Purple Passion Spinach (Atriplex hortensis)

(Atriplex hortensis 'Purple Passion')

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Purple Passion Spinach is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather annual vegetable that is native to Eurasia but can be found growing throughout the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 4-7' and features velvety leaves ranging from deep, red-veined green to brilliant purple. This plant can be grown in a container, is rabbit safe, drought and frost tolerant, is used to create biomass and dyes, and is both edible and medicinal!

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General Information
Soil Preparation & Start Indoors
Transplant Outdoors & Start Outdoors
Crop Care
Harvesting & Storage
Seed Saving
Culinary & Medicinal
Companion Planting

Family: Amaranthaceae

Genus: Atriplex

Species: hortensis

Variety: Purple Passion Spinach

Also known as: Mountain Spinach, Purple Orach

Native to:
East European Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, North Caucasus, South European Russi, Transcaucasus.

Introduced into:
Alaska, Albania, Alberta, Algeria, Altay, Argentina Northeast, Argentina Northwest, Argentina South, Assam, Austria, Baleares, Bangladesh, Belarus, Belgium, British Columbia, Bulgaria, California, Cape Provinces, Central European Rus, Chile Central, China North-Central, Colorado, Connecticut, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Idaho, Illinois, India, Indiana, Inner Mongolia, Iowa, Italy, Kansas, Kirgizstan, Kriti, Krym, Manchuria, Manitoba, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nepal, Netherlands, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, North Dakota, North European Russi, Norway, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Poland, Portugal, Primorye, Québec, Romania, Saskatchewan, South Australia, South Dakota, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Turkey-in-Europe, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Utah, Victoria, Vietnam, Washington, West Himalaya, West Siberia, Western Australia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yugoslavia, Yukon.

Native Range: Asia

Ease of Growing: Easy

Grown as: Annual

Days to Maturity: 45 days

Hardiness: Super Hardy. Spinach is temperamental when it comes to heat and long days. Keep it evenly moist without soaking leaves.

Crops: Spring Transplant, Spring, Fall Transplant, Fall

Growing Season: Short

Growing Conditions: Cold, Cool, Warm. More than any other common crop, spinach doesn't like warm weather. It actually germinates best at only 50 degrees F. It germinates more rapidly at higher temperatures, but at 70 degrees F only about half the seeds will germinate. Spinach bolts when exposed to long summer days, so it is usually grown as a spring or autumn crop. It's much less prone to bolting in the shorter, cooler days and the leaves grow larger and more succulent. Each plant doesn't produce very much, so it is usually grown in wide intensive beds. Raised beds are good because they warm up quickly in spring and tend to be well drained.

Outdoor Growing Temp: 45°F - 75°F

Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 45°F. Spinach germinates well at low temperatures.

Start Indoors: Yes

Start Outdoors: Yes

Light: Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Cool). Spinach needs full sun for good growth, particularly for a fall or over-wintering crop. Spinach doesn’t like heat and in warmer areas it should be planted in a shady site.

Water: Moderate. Keep the soil evenly moist (not wet) otherwise it may bolt. Fortunately this isn't usually a problem in the cool weather preferred by spinach. Try to avoid splashing mud on the leaves as it can make them gritty.

Feeder: Moderate. Spinach needs a moderate amount of nitrogen and potassium and a fairly small amount of phosphorous.

Suitability: Tolerates light frost, Tolerates hard frost, Needs summer shade

Small Gardens?: Yes

Containers?: Yes. Spinach can work well in containers, though they need to be sufficiently large (ideally a two gallon pot for each plant). In larger containers allow 12" between the plants for best growth. In warmer areas you should use light colored pots to reduce heat absorption.

Attracts beneficial insects?: No

Forage: Rabbits. Safe in Moderation!

Maintenance: Medium

Plant Height: 4-7"

Sow Depth: 0.25-0.5".

Spacing: 12-18"

Produces: velvety leaves ranging from deep, red-veined green to brilliant purple.

