can withstand slight shading. Cold-resistant, able to withstand small frosts down to -7 о С... It is a bush up to 70 cm high of a branching form. The flowers are small, green, which, growing together, form numerous seed fruits, which, when ripe, resemble bright red strawberries or raspberries.
More characterized as an ornamental plant, flower
Distinctive features of strawberry spinach, its advantages and disadvantages
Strawberry spinach has a lot of advantages. The plant is unpretentious: it grows easily on any soil, in the bright sun. Able to tolerate frost. The appearance is exotic. Moreover, it is also edible, and even very useful. First of all, it is grown for the leaves, which appear at the same time as early onions and are suitable for preparing early vitamin salads. Leaves can be harvested for future use by freezing, pickling or salting.
Fruit fruits that resemble strawberries or raspberries are also good for human consumption. There is absolutely no acid in their composition, so they have a bland taste. For consumption, they are best combined with other berries. The value of the fruit lies in the high content of useful trace elements. They are effective in increasing blood hemoglobin levels due to their high iron content.
100 grams of strawberry spinach leaves contain more protein than the same amount of milk powder.
Video: useful properties of strawberry spinach
Growing features
You can sow strawberry spinach in open ground immediately after the soil thaws. In the southern regions, this can be done as early as mid-March.
Sow spinach seeds as soon as the snow melts.
Before sowing, it is advisable to stratify the seeds by placing them on the lower shelf of the refrigerator for 3-5 days, and then soak them for half an hour in a weak solution of potassium permanganate or Maxim fungicide. This will save the plants from fungal diseases and speed up the germination process.
Before sowing, it is useful to soak the seeds in a weak solution of potassium permanganate
Landing in the ground
The best predecessors will be cucumbers, tomatoes, and other greens. Strawberry spinach is often planted as a compactor for other crops.
When preparing the soil, you need to take care of its fertility. During digging, it is useful to add humus (at the rate of 5kg / m2) or ash (200g / m2). It is desirable that such preparation be carried out in the fall.
Seeds are sown in grooves to a depth of no more than 1.5 cm
- In loose soil, shallow barbs are carried out with a depth of no more than 2 cm.
- The seeds are mixed with river sand in a ratio of 1: 3 and sown in the grooves.
- The grooves are sprinkled with earth, moistened and mulched with a thin layer of humus.
- The bed must be covered with foil until the shoots appear.
Seedlings will appear in 10-12 days. It is important to keep the soil in the grooves moist.
When the plants grow up, they should be thinned out (twice) so that in the final version the distance between them is at least 35–40 cm.
You can also plant seeds in holes with a distance of 40 cm between them. Place 4-6 seeds in each hole to a depth of no more than 1.5 cm, cover with soil and slightly moisten. Before emergence, the wells are covered with jars or cut plastic bottles.
To accelerate the emergence of seedlings, the crops are covered with plastic bottles
Planting through seedlings
Planting strawberry spinach through seedlings will speed up the ability to produce healthy leaves and fruits. It is better to grow seedlings in peat cups, so as not to injure the root system of plants when planting in the ground.
You can start sowing seedlings in early March. In prepared cups with a diameter of 5 cm, the seeds are buried by 1-1.5 cm, sprinkle with earth on top and lightly watered. It is better to cover the cups with foil and put them in a warm, dark place, preventing the soil from drying out. After 10-12 days, the seeds will sprout, then the film needs to be removed, and the cups with seedlings should be placed on the windowsill, observing the temperature regime not higher than +15 o C. In open ground, seedlings are planted after the formation of 4-6 true leaves. This happens about a month after sowing.
Seedlings of strawberry spinach are very reminiscent of a young quinoa. Is not it?
It is better to get seeds for planting yourself. To do this, you need to select well-ripe seedlings, gently knead them, fill them with warm water and leave them in a dark place for a day. Then rinse them from the resulting mucus, passing through a strainer. Next, the seeds are laid out in a thin layer on a napkin to dry, and then they are removed for storage in a paper bag.
Video: Tips for Sowing Spinach Seeds
Planting care
Strawberry spinach care can be as follows:
- The plant is moisture-loving, so it is important to ensure that the soil is constantly moist;
- Young green leaves are harvested before flowering;
- The first feeding of plants (at the time of the formation of the first true leaves) can be carried out with ammonium nitrate (1 tablespoon / 10 liters of water), later - with ash (half a glass / bush);
- Periodic weeding and loosening can be carried out less often if the soil around the plants is mulched;
- Strawberry spinach stalks require a garter. with a good harvest, under the weight of the fruit, they tilt to the ground.
Strawberry spinach, or the so-called raspberry-spinach, is a rather rare occurrence in domestic gardens. Spinach does not belong to any traditional vegetable from the garden, but it has its fans. Although spinach is contraindicated in certain cases, most people are allowed to eat it, without fear of any side effects or consequences.
