Differences between Spinach beet and Spinach beet Indian

Differences between Spinach beet and Spinach beet/ Indian spinach/ beet leaf/desi palak Spinach/ Vilayati palak Scientific name: Beta vulgaris var. bengalensis Hort. Spinacea oleracea L. 2 n= 18 2 n= 12 Leaves with entire margins Leaves have lobed margins It produces bisexual (hermaphrodite) flowers It may produce staminate, pistillate and/or hermaphrodite flowers It tolerates high temperature and grows well in hot weather Its purely cool season crop & cannot tolerate high temp. In warm season it quickly tends to flower

Types of Spinach / Vilayti palak Smooth leaved Savoy leaved

Types of beet leaf/ Spinach beet/Indian spinach/ Desi Palak Green Veined- green mid ribs and leaf veins Red Veined- reddish midribs and leaf veins

üSpinach beet is probably native of Indo- Chinese region üBelongs to family Chenopodiaceae Cultivars developed 1. All green 2. Pusa palak 3. Pusa Jyoti 4. Pusa harit 5. Jobner green 6. HS-23 7. Palak No. 51 -16 8. Banerjee’s Giant 9. Pusa Bharti 10. Pant Composite-1 11. Punjab selection 12. Punjab green 13. Arka Anupama

Nutrient value of spinach beet Rich source of vitamin. A, ascorbic acid and iron 100 g of leaves supply as much essential amino acids as 100 g of any food like fish and meat. Consumption of palak at stage I and stage II potentially provides the greatest amount of minerals

Soil & climate • Can be grown in any types of soils having sufficient fertility and proper drainage but the sandy loam soil is the best • SPINACH BEET IS HIGHLY SALT TOLERANT VEGETABLE • Normally grown during autumn and spring seasons in plains • Can be cultivated through out the year in the regions where relatively mild climate prevails • This crop can withstand frost and tolerate warm weather but high temperature leads to early bolting without giving sufficient cuttings Seed Rate Ø 25 -30 kg/ha Sometimes before sowing, seeds are soaked in water overnight to hasten germination

Sowing time üIn plains it is grown three times in a year i. Early spring ii. In the beginning of rainy season iii. As a main crop during September- November üIt can be grown throughout the year in the regions having suitable climate üIn hills: April- June There are two methods of sowing: Broad cast method Line sowing: in rows 20 cm apart Manuring and fertilization FYM: 25 tonnes/ha N: P: K (kg/ha): 70: 50 ( Full dose of P&K + half dose of N. Remaining half should be applied in two equal splits during weeding)

Himachal Pradesh: sowing time Zone Time of sowing Low Hills July-November, February-March Mid Hills July-October, February-April High hills March-June Irrigation ØFor proper seed germination sufficient moisture is required. Light irrigation after sowing is desirable ØFrequent irrigation is required in light than heavy soils ØSpring crop requires irrigation after 6 -7 days where as autumn winter crop requires irrigation at 10 -15 days interval

Interculture § 2 -3 weedings cum hoeings are required § Pre-emergence application of herbicides like Pyrazone @2. 5 kg/ha Harvesting, yield and storage Crop is ready for first cutting in about 3 -4 weeks after sowing Susequent cuttings are done at 15 -20 days interval Well grown succulent and tender leaves are cut Winter crop gives more cuttings than spring summer crop On an average palak gives 4 -6 cuttings ( about 80 -100 q green/ha) Palak can be stored for about 10 -14 days at low temperature(0ºC) and high relative humidity (90 -95%)

Diseases and Insect -Pests Diseases Damping off Leaf spot Insects Aphids & leaf eating caterpillars Control Seed treatment with thiram, ceresan @2. 5 g/kg seed Spray Blitox@0. 2% Spray Malathion 50 EC@ 1. 6 -2 ml/l

Spinach: Spinacea oleracea L. Family: Chenopodiaceae 2 n=12 Origin is South-West Asia • It is herbaceous annual plant for leaf production and biennial for seed production • Spinach is a rich source of vitamin A, iron and calcium and also contain appreciable quantity of ascorbic acid, riboflavin and small quantity of thiamine.

Rosa(1925) described 4 types of spinach plants with respect to sex expression i. Extreme males: These are smaller in size and bloom earlier than others. These are early bolters and do not produce seed. ii. Vegetative males: These are larger in size and do not produce seed iii. Female plants: These are larger in size and remain vegetative for longer period. Female plants bloom later in the season and all flower at the same time. They also produce seeds. iv. Monoecious plants: These plants may be predominantly staminate, predominantly pistillate or purely pistillate early but with some staminate flower later or almost equally staminate and pistillate flowers throughout the season and produce seed.

On the basis of leaf character they are divided into 2 types: i. smooth- leaved ii. Savoy leaved On the basis of seed they are of two types: i. Round seeded ii. Prickly seeded Popular cultivars in India: • Early smooth leaf • Virginia Savoy • Long Standing

• Soil requirement is same as that of beet leaf • Optimum yield is harnessed when crop is raised at soil temperature of 20ºC • Spinach is a long day crop • Low temperature or cool night tends to make the plants more erect and causes savoying in savoy cultivars, whereas high temperature decreases it • Low temperature is also responsible for profuse blooming and good green colour but high temperature causes yellowing of leaves • Maximum yield is obtained under short day and moderate to warm temperature. • Long days and warm weather are very favourable for quick bolting of the crop

Sowing time and seed rate Plains: September- October Hills: August-October üPrickly seeded cultivars are best suited for the autumn winter crop in the hills üSmooth seeded cultivars are suitable for spring- summer on the hills and autumn sowing in the plains ü 37 -45 kg/ha(high seed rate is required as 50% of the plants come out as male plants with poor growth and its not possible to remove male types except at seed stage üManuring and fertilization, interculture and irrigation : same as that of beet leaf

Harvesting, yield and storage ØThe crop is ready for cutting about 4 weeks after sowing ØHarvesting is either done by hand or with a knife Ø 3 -4 cuttings can be taken in a season ØLike spinach beet harvesting of spinach is not done in morning hours as due to dew leaves are crisp and break easily ØAverage yield id 50 -60 q/ha ØCrop can be stored at 0°C and 90 -95% relative humidity for 10 -14 days

Diseases and Insect -Pests Diseases Damping off/ root rot White rust Downy mildew Control Seed treatment with thiram, ceresan @2. 5 g/kg seed Spray DM-45@2. 5 g/l Leaf spot Insects Spray Blitox@0. 2% Aphids & leaf eating caterpillars Spray Malathion 50 EC@ 1. 6 -2 ml/l