USDA Grow Zone: 2-11

Suggested Use: Vegetable

Soil Preparation

Soil Preference:
Soil pH: 6.0-7.0, Ideal 6.3-6.8: A light, well-drained soil works best because spinach is grown in cool weather and such soils warm up faster. The ideal soil is rich in humus, moisture retentive, and contains lots of nitrogen and potassium. This plant is quite sensitive to pH (both extremes may cause deficiency), so adjust if necessary. Spinach is quite tolerant of saline soils.

Soil Preparation:
Standard Mix, 5 pounds per 100 sq. ft., in top 6" of soil, 1 time: A standard mix will supply additional nutrients. Incorporate it into the top 6˝ of soil along with the compost. This is a mix of various amendments intended to supply all of the nutrients plants may require. It is usually incorporated into the soil prior to planting. The mix consists of:

4 parts cottonseed meal (this is high in nitrogen and relatively inexpensive)
2 parts colloidal phosphate or bone meal (for phosphorus)
2 parts wood ash or 3 parts greensand or granite dust (for potassium)
1 part dolomitic limestone (to balance pH and add calcium and magnesium)
1 part kelp meal (for trace elements)

Mix these together thoroughly. You can do this all at once, or you can store them separately and mix as needed.

Compost (Nitrogen), 2" in top 6" of soil, 1 time: Spinach likes organic matter, so incorporate 2˝ of compost or aged manure into the top 6˝ of soil (where most feeder roots are found). Spinach loves manure and will even thrive in soil containing fresh manure (though ideally this should be incorporated into the soil the previous autumn).

Black plastic, 1 layer to warm soil, 1 time: Spinach sown directly into cold spring soil will be slow to germinate, so you may want to warm the soil with black plastic or cloches.

Start Indoors

Seed Sowing Depth: 0.25" to 0.5". Spinach is normally sown into fairly cold soil, so is usually planted at a shallow depth.

Soil temp for germination: 35°F to 75°F, optimal 50°F to 65°F, optimal 50°F

Total weeks to grow transplant: 6 (Spring/Summer), 7 to 10 (Fall/Winter)

Germinate:
8 weeks before first frost date: Spinach doesn’t like transplanting (it can cause bolting), but it can be started indoors in soil blocks or cell packs.

1. Sow seeds 1/2" deep.
2. You can even multi-plant it to get several seeds per block.

Don’t get it too warm, otherwise it won’t produce well when transplanted outdoors.

Germinate:
8 weeks before last frost date: You must sow Spinach early if you are to get a useful crop before heat or long days cause it to bolt. Spinach doesn’t like transplanting (it can cause bolting), but it can be started indoors in soil blocks or cell packs.

1. Sow seeds 1/2" deep.
2. You can even multi-plant it to get several seeds per block.

Don’t get it too warm, otherwise it won’t produce well when transplanted outdoors.

Transplant Outdoors

4 weeks before last frost date: Once seedlings are large enough transplant them outdoors at their final spacing of 4 to 6".

4 weeks before first frost date: Once seedlings are large enough transplant them outdoors at their final spacing of 4 to 6".

Cold, Cool, Warm: More than any other common crop, spinach doesn't like warm weather. It actually germinates best at only 50 degrees F. It germinates more rapidly at higher temperatures, but at 70 degrees F only about half the seeds will germinate. Spinach bolts when exposed to long summer days, so it is usually grown as a spring or autumn crop. It's much less prone to bolting in the shorter, cooler days and the leaves grow larger and more succulent. Each plant doesn't produce very much, so it is usually grown in wide intensive beds. Raised beds are good because they warm up quickly in spring and tend to be well drained.

When outdoor temp: 45°F to 75°F, optimal temp 60°F to 65°F

When min soil temp: 45°F. Spinach germinates well at low temperatures.

Spacing: 6-8", 4 plants per sq ft. Square Foot: 3" apart in 3 rows.

Intensive: 4-8" apart.