Characteristics.
Wild strawberry spinach-raspberry grows in most countries, mostly in the mountains and foothills. Raspberry spinach comes in two flavors. Mary multifoliate - the first species, it originated in the southern European part, in Asia, in New Zealand. Mary capitate is the second species, its homeland is the North American territories. They differ from each other to a minimum.
Characteristics of raspberry spinach.
An annual herbaceous plant, belongs to the Aramantov family. Other names: "Strawberry beet", "Indian ink", "Strawberry sticks", "Strawberry Goosefoot", "Mary", "Zhminda ordinary". The spinach bush is compacted, grows up to 80 cm. Green stems growing vertically have ribbing. Leaves in the form of rhombuses, triangles or arrows, corrugated, deep green color. The bush has a large number of small flowers that ripen in the leaf axils, when the flowers ripen, they grow together. Berries are drupes of fused flowers, 2 cm in size, deep red color. In appearance, they are more similar to raspberries, and not to strawberries. The ripening period is 60-90 days after the shoots have appeared. At this moment, they soften, the berries are easy to mash, for this reason it is difficult to pick them.
Varieties.
There are few varietal varieties of spinach-raspberries. This is because the plant is of limited use in the culinary business. This was not particularly taken into account during selection. Agrofirms and specialized shops do not know about spinach varieties, therefore, seeds are sold under a single name. Some sources mention varietal varieties under the names "Sticks", "Grillage", "Victoria", they were cultivated by domestic gardeners. But in practice, it became clear that varieties differ from each other to a minimum.
Benefit.
Spinach has many health benefits. It contains such useful substances: oxalic acid, vitamins A, B1, B2, C, PP, E, K, H, beta-carotene, Mg, Ca, Fe. Raspberry spinach also contains 2.9% protein by the total weight of the vegetable. This product is low in calories - it contains only 22 kcal.
Since the plant is rich in useful elements, it means that it can be used in medicine. Spinach has a beneficial effect on the heart and blood vessels, helps to normalize the digestive system, and activates metabolism. Also, when eating strawberry spinach, the effect on the reproductive system is carried out - there is an increase in potency, a decrease in the risk of rickets, scurvy, tuberculosis, normalization of the course of pregnancy, strengthening of the immune system.
Beta-carotene, which is part of vegetables, has a positive effect on the skin, it improves, it also nourishes and smoothes wrinkles. Because of this, spinach is often used in cosmetology, it is added to nutritious masks.
Application.
The whole plant is edible, all its fragments. Salads and green cabbage soup are prepared from young leaves and shoots. The taste, of course, will not be particularly felt, but the dish will become more nutritious at times. The leaves are dried in order to further brew vitamin teas or prepare infusions. Also, the leaves are used in sourdough, like cabbage leaves.
What can you cook with spinach? Dishes.
Spinach berries are an ingredient for filling in pies, and they will also be an excellent decoration for salads. Often, compotes or tinctures that have no color are tinted with spinach-raspberry berries. Although the name is "sweet", the berries are almost tasteless and do not emit an aroma, for this reason, pure fruits are almost never used anywhere. When the berries are fully ripe, they have a sweet taste. To prepare vitamin teas, dried berries are used. Recipes for using raspberry spinach will be given below.
Kvass... Ingredients: 1 liter of fruit, warm boiled water (2 liters), sugar (500-750 grams). You do not need to wash the fruits, we mash them well, fill them with water, add sugar, mix thoroughly, pour into a bottle and put them where it is warm. Fermentation of kvass will take place thanks to the yeast that is on the berries. After 3 days, drain the ready-made drink from the sediment, filter and put it where it is cool.
Jam... Since the fruits have almost no taste, they can be added to any jam for greater fortification. In another case, other ingredients are added to the strawberry spinach jam, which have a brighter taste and an attractive aroma. To prepare the base - syrup - we need equal parts of granulated sugar and water. Mix the ingredients and bring the syrup to a boil. Next, you need to pour the fruits into it. This mixture is brought to a boil, then removed from the stove and cools down for half a day or overnight. This action is repeated 3 times. Then the ready-made jam is poured into jars, closed and placed where it is cool.
Salad... To prepare dishes, not only berries are used, but also spinach-raspberry leaves. Ingredients for the salad: young leaves, 2 tablespoons of sesame seeds, 1 tablespoon of sake, 1 teaspoon of sugar, 1 teaspoon of soy sauce. Grind sesame seeds with a blender, add them to the leaves. The remaining components are mixed and we fill the salad with this composition.
For whom is spinach-raspberry contraindicated?
The benefits of eating raspberry spinach are good, but the fact that spinach is high in oxalic acid can have a negative impact. Saponin, which is found in leaves and berries, is a toxic substance. For this reason, the use of leaves or berries in food in large portions can affect the appearance of bowel disorders. For what diseases is it forbidden to eat spinach: diseases of the urinary tract, digestive organs, ulcers, gout.
