Spinach
| The CSU Specialty Crops Program, in cooperation with Grant Family Farms (GFF), conducted a spinach variety trial during the summer of 2004 at the Horticulture Research Center northeast of Fort Collins, Colorado. Of interest were varieties of spinach that were bolting and blue mold resistant.
Thirty-one cultivars of spinach were evaluated. Spinach seed was sown on July 15, 2004 with a Nibex hand seeder. The seed was planted in a double row on a 30″ bed and watered with drip irrigation. |
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| Weed control was done by hand on Aug. 23, 2004 .There were three replications of 30 plants for each cultivar. Downy mildew pressure was minimal, and no disease management was implemented. Insect pressure was also minimal, and so no insect management was implemented. |
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The cultivars were scored immediately before harvest on Sept. 7, 2004. An experienced field harvest crew from GFF harvested the trial for bunches. The yield of each variety was recorded using number of bunches and weight. A scoring of the cultivars was calculated with weighted values assigned to the different parameters used for evaluation. | |
| Parameters measured included: plant type (savoy to flat leaf), leaf width (narrow to wide), plant height, color, degree of bolting, blue mold presence, bunch strength, pack appearance, body, and ability to recover from crushing. |  |
Since interest in the variety trials was primarily in the savoy and semi-savoy types, below are results on those cultivars grown that stood out as good performers. Blue mold (BM) and bolting pressures were low last summer, so any tendency in that direction is a concern if there are not management options available to control them.
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Variety |
Leaf Type |
Notes |
REGIMENT |
savoy |
Top Pick–Stands out as a very attractive plant, excellent in all categories, no BM or bolting |
SPRINGER |
savoy |
excellent color and body, some bolting and BM |
SPINNER |
savoy |
good performer, but arrow shaped leaves, no BM or bolting |
FY 0284 |
savoy |
BM and bolting may be an issue on this otherwise outstanding variety |
XSPC 403 |
savoy |
BM and bolting may be an issue on this otherwise outstanding variety |
FY 0268 |
savoy |
BM and bolting may be an issue on this otherwise outstanding variety |
CORRENTA |
semi-savoy |
Looks pretty solid, but tendency to bolt |
RX 6660 2028 |
semi-savoy |
Stood out as one of the best looking plants and bunches, but showed some BM and arrow shaped leaves, yield was avg. |
CHEROKEE |
semi-savoy |
Stands out as an attractive plant and bunch, yield fair |
UNI PAK 151 |
semi-savoy |
Good yield and performance, but tendency to bolt |
UMBRIA |
semi-savoy |
Good yield, bunch and crush scores, one of the few not showing any BM or bolting |
SPRINGFIELD |
flat-semi-savoy |
Stood out as an attractive plant and bunch, BM present, yield OK |
AVENGER |
flat-semi-savoy |
Bolting knocks this one down |
F 123 |
flat-semi-savoy |
Good yield, and crush proof, but too arrow shaped |