New Zealand Spinach [Tetragonia tetragonioides]

New Zealand spinach is a perennial, frost-sensitive and heat-tolerant, mild spinach and medicinal plant that is originally found on the coasts of New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania. It is very salt tolerant and is therefore suitable for cultivation near the coast, which means that this species is now found wild in many coastal countries. The robust plant initially has slow growth, which later increases significantly and grows heavily branched, bushy or ground-covering like a carpet. The triangular, fleshy leaves can be harvested at any time and have a stronger and slightly sour taste than regular spinach. Can be eaten both raw and cooked and was once used as a cure for scurvy.

General information
Plant family: Aizoaceae
Life cycle: Perennial
Days to harvest: 800 days
Plant height approx.: 80 cm
Root type: Deep rooter
Nutrient requirements: Medium eater
Water requirements: Medium
Winter hardiness: Up to 0 °C
Location: Sunny
Soil: Permeable, moist, slightly sandy, loamy, humus

pH value: 6.5 to 7.5

Sowing and planting information
Germ type: Dark germinator
Sowing depth: 1-3 cm
Optimal germination temperature: 22-28 °C
Germination time: 10-40 days
Plant and row spacing: 40x40 cm

Optimal mixed culture: Lettuce, Radish, Horseradish, Tomato, Cauliflower, Kohlrabi, Gooseberry, Flame flower, Poppy
Unfavorable mixed culture: -

Subtropic climate (Mediterranean) (e. g. B. Portugal, Spain, Italy)
Sow directly outdoors from April to September or pre-cultivate in small pots from March to September.

Moderate climate (e. g. B. Germany, Switzerland, Poland)
We recommend pre-cultivation in small pots from March to June.

General
For New Zealand spinach in warm climates, we recommend direct sowing in rows or pre-cultivation. When pre-cultivating, sow the seeds in small pots and let the seedlings grow to the first visible spinach leaves. Then plant the pregrown plants from the pots directly into the open field. The seedlings are planted in the bed from the 2nd pair of leaves after the cotyledons.
Spinach plants prefer a sunny and warm location with moist, slightly sandy, humus and loamy soil. Prepare the soil with seasoned animal manure. Avoid waterlogging.

Additional tips
Cutting the shoot tips causes new shoot tips to sprout, which means the plants produce more leaves. If the temperatures are too cool, the plants will show poor growth. In order to quickly obtain a fine, crumbly and permeable soil, we recommend additional incorporation of biochar and primary rock powder.

Type of propagation
It spreads via seeds.

Plant care
Due to the initial slow growth, we recommend weeding surrounding herbs. Always keep the soil moist to keep the plants growing steadily. Beds prepared with animal manure and planting in mixed culture replace additional fertilizer.

Germination ability of seeds: 4-5 years

Other Names
Botanical names: Tetragonia tetragonioides
English names: New zealand spinach, Warrigal Greens, Botany Bay Greens
German names: Neuseeländer Spinat
Portuguese names: Espinafre da Nova Zelândia
Spanish names: Espinacas de nueva zelanda
French names: Épinards de Nouvelle-Zélande