How to grow strawberry spinach wisely.
Raspberry spinach is successfully cultivated in the Russian center, in the northeast, in the southern regions of our country. Strawberry spinach has unpretentiousness, frost tolerance, it is easy to care for it, it grows on any soil. Cultivated outdoors and at home.
Often, the plant is not looked after at all, its reproduction occurs with success and self-sowing. However, a rapid transformation from a vegetable into a weed can occur, then you will have to wage a tough fight with it.
Planting and agricultural technology.
Planting and tending the crop is simple. You can sow seeds even once, then spinach will multiply on its own. On neighbors spinach does not care, it can grow separately, and adjacent to peppers or tomatoes, or between the rows of carrots or beets.
How to plant raspberry spinach.
Plants need to be planted after sufficient heating of the soil. It can be planted in two ways: by seeds or seedlings, the seedling method takes more time and effort, but it contributes to a quick harvest. The ridges are dug up in advance, at the same time top dressing is applied. It is better to fertilize with organic mixtures, manure, which is already quail, or humus.
Seed cultivation.
Before stratification of seeds is carried out - the grains need to be kept in the refrigerator for several days. This helps to increase their germination. After stratification, the seeds must be soaked for 30 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate to disinfect them. Sowing of ready-made seeds is carried out in rows 1.5-2 cm deep. Then they are sprinkled with soil or sand. Watering is carried out for the plantings, and a film cover is made before shoots appear. As a rule, this happens after 10-12 days. Further, the covering material is removed. Sowing seeds can be done before the winter season. You will receive fresh leaves in the days of May.
Seedling method.
Sowing seeds for seedlings is carried out in April days. It is better to plant the grains in separate peat glasses, in order to avoid the current transplant. Seeds are sown 1-1.5 cm deep. After deepening, the soil is watered, the glasses are covered with film material and placed where it is warm and dark. 10-12 days after the shoots have appeared, the shelter is removed, the cups are placed on the windowsill. After the formation of 4-6 true leaves on the seedling, they are transplanted into open beds.
Watering and feeding.
Raspberry spinach does not like the soil to dry out, it cannot stand it, for this reason watering should be regular. It is recommended to water under the roots in a thin stream. Spinach is unpretentious for feeding. In the spring season, the bushes are fed with ammonium nitrate to enhance the green mass gain. Then you can only feed the plants with an ash solution or a complex containing potassium and phosphorus.
How to weed and loosen soil.
If spinach was planted by direct sowing of grains into the ground, then weed the plantings very carefully and scrupulously. From the time that they were planted before the shoots appeared, 10-14 days can fly by, during this time period the growth of weeds will not occur weakly, and they can simply stifle weak sprouts. After the shoots have appeared, it is recommended to mulch the ridges with peat or humus. This will be a protective measure against the growth of weeds, plus water will be retained in the soil.
Treatment of diseases and prevention of harmful insects.
A case of raspberry-spinach getting sick is a rather rare occurrence. The appearance of the disease can occur due to neglect of the beds or due to bad weather. In most cases, a fungus appears on the culture in the form of specks or plaque on the leaves. Then the infected bush is destroyed. Almost no harmful insects are observed on plants. Since berries are tasteless and leaves containing a lot of oxalic acid are not to their liking.
How to harvest.
The word "harvest" somehow does not fit with spinach-raspberries, because all of its fragments are edible. Young greens are torn off before flowering in order to prepare a salad, later it begins to taste bitter and become tougher, although useful qualities are preserved at the same time. In the third summer month, the berries begin to ripen. The fact that they have a deep red color does not mean anything - this is not a maturity line. The berries ripen fully only in the autumn season. At this point, they turn into a maroon color, soften and can easily wrinkle. It is at this time that the fruits become sweet. The berries are cut with the stem, then carefully separated from each other.
Summary.
Adding raspberry spinach to your diet is beneficial, since the culture contains a large amount of vitamins and minerals. The protein content of the plant is higher compared to milk powder. Still, its cultivation is a rare occurrence. Due to the fact that spinach is not known to many people, the berries are tasteless. And yet, this vegetable is becoming popular with gardeners and gardeners, as it is unpretentious to growing conditions and reproduces itself.
Real reviews.
