Spinach Viroflay Giant - Vilmorin seeds

Spinacia oleracea 'Viroflay Giant' is a magnificent traditional variety of spinach. It is particularly vigorous and has an excellent taste quality. It forms clumps that can reach 60cm (24in) in diameter, composed of large leaves. This spinach is sown from August to September for harvests from October to December. It is an enormous spinach that will delight enthusiasts of productive vegetable gardens.

Traditionally mistreated by school catering services, spinach is certainly the most dreaded vegetable by children. Yet it is a tasty vegetable that can be prepared in a thousand ways: raw in spring salad, in Japanese fritters, quickly cooked in a wok, or even in a savoury tart with small pieces of goat's cheese.

It is originally from Iran. It belongs to the Amaranthaceae family. Spinach is widely cultivated worldwide, both for its flavour and its nutritional qualities. While the famous Popeye has long praised its iron content, its remarkable vitamin B9 content is what truly stands out.

There are many varieties of spinach that require short days or long days to prevent them from running to seed too quickly. Each variety corresponds to a specific growing period that needs to be respected: spring and/or autumn, winter, and even summer. Some varieties have pungent seeds, traditionally intended for spring or late autumn sowings. By carefully choosing your seeds, you can have this vegetable all year round.

Spinach likes moist and rich soils that are particularly rich in nitrogen and potassium. They thrive in winter sun and in partial shade, and even in full shade in summer and in the hottest regions.

Harvest: spinach is harvested leaf by leaf, depending on their growth and needs. Cut the leaves located at the edge of the plant to help the heart to continue developing and producing new leaves. The entire clump is only harvested when the plant shows the first signs of running to seed.

Storage: spinach does not keep very well in the refrigerator as it tends to become soft. It is best to consume it a few hours after harvesting. However, you can freeze it after blanching it for 3 minutes in salted boiling water.

Gardener's tip: did you know that spinach can be used as green manure? Sown in autumn at a rate of 30g per square metre, it can absorb and store nitrogen present in the soil. This way, the nitrogen is preserved and not leached by winter rains. It is a good way to recycle a forgotten packet of seeds past its expiration date!