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Growing NZ Spinach, also Warrigal greens

(Tetragonia expansa)

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
              P P P    

(Best months for planting NZ Spinach in New Zealand - cool/mountain regions)


  • Harvest in 60-70 days
  • Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Sow seed at a depth approximately three times the diameter of the seed.
  • Best planted at soil temperatures between 18°C and 35°C.
  • Space plants: 45-60cm

NZ spinach has green, triangulated leaves and a spreading habit.

This is a coastal plant which natively grows on dune edges. It survives salt-spray in coastal gardens. It tolerates light frost.

It can withstand hot, dry summer weather when real spinach tends to die off. Will self-sow and become widespread.

Soak seeds for one or two hours before sowing as the outer skin is hard.

Culinary hints - cooking and eating NZ Spinach

Pick the growing tips at about 8-10cm (4-6 in).
Can be used as a substitute for real spinach in cooking.

Your comments and tips

17 Feb 10 K (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Can anyone give me ideas for containing my NZ spinach. We love this plant, it is so productive and so easy to grow, but it spreads all over the place and takes up so much room in a small suburban garden.. I often mix it with silverbeet as a green vegetable
19 Sep 10 Jocelyn Velenski (New Zealand - temperate climate)
Can contain spinach by planting it in a pot like you would with mint :)

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See planting calendar for these climate zones

New Zealand - cool/mountain,   New Zealand - sub-tropical,   New Zealand - temperate  

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