New Zealand Spinach / Botany Bay Spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides) organic seeds
- Heat tolerant summer spinach that does not bolt in high temperatures and reliably produces fresh leaves. <ai>
- Open pollinated seeds - seed packet with approx. 20 seeds.
- High yielding, low maintenance leafy vegetable for beds, raised beds and containers with a long harvest period until frost. <ai>
€2.59
Description
Summer spinach as a robust alternative to conventional spinach
New Zealand spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides) is not a true spinach, but a heat loving leafy vegetable from the coastal regions of New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania. As a so called summer spinach, it is the ideal alternative when conventional spinach bolts in heat and becomes unusable.
The plant grows vigorously, branches strongly and produces long, ground covering shoots with fleshy, triangular leaves. These resemble spinach in taste, but are slightly stronger and remain pleasantly firm even when cooked.
Historically, New Zealand spinach was already used on the voyages of discovery by James Cook to prevent scurvy. Since then, this remarkable plant has established itself as a robust and versatile leafy vegetable that shows its strengths especially in warm summers.
Thanks to its high heat tolerance, salt tolerance and resistance to dry periods, New Zealand spinach is ideal for sunny beds, raised beds and large containers. It provides fresh leaves over many weeks and is therefore a reliable component in the self sufficiency garden.
Plant profile
| Use | Vegetable |
|---|---|
| Lifecycle | Perennial |
| Species | Aizoaceae |
| Seed propagation | Organic production |
| Region of origin | Australia |
| Characteristics | Needs darkness to germinate, Not winter-hardy |
| Eventual height | 5-50 cm |
| Flower colour | Yellow |
| Flowering months | August, October, September |
| Main harvest | August, July, October, September |
Growing instructions
| When to sow outdoors | June, May |
|---|---|
| Sowing depth | 1 cm |
| Germination temperature | 22-28°C |
| Germination time | 2-6 weeks |
| Soil type | Free-draining, Humus-rich, well-loosened |
| Sunlight | Full sun, Halbschatten |
| Water requirement | Medium |
| Planting distance | 40 cm |
| Row spacing | 40 cm, 50 cm |
| Good companion plants | Lettuce, Radish, Tomatoes |
Sowing and care
Sowing & care of New Zealand spinach
Pre-cultivation begins in April indoors or in a greenhouse. Direct sowing is possible from the end of May once the soil has warmed sufficiently. For better germination, the seeds should be soaked in water for about 24 hours before sowing.
Sowing is done at a depth of about 1 to 2 cm. Germination takes around 10 to 20 days depending on temperature and is only reliable under warm conditions. After the last frosts, the young plants can be transplanted outdoors.
The location should be sunny to partially shaded, with loose, humus rich and well drained soil. A planting distance of about 40 to 50 cm is recommended, as the plants spread strongly.
Water requirements are moderate to high, especially during warm periods regular watering is necessary. Waterlogging should be avoided. Moderate fertilisation with compost is sufficient.
Harvesting begins from July and continues until the first frost. Either individual leaves or young shoot tips are harvested. Regular cutting encourages branching and ensures particularly high yields.
Other names
Botanical name: Tetragonia tetragonioides, T. borealis, T. expansa, Demidovia tetragonoides
German: Neuseeländer Spinat, Neuseelandspinat, Neuseeländerspinat
English: warrigal greens, kokihi, sea spinach
French: épinard de Nouvelle-Zélande, tétragone cornue
Italian: spinacio della Nuova Zelanda
Spanish: espinaca criolla, espinaca de Nueva Zelanda
Dutch: Nieuw-Zeelandse spinazie
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