Oleg Sergeevich, Rostov region, 38 years old:“Zhminda crawled to my site from neighbors, I didn’t plant it. Initially, I wanted to pluck spinach, then I decided to read about it, in the end I left it. I use it as a greenery for salads. The fruits are tasteless, despite the decorative effect. "
Anastasia Romanovna, Belgorod region, 62 years old:“Once I decided to try to plant a spinach-raspberry variety, spurred me on in a specialized store. The green part is delicious. And the fruit is zero sense, they are only beautiful, but there is no taste. I dyed apple compote with them. The next year, the seedlings appeared on their own, she did not sow it herself. Left, okay. I am weeding out the excess, of course, so that there is no strong growth. "
Valentina Vyacheslavovna, Maykop, 56 years old:“I planted strawberry spinach-raspberry for the first time for testing, it became interesting. I liked the photo. In life, it turned out the same. The bushes resemble swords with berries strung on them. Spinach grows on my site for decorative purposes, the fruits are unsuitable for food, as they are tasteless. "
Planting spinach is a great addition to your garden plants. A member of the Amaranth family, strawberry spinach is not only an ornamental greenery, but also an excellent source of vitamin A and one of the most beneficial sources of minerals and nutrients that we can grow in our garden. How to plant strawberry spinach and what are its benefits? Read about the features of care, planting, useful properties in the article.
Origin: general information
Strawberry spinach is native to North America. It grows wild throughout the northern part of the continent, in the open foothills, mountainous and subalpine regions. It is considered critically endangered in some states in the United States.
The scientific name of this curious plant is Chenopodium capitatum, which in Latin means capitate maria. The plant is popularly known as "strawberry sticks" or "strawberry spinach". The cultivation of this edible herb is of interest to many gardeners. Therefore, the annual is so popular in New Zealand, Canada, distributed in Alaska and Europe. His favorite habitat is sand dunes and calcareous soils. The plant prefers moist mountain valleys, open forests and flat areas.
What is this vegetable?
Strawberry spinach is an annual herb in the Chenopodiaceae family, a thermophilic species of the genus Blitum, and one of the fastest growing leafy vegetables. It is also known as the Goosefoot strawberry and Indian ink, and many refer to it as strawberry beet due to its similarity in color and flavor. But strawberries have nothing to do with it. Young spinach leaves are a good substitute for this plant either raw or cooked.
Leaves and stems
Strawberry spinach is a delicate, fast-growing green plant with a pleasant smell. The leaves are wedge-shaped at the base and triangular at the ends, pleasant texture, sharp in the form of arrows, slightly wavy edges, grow in pretty open rosettes. In their structure, they are very similar to soft spinach, so it is better to eat fresh herbs immediately, rather than store them in the refrigerator.
The taste of the leaves is very light and slightly sweet. Their bright, rich color makes an excellent accent in salads, especially when combined with other salad leaves. In its raw form, they are a good source of vitamins C and A. In salad mixtures, juicy crispy leaves should be used in small quantities, since the plant is toxic. As they mature, they become somewhat tough.
Spinach stalks are crispy, sweet and tasty, white, slightly marbled, with a subtle hint of beetroot flavor. Can be eaten fresh or used in soups. The lower leaves with a long stem, as they mature, the stems become shorter, and the leaves gather in large "spears" every 2-3 cm and rise along the stem, becoming less serrated.
Botanical Description: Flowers
Chenopodium capitatum, also known as Beetroot and Strawberry Spinach, Strawberry Blite has some attractive traits. Small globular flower clusters (up to ½ inch) are green when ripe but soon turn bright red. These numerous flowers are densely packed in round clusters in the uppermost leaf axils and twisted around the upper stem. At their peak, they form clusters up to 3/8 "in size.
Flowers have no petals. They have 3 short stamens surrounding an oval green center with a tiny 2-sided spire at the tip. It soon turns brown. At the base of the flower is a green calyx with three elongated lobes less than 1 mm long. The flowers of strawberry spinach are hermaphrodites (have both male and female organs) and are pollinated by the wind.
Berries
In mature plants, berries of a red, shiny color with pronounced seeds. They taste sweet, with a subtle strawberry and nut aroma. The calyx expands as it ripens and fills with ripe, bright scarlet pulp. The lobes of the calyx are curved around a single brown seed. The berries appear on stems that rise above the foliage. In the initial period of ripening, they are green.
The plant contains vitamins "A" and "C", thiamine, potassium, folic acid and carotenoid lutein. Native Americans used red berries to color leather, clothing, and materials, and juice from edible fruits as red food coloring. It is not for nothing that this vegetable, due to its peculiarity, received another unconventional name - "Indian ink".
If you do not thin out the spinach and transplant the plant on time, the seeds will spread throughout the garden. This is one way to breed a crop for forestry. The sweet-tasting red spinach berries can be used in salads, but they add more visual appeal than flavor.
Features worth knowing about
The leaves and seeds of this plant contain saponins - these are toxic substances that, in small quantities, are not capable of causing any harm to our body. Saponins are poorly absorbed and are largely destroyed during the preparation process.
The plant also contains oxalic acid, which in large quantities can reduce the nutritional value of food and interfere with calcium absorption. However, even with this in mind, strawberry spinach is a highly nutritious vegetable in reasonable amounts. Heat treatment of the plant will reduce the oxalic acid content. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or acidity should take extra care when consuming spinach in their diet, as this can aggravate their health.
