New Zealand Spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides) This species is not a true spinach but provides massive amounts of leaves for salads and cooked greens in mid-summer. New Zealand spinach seeds require a fair amount of heat to germinate so start inside or wait until May or June before direct seeding. We recommend soaking the seeds overnight before planting. We also have noted that the flavour is better if the plants have some shade from the direct sun. Last year we covered a raised bed with a filtered shade cloth and had a really nice flavourful result! Pinching the leaves and young shoots regularly will lengthen the harvest. New Zealand Spinach can behave like a perennial plant in mild climates.
60 days to maturity
40 seeds per packet $4.45
Planting instructions: Sow seeds 1/2 inch deep and 1 inch apart, thinning to 2-3 inches apart after germination. Leave 12-18 inches between rows. Begin seeding when soil temperature is above 15 degrees Celsius. This variety of spinach can be pre-soaked for 12 hours to enhance germination. Unlike true spinach varieties, New Zealand Spinach is not a cool season crop but rather, thrives in hot and dry conditions and is slow to bolt. A perfect spinach for raised beds!
