Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Spinach and relatives
CHENOPODIACEAE
Many species of the Chenopodiaceae populate the salty, nitrogenous soils of beaches. Goose-
foot, the family common name, is a reference to their typical leaf shape, the silhouette of
which brings to mind the webbed feet of geese.
Many chenopods have a characteristic purplish red coloring: red beets, the blazing red leaf
stalks of some Swiss chard varieties ('Ruby Red'), or the red leaves of red orache. Few ve-
getables outside of the goosefoot family have this deep purple color (rhubarb of the knot-
weed family and a few amaranths), making chenopods relatively easy to identify. Another
secondary metabolite that many chenopods produce is somewhat less desirable: oxalic acid.
Oxalic acid binds with calcium and magnesium, and overconsumption can “steal” calcium
from the bones. Calcium oxalates, which are thereby produced, are tiny, pointy crystals that
can lead to kidney stones in higher concentrations. Many goosefoot family vegetables tend to
accumulate nitrate salts. Harvest these plants in the afternoon on sunny days (especially
where soils are highly fertile) for vegetables with lower nitrate concentrations.
GENERAL PROPAGATION CHARACTERISTICS
All chenopods are wind-pollinated, as their small, in-
conspicuous flowers would indicate (that is, they have no need to attract insects). It is rare that insects
play any significant role in pollination. Some family members (spinach, orache, quinoa) flower in the
first year; others, not until the second (beets, Swiss chard, good King Henry). Multiple varieties of one
species must be either mechanically isolated with row cover or spatially separated with sufficient isola-
tion distances. In home plots, where buildings, hedges, and other plants hinder the movement of pollen
in the air, 300-1000 ft. (100-300 m) should suffice, depending upon the species. For large-scale grow-
ing of seed in fields, isolation distances of over 4 miles (7 km) are used.
A chenopod in flower