Support: No

Start Outdoors

When Cold, Cool, Warm: More than any other common crop, spinach doesn't like warm weather. It actually germinates best at only 50 degrees F. It germinates more rapidly at higher temperatures, but at 70 degrees F only about half the seeds will germinate. Spinach bolts when exposed to long summer days, so it is usually grown as a spring or autumn crop. It's much less prone to bolting in the shorter, cooler days and the leaves grow larger and more succulent. Each plant doesn't produce very much, so it is usually grown in wide intensive beds. Raised beds are good because they warm up quickly in spring and tend to be well drained.

When outdoor temp: 45°F to 75°F, optimal temp 60°F to 65°F

When min soil temp: 45°F. Spinach germinates well at low temperatures.

Seed Depth: 0.25"-0.5". Spinach is normally sown into fairly cold soil, so is usually planted at a shallow depth.

Spacing: 6-8", 4 plants per sq ft. Square Foot: 3" apart in 3 rows.

Intensive: 4-8" apart.

Spring Crop:
4-6 weeks before last frost date: You must sow Spinach early if you are to get a useful crop before heat or long days cause it to bolt. Spinach sown directly into cold spring soil is slow to germinate, so some gardeners pre-germinate it first. Alternatively you could warm the soil with plastic or cloches.

1. Sow the seed 1/2˝ deep (1/4˝ in cold soil) and 1-2˝ apart (either broadcast or in wide rows).
2. Some gardeners mark the location of the slow germinating seeds by sowing a few Radishes along with the Spinach.

Fall Crop:
4-8 weeks before first frost date: Spinach does best as a fall crop, because the days are getting shorter and it doesn’t bolt so readily. The soil must be cool enough for good germination however. You can sow the seeds 4-8 weeks before the first autumn frost date, depending upon your conditions. In areas with mild winters, some varieties of Spinach can be grown as a winter crop. They are hardy down to 25˚ F and don’t bolt in the cool, short days. Spinach won’t take hard frost unprotected, but it can be grown in harsher climates, if it is under the cover of cloches or cold frames. The key to success as a winter crop is for the plants to get big enough before cool weather hits. They will then continue to grow throughout the winter. If they are not big enough, they will just sit there looking sorry for themselves.

1. Sow the seed 1/2˝ deep (1/4˝ in cold soil) and 1-2˝ apart (either broadcast or in wide rows).
2. Some gardeners mark the location of the slow germinating seeds by sowing a few Radishes along with the Spinach.

Support: No

Spinach must grow quickly to produce the highest quality food. This means giving it optimal conditions; as much water and nutrients as it requires and no competition from weeds or crowding neighbors (all these factors can contribute to bolting).

Water Needs: Moderate. Keep the soil evenly moist (not wet) otherwise it may bolt. Fortunately this isn't usually a problem in the cool weather preferred by spinach. Try to avoid splashing mud on the leaves as it can make them gritty. Watering, regularly: Water, 0.5 inch, regularly, 2 times a week Keep the soil evenly moist for best growth.

Fertilizer Needs: Moderate. Spinach needs a moderate amount of nitrogen and potassium and a fairly small amount of phosphorous.

Thinning, after sowing: 3" apart, after sowing, 1 time. Spinach can bolt if overcrowded, so thin the plants carefully to 2-4˝ apart when they have all emerged.

Protecting, when 3" tall: Row cover, 1 layer, when 3" tall, 1 time. Spinach is commonly attacked by leaf miners. If they become very bad you may have to protect them by covering with a layer of row cover.

Thinning, when 4" tall: 6" apart, when 4" tall, 1 time. When the plants are 4˝ high, thin them again to a final spacing of 4-8˝ (this time the thinnings will be big enough to eat). Usually you will thin/harvest every other plant to begin with. If you desire delicious young tender Spinach, you can plant Spinach closer together than the variety requirements but you must constantly thin the outer leaves. Leave at least 6 leaves on the plant. Don’t let leaves get larger than 6”.