Strawberry spinach, the reviews of which are the most controversial, nevertheless has antioxidant properties, which increases the assessment of its positive qualities. It is better to enjoy the best taste of greens at the beginning of the season, since the plant prefers coolness and reacts painfully to heat, forming flowers and seeds with a bitter taste. Spinach will begin to bloom as soon as spring days begin to lengthen and temperatures rise above 23 ° C. Therefore, this feature should be taken into account when preparing salads. The optimum temperature for growing succulent leaves is up to +23 ° C. Watering also affects the taste, the plant needs a sufficient amount of moisture.
Cultivation
This plant is cultivated by gardeners but has never been grown very widely. Strawberry spinach grows rapidly and becomes decorative when fully grown. The plant prefers moist soil and plenty of light. In well-drained, fertile garden soil and sunny position, it blooms from June to August and reaches a height of 1 to 3 feet. Just keep the plants regularly raised and well watered.
A cultivated plant is essentially the same as a wild plant and therefore does not need much care, so as an ornamental plant it is ideal for borders or patios. In northern regions with a mild climate, the harvesting season is longer. You can also plant spinach in the fall. Uncontrolled cultivation of this herb can be a real problem, spinach will behave like a weed and become a serious pest for garden plantings.
Seedlings
Strawberry spinach seeds are small but easy to harvest. They should be soaked in water overnight and rinsed and dried thoroughly. It can then be stored in a cool, dry place until next year.
As an edible crop, sowing of the plant should start at the end of February. It is rarely necessary to sow seeds in trays to a depth of no more than 1.5 cm. The soil temperature should be above + 10 ° C to ensure good germination. It is advisable to use fertile garden soil. Like other members of the genus, a lot of light prefers strawberry spinach.
Growing from seed should be started in a cool, closed room. Make sure the soil in the trays is moist. Use good compost to grow more seeds. The first shoots will appear 14 days after planting. Once the plant is 20-40 cm or 8-16 inches tall and the first two leaves appear on the stem, it should be replanted.
Strawberry spinach seedlings react painfully to late transplanting procedures. You need to transplant seedlings before the last expected frost. Harvesting takes place 45-60 days from the start of planting. Rich soil and sufficient water will ensure better growth and fuller berries.
Planting and leaving
Chenopodium capitatum is an easy-to-grow plant that is resistant to light frost and cold weather. A lot of light and sun, moderately fertile soil prefers strawberry spinach. Planting and care is carried out from the beginning of spring.
If you grow the plant in an area with a cold winter, then at the end of spring you can already harvest the first harvest of young leaves, and in summer - berries. If you live in an area with a warm winter, then planting seedlings should be carried out in the fall, then the plant will gain strength throughout the winter and the harvest will last throughout the spring.
How to grow strawberry spinach? The plant is annual and can be sown directly from seed for harvest in the same year. It blooms from July to August and the seeds ripen from August to September. Planting is carried out in acidic, neutral and alkaline soils. Cannot grow in the shade, needs abundant watering. Grows up to 60 cm.
Planting spinach outdoors is done by sowing the seeds ½ "deep in even rows of no more than 16". Planting by inheritance is a great way to get fresh spinach leaves all summer long. To do this, you need to plant the plant in the ground every few weeks. There is no need to additionally fertilize the soil before planting. The flowering period is 21 days on average and can begin 45 days after the start of growth. The entire vegetative cycle is 126 days.
Growing on a windowsill
Spinach leaves are easy to grow at home. The plant can be grown on a windowsill or directly on a balcony. It is enough to maintain the optimal temperature for growth and ensure not excessive, but abundant watering. The acidity level of the soil should be at least 7. After three weeks, the first shoots of spinach should be planted.
Growing lettuce can be done at the same time as planting other vegetables, such as parsley. It is the perfect spinach companion. Other annual plants can grow next to it: petunias and marigolds. Only the distance between cultures should be observed so that they are not cramped.
Use organic fish emulsion or cottonseed flour as a fertilizer at home. Feed the strawberry spinach with nitrogen solution throughout the growth period. Remember to loosen the soil, but be careful not to damage the plant's delicate roots.
Beneficial features
The Chenopodium family, to which this type of spinach belongs, is not only a storehouse of useful substances and minerals for humans, but also a source of food for many birds in the wild. In addition to its value, the plant is used as a medicine. Strawberry spinach has:
- anti-inflammatory effect on the skin (used as a lotion to combat blackheads);
- relieves eye swelling and fights bruising, reduces the risk of macular degeneration and cataracts as you age;
- antioxidant effects (vitamins A and C help maintain a healthy cardiovascular system, reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke, while folic acid reduces the risk of certain types of cancer);
- emollient effect (in case of inflammatory processes in the lungs, they consume the juice that the seeds give inside).
