Spinach- New Zealand
Tetragonia tetragonioides
Also called Botany Bay Spinach, Cook's cabbage, Kokihi, sea spinach, Warrigal Greens and Warrigal Cabbage, New Zealand spinach is a tender semi-perennial vegetable, cultivated in South-East Asia, New Zealand, and Austailia, . It is a low-growing, leafy plant with weak stems that can spread several feet wide and rise to a height of one foot. It has light to dark green leaves that are pyramidal to elliptical in shape. New Zealand spinach leaves are fuzzier and narrower than normal spinach leaves, with a slight salty taste. New Zealand spinach likes sandy soil, is a halophyte, meaning it can handle salty conditions, and spreads easily by seed and cuttings. Tiny yellow flowers, unique leaves, and conical capsules with horns, makes New Zealand spinach very distinct in rest of the world.
Days to germination |
7-21 days |
Days to maturity |
55-65 days |
Life cycle |
Semi-Perennial, Warm Weather Annual |
Plant time |
Late Winter, through Late Summer |
Spacing |
12-14 inches |
Sun |
Full sun |
Soil temperature |
60-75 F |
Optimum soil P.H |
6.8 -7.0 |
Height |
10-12 inches |
Harvest |
Year round if no frost |