Matador Spinach

A reliable spinach, with oval, dark green and smooth leaves, with a pleasant and mild flavour.

About the variety. Matador is a mid-early variety with fast growth and high yield, highly valued for spring and autumn cultivation, with good suitability for overwintering through the winter months.

€1,50

Itinerário técnico

Como cultivar matador spinach?

Um guia de cultivo passo a passo, da sementeira à colheita.

pH ideal 6.2 and 7.6Temperatura ideal 15 and 26°C

Sementeira

Sow directly in the final location and thin out until the desired plant density is reached, when plants have 4 to 5 leaves.

Solo

This is a demanding crop; soils should be fertile, deep, well-drained and rich in organic matter. The pH should be between 6.2 and 7.6.

Clima

This crop adapts well to cool temperatures, with the ideal range being between 15 and 26°C. Temperatures above 26°C hinder germination.

Fertilização

Being a demanding crop, compost should be incorporated into the base fertilization, as it will require nitrogen for vegetative development; however, it should not be supplied in excess, as this would lead to premature bolting.

Rega

The crop requires short and frequent watering, especially in the final stage of its cycle. Drip irrigation is the best option for the crop, as it keeps water off the leaves and thus prevents fungal infections. However, overhead irrigation can also be used, taking care to ensure the leaves dry out during the day (water in the morning) to avoid disease outbreaks.

Controlo de Infestantes

Mechanical weeding and mulching with organic materials are interesting options for the crop, helping to prevent competition from weeds.

Controlo de Pragas

Aphids and nematodes are the main pests of this crop. To control aphids, moderate fertilization without excess nitrogen should be carried out, along with natural limitation using border hedgerows to encourage beneficial insects, biological control with parasitoid hymenoptera and predators, and if necessary, the application of potassium soap or azadirachtin. To control nematodes, appropriate crop rotations, biofumigation, and soil solarization should be used.

Doenças

Downy mildew is an important disease of this crop; to control it, appropriate crop rotations, wide plant spacing, avoiding water on the leaves and waterlogging of the soil should be practised and, if necessary, copper-based products applied.