Spinach seeds can be dried and ground into flour. The crushed seeds are used as cereals for making bread. Since spinach is a leafy vegetable, always rinse the leaves with clean water before eating.
Strawberry spinach is also called jminda, maria and raspberry spinach. It is an annual vegetable plant. It is grown as an ornamental crop and is used in cooking. You need to know how to properly care for this plant and control its growth. It multiplies quickly enough and can become another weed on the land.
It is a vegetable and ornamental plant. Its leaves contain a large amount of trace elements necessary for a person, so many use it in cooking. Spinach originally appeared in North America. In Russia, it can be found in the south and north-east of the country.
Plant height reaches 70 cm. Branches are spreading, they are covered with leaves of light green color. They are spear-shaped. As they mature, the leaves become more rigid. At the end of July, the first bright red berries appear. Outwardly, they resemble strawberries, hence the name of strawberry spinach. Their seeds are clearly visible. They have a sweet taste.
The flowers are small, spherical. During ripening, they are dominated by a green tint. But then it changes to bright red. The flowers have no petals, but there are three stamens. They surround an oval green center. At the base of the flower is a green calyx.
The flowers are hermaphroditic and wind-pollinated, which causes this plant to grow rapidly.
Pros and cons of strawberry spinach
Every culture has them. It is worth considering them in more detail to understand what to expect from this plant.
Strawberry spinach, despite all its advantages, is not without its disadvantages.
It is highly recommended to eat strawberry spinach for high cholesterol, blood pressure problems, chronic constipation and frequent colds. The plant is able to enhance immunity without the use of drugs.
Popular varieties
Agronomists do not breed specially decorative species of this plant, therefore the market is dominated by seeds of two varieties, which are also found in nature:
- Brittle Is a variety that can withstand frosts down to -7 degrees. Created specifically for the northern regions of the country. Outwardly, it is a bush up to 70 cm high. The flowers are small, and the berry looks like a raspberry.
- Strawberry Sticks got its name because the berries smell like strawberries. The variety is unpretentious and does not differ from the wild species in anything except size. It is slightly taller and the flowering is stronger.
It should be noted that the external similarity of the berries does not give the same taste. However, they are quite sweet.
Growing methods
It is possible to grow strawberry spinach in the following ways:
- self-sowing;
- seeds;
- seedlings.
It is worth considering these options in more detail.
Self seeding
This method is suitable if there is already this plant on the site. There is no need to do anything, it will rise by itself next year. If there are fears that it will occupy important plots of land, then it is worth picking the berries by hand and saving them for sowing next year.
Growing from seeds
To get spinach seeds, you just need to pick its berries.
To obtain seeds, you need to collect several of the largest berries. Then the testes are kneaded with hands and filled with water. It is necessary that the mixture is in a warm place. When it ferments, you need to strain everything through a sieve several times until the seeds are completely separated. The resulting material is folded into a paper bag so that air flows to it. It can be stored in the refrigerator.
Stratification of seeds must be carried out immediately before planting so that they "wake up". This will increase the germination rate. To do this, you need to soak the seed in a 1% solution of potassium permanganate. It is recommended to add growth stimulants to it. Then the seeds will be cleared of possible pathogenic bacteria and will receive the necessary minerals for quick germination.
Read more in our other article:
No need to plant seeds during stratification. They should be in damp gauze or bandage.
Planting can be done after the snow has melted, when the ground is still quite wet. It is recommended to choose a place where peas, tomatoes, or potatoes were previously grown. It is worth choosing a place where partial shade sometimes appears during the day in order to avoid burning the leaves.
Planting process:
- the land is treated with a solution of potassium permanganate;
- preparation of small holes with a distance of 4 cm between them;
- watering holes;
- placing in them 3 - 5 seeds.
It is worth covering the ground after planting until the first shoots appear. If you plan to use additional fertilizers, it is better to use organic fertilizers. You can not use fresh, as it contains a large amount of ammonia. Dry rabbit droppings are best because they contain less of this substance, which can kill the seeds or roots of the plant.
Growing seedlings
For this, specially prepared boxes with earth are used. Planting begins in mid-February, if the snow is already melting in the region at the end of March. There are no special requirements for land.
For growing seedlings of strawberry spinach, prepare boxes of soil in advance
Here's how the landing works:
- make a furrow and put strawberry spinach seeds in it;
- fall asleep them;
- watering.
It is best to store boxes of earth on a windowsill. When the first shoots appear, fertilizing can be carried out using organic minerals. It is best suited to increase the growth rate.
When it is warm enough outside, the strongest shoots are planted in open ground without additional preparation. After transplanting, the plant must be watered.
Strawberry spinach care
Do you want to grow strawberry spinach in your garden?
Of course!No
Strawberry spinach does not require special care. However, it is necessary to periodically loosen the ground and remove weeds. Watering is carried out as the soil dries up. It is better to add a little water, but quite often, and loosen it after watering. If there are strong winds in the region, then it is worth bringing under the shoots. When the leaves of neighboring bushes begin to touch each other, it is recommended to thin out the beds so that the plant does not grow too quickly.
