Temperate Vegetables (1+1)

SPINACH BEET

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SPINACH BEET AND SPINACH

Sr.No.	Spinach Beet	Spinach
1.	Botanical name is Beta vulgaris var. bengalensis Hort.	Botanical name is Spinacea oleracea L.
2.	Chromosome number 2n=18	Chromosome number 2n=12
3.	Leaves with margins	Leaves with lobed leaf margin
4.	Produce hermaphrodite flowers	Produce staminate, pistilate and hermaphrodite flowers
5.	Tolerates high temperature and grow well in hot weather	Purely a cool season crop and can not tolerate high temperature. In warm weather and long days it quickly tend to flower.

VARIETIES/HYBRIDS
On the basis of pigmentation of midrib and leaf veins, Spinach Beet or palak or beet leaf or Indian Palak or desi palak cultivars can be divided into two groups:-

1. Redish midrib and leaf veins.
2. Green midrib and leaf veins.

All Green:

• This is an early variety suitable for growing in September.
• Leaves are green, uniform, tender and leaf margins entire.
• Average yield is 125q/ha of green leaves.

Arka Anupama:

• It has been developed through hybridization of IIHR-10 and IIHR-8 followed by pedigree method of selection and released from IIHR, Bangalore.
• Leaves are medium large, dark green, wrinkled and attractive.
• It is late bolting variety and regenerates at fast rate.
• Leaves are ready for first harvesting in 30 days after sowing.
• It gives about 410q/ha fresh green leaves in four cuttings.

Banerjee Gaint:

• It is very popular variety developed in West Bengal through hybridization between Local Palak x Sugar beet.
• It yields 150-200q/ha of green leaves.

Pusa Jyoti:

• It gives 6-8 cuttings and yields 290q/ha.
• It is a polyploid, evolved through selection with colchicine treated progenies of All Green.
• It is a giant leaved type with succulent and crisp leaves. It yields 490q/ha with 6-7 cuttings.
• It is rich in K, Ca, Na, Fe, and ascorbic acid and can be grown throughout the year.

Pusa Palak:

• It produces uniform green leaves without any purple pigmentation.
• Developed by hybridization between Swiss Chard x Local Palak
• It is a late bolting cultivar.

Pusa Harit:

• Suitable for cultivation in the hills throughout the year,
• Plants are upright, vigorous, thick green, slightly crinkled and giant sized leaves,
• Heavy yielder with remarkable ability for rejuvenation and average yield 150-200q/ha.
• It has late bolting habit and wide range of adaptability to varying climates,

Punjab Green:

• Foliage is shining dark green, thick, long, sweet, succulent and free from sourness.
• There is light purple pigment on the stem and average yield is 315q/ha.
• Slow bolter and has low oxalic acid content which is a desirable character in greens.

Punjab Selection:

• Leaves are light green, long, thin, narrow and smooth with slightly sour taste.
• Stem is covered with purple pigment and it yields about 275q/ha green leaves.