Strawberry spinach

Strawberry spinach (CHENOPODIUM) Many-leaved spinach (fat-hen), or strawberry spinach, or raspberry-spinach — Chenopodium foliosum = Ch. virgantum = Blitium foliosum

The native range of many-leaved fat-hen is the southern regions of Europe, North Africa and the Mediterranean coast of Asia. Because of its edible greens, which are prepared the same way as spinach, it was long cultivated in the Netherlands. Later it became naturalized and spread almost everywhere. However, most often fat-hen is found on calcareous soils and sandy dunes located along the Atlantic coast of Europe. Here the ground warms up quickly and there is less wind than in the interior parts of the continent. Unlike other fat-hens, many-leaved spinach has succulent edible infructescences.

The spinach develops quickly and forms robust rosettes of light-green spear-shaped leaves (7×6 cm) on long petioles, and then stems. They branch well and as a result form bushes about 80 cm high. After that, infructescences appear in the leaf axils, looking like beet seed-clusters. As they grow they take on a flattened-rounded shape and reach 2 cm in diameter. Initially orange-red, they become deep raspberry-colored as they ripen, although the orange color remains at the base where they are attached. At this stage the plants look very attractive. Under the weight of the crop the shoots bend and require staking. The taste of ripe berries is very pleasant and resembles mulberry or blackberry–raspberry hybrids. Berries ripen gradually, starting from the lower shoots, the first ones already 1.5 months after sowing. Harvesting can be done in several pickings throughout the summer up to the frosts, as ripe berries do not fall off for a long time.

Many-leaved spinach is very resistant to frosts and withstood temperature drops in both spring and autumn down to minus 10°C. Heat also does not harm the plant.

'Strawberry Sticks' is more widely grown than other cultivars. It hardly differs from the wild form of many-leaved fat-hen.

Location: undemanding. Easily grows on any soil, in full sun or partial shade. However, it prefers a warm climate and fertile soil rich in calcium compounds.

Propagation: by seed. As soon as the soil thaws, sow seeds directly into the ground in a 40x40 cm pattern, several seeds per hole to a depth of 0.3 cm. Before sowing, pick them over, removing all thin and damaged seeds, then disinfect for 30 minutes in a weak solution of potassium permanganate. This practice speeds up germination by 2–3 days. After watering, mulch the soil in the holes with a thin layer of humus. After the formation of two true leaves, thin the seedlings, leaving one plant in each hole. Transplant the extras to free spots, trying not to damage the roots.

Care: consists of weeding, loosening the soil and watering. The first fertilization is done with a solution of ammonium nitrate (1 tablespoon per 10 liters of water) at 1 liter per hole when the seedlings still have only cotyledons. Later, during stem formation, apply wood ash, incorporating it into moist soil. If the berries are planned for consumption, you can use only organic fertilizers.

Uses: this attractive plant can adorn an ornamental vegetable patch, a cottage garden with wildflowers or a container composition. Bushes reaching 40 cm are very voluminous, as they form many shoots. The berries make good jam, tasty juices and compotes. Leaves can be added to soups and salads.