To protect against pests, sprinkle the soil next to the spinach with a thin layer of ash. It is also an organic fertilizer. Every two weeks it is worth adding various minerals in the form of top dressing. Minerals should be constantly rotated.
Secrets of Experienced Gardeners
There are some interesting facts about strawberry spinach that you need to know about when breeding it.
These secrets will help to properly care for the plant and not get another weed on the land:
- If you want strawberry spinach to grow in a certain area, you need to pick the seeds and plant them yourself every year.
- If you do not want to constantly collect seeds, you can place the plant in a ventilated greenhouse so that the seed does not spread beyond its perimeter.
- The leaves and seeds of the plant have saponins. These are toxic substances, but they are completely safe for humans in small quantities. When thermally processed in cooking, they completely disintegrate. However, health problems can arise if you eat too many raw berries.
- Oxalic acid reduces the value of foods. Therefore, it is necessary to add the plant to food in moderation.
- The taste of strawberry spinach is not the best, flowering also gives little pleasure to gardeners compared to other flowers. But the nutritional value of the berries and leaves is forcing many to grow it.
- If the plant becomes too large, you can get rid of it by uprooting. The root system is not very developed, so you can dig it up.
- Thus, strawberry spinach can prove to be a good antioxidant and drug when used correctly. But when abused, it is a toxic substance. Berries can be used in preparations for the winter. Frozen leaves can be used in cooking during the cold season.
Pest control
1- Root rot 2- Aphids 3- Whitefly
Strawberry spinach is almost unaffected by pests.
However, the following problems are possible:
- Root rot, which appears due to the high moisture content of the soil. It is required to stop watering for a while and add quicklime to the ground at the rate of 150 grams per 1 square meter of land.
- Aphid or whitefly can infect leaves. If you do not plan to use the plant for food, then you can use modern poisons. If the leaves and berries are to be used in cooking, then it is required to use a soapy solution until the pests disappear completely.
Thus, if there is a desire to decorate your summer cottage with a beautifully growing weed, which has a number of useful properties and can be used in the preparation of various dishes, then you should purchase strawberry spinach seeds. However, this name is not always written on the seeds. It can also be raspberry spinach. And some honestly write Mary, since this plant is, indeed, a relative of the quinoa.
»Strawberries
Strawberry spinach is an interesting plant, which is gaining more and more popularity. The features of the plant and the rules of cultivation will be discussed in the article.
The seeds of a plant with an unusual name appeared in shops for gardeners. Before you start planting, you must carefully study the distinctive features, advantages and negative characteristics.
Many gardeners believe that strawberry spinach - achievement of foreign selection, a hybrid of spinach and strawberry.
However, this is a misconception. The plant is distributed in the southern territories of Europe, North America and the coast of Asia.
The peculiarity of this vegetable crop is that both leaves and berries are suitable for food. And it got its name because of the external similarity of the fruits with strawberries.
In addition to the main name, there are many synonymous names - spinach-raspberry, many-leaved cheese.
Botanical description of the plant
Strawberry spinach belongs to the Mar genus of the Marevykh or Amarantov family. Bears great resemblance to the swan. Annual plant, but if seeds remain in the ground, the next year the culture will grow again without outside interference.
Leaves are green, triangular-lanceolate, edible... The top of the leaves is pointed, the base turns into a petiole. Edges with pointed teeth. The branches reach 70 centimeters. The root is many-headed, thick. The stem is erect.
Strawberry spinach is an annual plant that blooms in July and ripens in August The flowers, twisted into balls in the leaf axils, are bisexual, three-membered, consist of five perianth leaves, five stamens and a pistil. Perianths are red, fleshy.
The seeds are black-brown in color and have longitudinal grooves. The surface is smooth and shiny.
The plant blooms in late July - early August, the fruits ripen in late August or early September. The inflorescence is a complex drupe.
The name of the plant is associated with the similarity of the fruit to strawberries or raspberries. It is often called raspberry spinach.
But the berries do not taste like raspberries or strawberries. They are tasteless.
The berry has a small amount of pulp and a large content of seeds. Ripe spinach-raspberries are considered when acquire a burgundy color.
Growing features
There are about 20 plant varieties, the differences between which lie in the size of the plant itself, in shape.
About 10 species of this crop are grown by gardeners. The most popular species are Virofle, Victoria.
Growing spinach is easy. The ancestors of the plant were weeds, which is why it is very unpretentious and resistant to natural conditions. It grows on any soil, does not require special care.
If there is no timely watering or loosening, the plant will still bear fruit. Spinach grows like a common weed grass, it is not susceptible to frost, drought and other temperature fluctuations.