Side Dressing, when 4" tall: Compost tea, 5 gallon(s) per 100 sq. ft., when 4" tall, every 3 weeks
Spinach likes nitrogen, so give the plants a feed of compost tea or liquid kelp (use as directed) when it starts to produce harvestable leaves.

Support: No

Harvesting

Ripening: Depending on the size and quantities you want. Begin to harvest as soon as leaves are of sufficient quantity and size.

Storage

If you have so much spinach you can't use it all, it can be frozen for later use.

Storage Req: Freezer
Storage Temp: 32°F
Storage Length: 1-180 days

Use the leaves as soon as possible after harvest, as they only last for a few days in a plastic bag in the fridge.

Storage Req: Refrigerator
Storage Temp: 35-40°F
Storage Length: 1-5 days

Spinach plants are dioecious (there are separate male and female plants) so all plants don't produce seed. Saving seed is fairly straightforward, you just allow a patch of plants to bolt, which they will eventually do anyway. The first plants to bolt are males, which have smaller leaves. You don't need a lot of males, but some are necessary for fertilization (keep 1 male for every 2 females). Don't gather seed from the first females to appear, as you don't want to create an early flowering strain.

Spinach is wind pollinated and to keep it pure it must be isolated from other varieties by at least a 1/2 mile. Female plants may grow to 4 feet in height and produce a lot of seed.

Seed Viability in Years: 2-4 years
Germination Percentage: 60%

Culinary

Taste: Delicious in salads, this smooth-leaved variety is considered superior for this, as the leaves are also easier to clean.

Culinary Use: Spinach must be washed carefully to get all of the soil off the leaves. Spinach can be eaten raw or cooked, used in soups, salads, as a side dish, creamed, in tarts and served hot or cold. Spinach is most tender when young so take the opportunity to harvest young leaves for their delicate flavor.

Leaves: raw or cooked. Used like spinach, they have a bland flavor and are traditionally mixed with sorrel leaves in order to modify the acidity of the latter. Another report says that the flavor is stronger than spinach.

Seed: cooked. It can be ground into a meal and used in soups etc or be mixed with flour when making bread. The seed is said to be a good source of vitamin A. The seed is also said to contain some saponins. The seed is small and fiddly to harvest and use.

Known Hazards: No member of this genus contains any toxins, all have more or less edible leaves. However, if grown with artificial fertilizers, they may concentrate harmful amounts of nitrates in their leaves. The seed contains saponins. Although poisonous, saponins are poorly absorbed by the human body and so most pass through without harm. Saponins are quite bitter and can be found in many common foods such as some beans. They can be removed by carefully leaching the seed or flour in running water. Thorough cooking, and perhaps changing the cooking water once, will also normally remove most of them. However, it is not advisable to eat large quantities of food that contain saponins. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish.

Medicinal

The leaves are diuretic, emetic and purgative. They are also said to be a stimulant to the metabolism and an infusion is used as a spring tonic and a remedy for tiredness and nervous exhaustion. They have been suggested as a folk remedy for treating plethora and lung ailments. The leaves are said to be efficacious when used externally in the treatment of gout. The seeds, mixed with wine, are said to cure yellow jaundice. They also excite vomiting. The fruits are purgative and emetic. Liniments and emollients prepared from the whole plant, like the juice of the plant, are said to be folk remedies for indurations and tumors, especially of the throat.

Source

Project Purity Seeds can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.

Companion Planting

Plant with peas and beans as they provide natural shade for the spinach. Gets along with cabbage, cauliflower, celery, eggplant, onion, peas, strawberries and fava bean. Plant spinach with squash. It's a good use of space because by the time squash plants start to get big the spinach is ready to bolt.

Problems

Tends to run to seed.

Suggested Varieties

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(Atriplex hortensis 'Purple Passion')

Soil Preparation

Start Indoors

Transplant Outdoors

Start Outdoors

Harvesting

Storage

Culinary

Medicinal

Companion Planting

Problems

Suggested Varieties

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(Pisum sativum 'Alaska')

(Pisum sativum 'Early Frosty')