New Zealand Spinach
Tetragonia tetragonioides
Seeds per pack ~ 40
Germination: 63% Nov 2024 (Packed for 2025)
Allow 3- 4 weeks for a higher germination rate
DISCOUNTED
New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides) is a leafy green vegetable that, despite its name, is not related to true spinach (Spinacia oleracea) but is often used as a spinach substitute in some dishes due to its similar taste and texture. Here's a description of New Zealand spinach.
A great spinach alternative for hot, dry conditions, although it should be watered consistently for best flavor. Thrives in loose or sandy soil. Harvest leaves frequently for continued production. Young leaf tips can be eaten raw; blanch mature leaves to remove oxalates.
New Zealand spinach has succulent, fleshy leaves that are typically triangular or arrowhead-shaped. The leaves are bright green and can grow to be about 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 centimeters) long. The plant produces small, yellow, star-shaped flowers.
New Zealand spinach has a mild, somewhat salty flavor and a slightly crunchy texture when eaten raw. Its taste is often compared to true spinach, but it tends to be less bitter and salty.
New Zealand spinach can be used in a variety of culinary applications. It can be consumed raw in salads or sandwiches, but it is more commonly used in cooked dishes. When cooked, it can be steamed, sautéed, blanched, or used in soups, stews, quiches, and stir-fries. It is particularly suitable for dishes that require a spinach-like flavor and texture but are prepared in warm or hot conditions where true spinach may not thrive.
New Zealand spinach does well in sunny, hot, dry conditions. It prefers well-drained sandy soils, rich in organic matter, with a pH from 6.8 to 7.0. Seeds can be directly sown in the garden when all danger of frost has passed. Plant seeds 1/2 inch deep and 2 inches apart. Germination may take two to three weeks but is hastened by soaking the seeds for twenty-four hours before planting. This plant is much larger than traditional spinach, so rows should be 3 feet apart. Thin the plants to twelve inches apart when the seedlings reach 2 inches high. Each plant can grow up to 2 to 3 feet long and the planting area will eventually develop into a spreading mat of leaves. You can also start the seeds indoors three to four weeks before the last frost and transplant outside after the danger of frost.