To get the harvest faster, it is necessary to grow the plant with seedlings... It is worth starting at the beginning of March. The seedling cassettes are filled with earth. After that, 1-2 seeds are placed in each.
You cannot place the seed too deeply, because in this case, it may not sprout.
The plant is transplanted into open ground after the appearance of at least 5 leaves. The distance between the holes should be at least 40 cm. Experienced gardeners recommend fertilizing the soil before planting spinach.
Another way to grow spinach is from seeds... This is the easiest way to guarantee a harvest. You need to start planting immediately after the snow melts or in the fall before the start of frost.
5-6 seeds are placed in one hole. After the first few leaves appear, the weakest shoots are removed.
Beneficial features
The plant is a source of many useful substances: vitamins PP, B1 and B2, E, H, K, microelements (iron, magnesium, calcium, etc.).
Regular consumption of fruits increases hemoglobin, and the use of spinach leaves as an ingredient and as an independent dish leads to the cleansing of the gastrointestinal tract and improves the functioning of the nervous system.
In addition, the leaves can be used as an ingredient in warming compresses and to improve joint and muscle function.
Eating strawberry spinach is not capable of harming the figure, since the calorie content of the plant is low and is only 22 kcal. This is why the plant is the ideal food for dieting.
It is considered to be a source of protein, per 100 grams of the plant, 2.9 grams of protein is useful. Carbohydrates - 3.6 g, and fats only 0.4 g.
In addition, the plant serves as a source of beta-keratin.
Application in medicine
Spinach stimulates the cardiovascular system... The contained vitamins A and C are powerful antioxidants that prevent the oxidation of cholesterol. Strawberry spinach contains carotene, which prevents damage to the walls of the arteries.
In addition, the contained useful substances, in particular, vitamin C and beta-carotene, protect the walls of the colon from harmful substances and prevent constipation.
Eating Strawberry Spinach Regularly improves the functioning of the male reproductive system... In addition, the consumption of spinach is recommended for anemia, rickets, scurvy, tuberculosis and anemia.
With hemorrhoids and hypertension the plant can also have a positive effect on the body. In addition, spinach plays an important role in the diet of people with diabetes.
Strawberry spinach increases hemoglobin levels and strengthens the immune system the human body. If the nervous system malfunctions, experts recommend adding spinach to your diet.
Use in the cosmetic field
The plant is actively used by cosmetologists as an ingredient for face masks and creams as it contains beta-keratin.
It has a positive effect on the condition of the skin of the face, helping to smooth the skin and reduce wrinkles.
Rejuvenation mask
Boil 100 grams of plant leaves in milk before the formation of a mushy substance. It is recommended to use enamel cookware.
Put the mixture on a thin cloth, apply on the surface of the face, neck, avoiding the area around the eyes and keep for 15-20 minutes. Then you need to remove the remaining particles of the mixture and wipe your face with a decoction of chamomile.
Cooking applications
The plant has a low calorie content., and therefore ideal for dietary meals. Many different dishes can be prepared from it.
Pie
Required Ingredients:
- 500 g spinach;
- 4 chicken eggs;
- pepper, salt (to taste);
- 200 g of hard cheese;
- 3 tablespoons of soy flour;
- 200 g ricotta.
Beat eggs, add seasonings to the mixture. Grate the cheese. Then add the remaining ingredients to the egg mixture and mix thoroughly.
Grease a baking dish with butter. Next, you need to put the resulting mixture in a greased form and send it to a preheated oven. Bake for 50 minutes at 180-200 degrees.
Jam
First you need to wash the berries, dry them. Boil sugar and water syrup in a 1: 1 ratio. Add washed fruits to the resulting sugar syrup. Bring the mixture to a boil, then let cool.
In addition to spinach berries, other fruits can be added to the jam.... For example, kiwi. The jam acquires sourness and an unusual exotic taste.
Kvass
Required Ingredients:
- strawberry spinach fruits - 2 kg;
- 2 kg of sugar.
No need to wash fruits... There is natural yeast on the surface of the fruit, which will act as a leaven. Pour the fruits with warm water. Add sugar.
Cover the container with the ingredients with a lid and put in a place with room temperature. Infuse kvass for at least three days.
Contraindications to use
Despite its many advantages, spinach has disadvantages. The most significant - excessive oxalic acid contained in the plant.
The use is contraindicated in people with gastric ulcer, padagra. With diseases of the genitourinary system, it is also impossible to consume strawberry spinach for food.
Strawberry spinach is a beautiful and healthy plant... Recently, the cultivation of raspberry spinach is gaining more and more popularity.
It is very unpretentious, does not require special care. and is immune to environmental changes. The fruits are kept for a long time, from June to the end of September.
That is why strawberry spinach often used for decorative purposes... It is planted in those places where the growth of other ornamental crops is problematic.
Besides, the plant has both fruits and leaves edible... It is used in medicine, cosmetology and cooking.