 New spinach variety in TN
 Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU) would soon release a new variety of spinach and guava, suitable to be grown in the state.
The New Zealand spinach, highly resistant to drought and frost and grown as a cover crop, would be suitable for planting in about 900-2,500 metres above mean sea level, particularly Nilgiris district, with a duration of 135 days, according to TNAU sources.
With highest yield of 35 tonnes per hectare on trial, the leaves, containing high protein (28.79 per cent), fat (4), calcium (0.34) and magnesium (0.084), are an attractive green in colour with excellent cooking quality, they said.
The spinach has good keeping quality up to six days in the hills and three days in the plains after harvest, which facilitates it to be marketed to distant places.
TNAU, based in Coimbatore, would also release the new guava variety, suitable to be grown throughout Tamil Nadu, particularly under salt-affected soil and stress conditions.
Bearing fruits throughout the year, with two peak seasons in July-August and December-January, the variety would yield 46.26 kg of fruits per tree.
The tree would give good yield up to 25 years.
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