Effect of different sowing dates on growth, herbage yield and quality of different hybrids of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) under Prayagraj agro-climate conditions

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) is one of the most important cool season leafy vegetables in India, as well as in the world, belonging to the family Amaranthaceae. The investigation entitled Effect of different sowing dates on growth, herbage yield and quality of different hybrids of spinach (Spinacia oleracea L.) under Prayagraj agro-climate conditions was carried out in rabi season at Department of Horticulture, Sam Higginbottom University of Agriculture Technology and Sciences Prayagraj. Study included five sowing dates (15^th October, 01^st November, 15^th November, 1^st December and 15^th December) and three hybrids (TM^-1, TM^-2 and Local) each replicated thrice in Factorial Randomized Block Design (FRBD). Sowing dates and different hybrids had significantly influenced the growth, herbage yield and quality parameters at all the growth stages. Among all the treatment combinations, treatment T₁₁ (TM^-1 + 1^st December) recorded significantly better plant height, number of leaves per plant and leaf length. Among yield and yield attributing characters significantly better yield per plant (g) and yield per hectare (q) were recorded..