New Zealand Spinach [Tetragonia tetragonioides]

The perennial New Zealand spinach is a heat-tolerant type of spinach with a slightly sour taste. It grows as a ground cover and, thanks to its salt tolerance, also grows well near the coast. Ideal for direct sowing or pre-cultivation, pot cultivation possible, sowing spring-summer, good for mixed culture, harvest the fresh leaves as spinach.

 Description 
New Zealand spinach is a perennial, frost-sensitive and heat-tolerant, mild type of spinach and medicinal plant that originally grows on the coasts of New Zealand, Australia and Tasmania. It is very salt-tolerant and is therefore suitable for cultivation near the coast, which is why this species now grows wild in many coastal countries. The robust plant initially grows slowly, later increasing in size and branching, bushy or covering the ground like a carpet. The triangular, fleshy leaves can be harvested at any time and have a stronger and slightly sour taste than conventional spinach. It can be eaten raw or cooked and was previously used as a remedy for scurvy.

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

pH value: 6.5 to 7.5

 Sowing and planting information 
Germination 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

Germination ability of seeds: 4-5 years

 Mixed culture 
Optimal mixed culture: Lettuce, Radish, Tomato, Cauliflower, Kohlrabi, Gooseberry, Phlox, Poppy
Unfavorable mixed culture: -

 Sowing by climate zone 
Subtropic climate (Mediterranean) (e. g. B. Portugal, Spain, Italy)
Direct sowing is possible from April to September. Pre-cultivation from March to September is recommended. The ideal location for the plants is warm and sunny.
Moderate climate (e. g. B. Germany, Switzerland, Poland)
Pre-cultivation from March to June is recommended. The ideal location for the plants is warm and sunny.

 General recommendations 
Depending on the climate, direct sowing or pre-cultivation followed by planting at the specified planting distance is recommended. For pre-cultivation, sow the seeds in a small bowl and allow the seedlings to grow until the first visible spinach leaves appear, then transplant them into the desired containers. After transplanting, allow the seedlings to grow at moderate temperatures until they are planted out as seedlings. Plant the seedlings in the bed from the second pair of leaves after the cotyledons.
New Zealand spinach does not tolerate waterlogging.

 Additional tips 
Cutting the shoot tips causes new shoots to sprout, which means the plants form more leaves. If the temperature is too cold, the plants show little growth. In order to quickly obtain a fine, crumbly and permeable soil with good nutrient and water storage capacity, it is recommended to add biochar and primary rock flour.

 Type of propagation 
Propagation occurs via seeds.

 Plant care 
Occasional weeding helps the slowly developing young plants to grow. Loosened, nutrient-rich and moist soil is sufficient. No fertilization necessary.

 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

 Origin 
Country: Portugal