NZ Spinach - Sustainable Holly

Plant of The Month

NZ Spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides) also known in Australia as Warrigal greens is a perennial green with beautiful lush leaves. Although not part of the Spinach family, NZ Spinach is used as a spinach substitute. The great thing about this edible plant is that, unlike many spinach varieties, it thrives in warm weather! It has thicker more succulent style leaves perfect for warm climates or coastal sea spray.

NZ spinach grows as a thick edible ground cover and will cover and protect the soil in just a few short weeks. Thus, providing an abundance of leafy greens to eat!

What parts of NZ Spinach are edible?

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PLANT

Spring after the last frost. Can be grown all year round in many climates.

SOIL

Fertile, moist, well-drained soil. Plenty of compost. pH 6.8-7

LOCATION

Full sun – Dappled or shaded position.

CARE

Regular watering.

FERTILISE

Compost teas or liquid fertilisers.

PESTS

Slug and snail.

HARVEST

Harvest regularly to keep contained.

REPRODUCE

Grows easily from cuttings

Why Grow NZ Spinach?

There are many reasons to grow NZ spinach and it is so easy to grow!

Here are some of the many reasons to grow NZ Spinach

Easy to grow
Abundant producer!
Handles hot climates
Low maintenance
Edible ground cover
Antioxidants
High in vitamins A, C,B1,B2
Protects soil
Cut and come again harvest
Suppress weeds
Pest resistant
Handles coastal environments

When to Plant NZ Spinach

NZ Spinach is a hardy perennial but thrives in warm weather. It does not tolerate frosts so it may be grown as an annual in climates that receive cold frosty winters. Sow in Spring after your last frost. It is a vigorous grower so make sure you have space for it or it will overtake small plants. Great for a food forest-style garden or low-maintenance corners.

How to Grow NZ Spinach

Choose a sunny spot with dappled or part shade in the heat of summer.
Prepare the soil with rich compost
Direct sow seeds or plant in seed trays first. Can benefit from soaking the seeds in water overnight first.
1-2 plants per person is plenty!
Plant seedlings on small mounds to keep them well drained.

Care/ Maintenance

Protection from the harsh summer sun can help the flavour of NZ Spinach and reduce bitterness. Keep well watered in warm temperatures.

Pests / Disease

NZ Spinach is pretty hardy and will thrive with minimal effort. Use natural pest management.

How/ When to Harvest

Once the plant is well established with approx 1m sprawl you can start harvesting stems at 3-4 inch pieces. This will help contain the plant and also promote new fresh growth which tastes the best!
Use clean, sharp kitchen scissors to cut your harvest.
At the end of summer, it can be a good idea to back old growth and use as mulch.
Cut and come again crop that will regrow quickly. I often harvest and use in meals every other day.

Reproducing

Take cuttings and allow to root in a jar of water. Refresh the water every few days. Seeds can also be saved and will flower with tiny yellow flowers on the stem. Once the seeds form and turn brown, collect them and dry them further. Keep in a dark, cool and dry environment.

Cooking and Using NZ Spinach

NZ Spinach like many leafy greens contains high oxalates so it is best to blanch greens first. Blanch greens in simmering hot water for 2mins and then plunge them into ice-cold water to keep them vibrant and fresh. Or simply cook or stir-fry. Young leaves can be eaten raw in small amounts. NZ Spinach is great to cook/blanch and freezes for future use. Or try fermented greens.

NZ Spinach pairs well with: Garlic, onion, chilli, lemon, lime, turmeric, ginger, honey, leeks, tomatoes, asparagus, beans, peas,

NZ Spinach ideas: