Smashing Spinach
Spinach is always linked to strength and most people think of the cartoon character ‘Popeye’ when they think about this particular vegetable. With its delicate texture and bright green colours, it provides more nutrients than any other food. Although spinach is available throughout the year, its season runs from March through to May and September to October when it’s freshest and has the best flavour.
Grow spinach
It is best to plant your spinach seedlings approximately 3 inches (8.5cm) apart in soil which is rich in plenty of organic matter. Keep weeds down by removing them by hand or hoe and provide plenty of water during spells of dry weather to ensure the plants don’t go to seed and spoil. You can pick outer leaves first when they look the right size for salads or for cooking.
Nutrition
Spinach is full of iron, calcium and is packed with dozens of vitamins – you may be surprised to know that spinach has been linked with protecting people from osteoporosis, heart disease, colon cancer, arthritis and other diseases. It is an excellent source of vitamins K, A, C, E, B2 and B6 along with manganese and zinc its also a very good source of fibre.
Origins
Spinach originated in the Middle East and its first recorded use was in Persia (modern day Iran) in about 226-640 AD. Spinach was unknown to the ancient Mediterranean world. Spinach, which does not grow well in hot weather, was successfully cultivated in the Mediterranean climate by Arab agronomists through the use of sophisticated irrigation techniques probably as early as the eighth century A.D.
