French Heirloom 1866.The Viroflay Spinach is described in the 1866 Vilmorin catalog as the Monstruex de Viroflay. It is a very large spinach. Trowel-shaped leaves measure 8 x 10 and are only slightly savoyed. The color is dark green and low acid foliage stays tender at any stage of development.

75 seeds

PLANTING

Spinacia oleracea

Germination:7-14 days

Germination Temperature:Optimum soil temperatures 50-70F

Seed Sowing Depth:1/2″ deep

Starting Indoors:3-4 weeks before planting out in early to mid-spring.Provide50-65Fsoil temperature.Sow 2-3 seeds per cell/pot.Sowing into individual biodegradable peat/cow pots reduces rootdamage when transplanting. Transplantafter last frost,6-12″ apart.

Sowing Outdoors:Start in early springwhen the soil temperature is over 50F.Sow a few seeds every 1-3″, thin to 6-12″ for full-sized plants. Sow heavy seeded rows, 30 seeds per foot, every 10-14 days for baby greens using the Pinetree spinach mix. Sow in mid to late summer for fall harvests.

How much does a packet plant:6-10 feet,Spinach Mix packet = 80-100 feet for mature plants or20-25 feet for baby greens

Harvest:Starting with baby greens at 3 or the entire plant before it bolts.

Tips:Plant Viroflay Spinach in fertile soil, amended with compost or well-rotted manure and keep well watered.Sow in the fall and cover with mulch for an early spring crop.