60 days. Tetragonia tetragonoides. Open Pollinated. New Zealand Spinach. The plant produces excellent yields of very flavorful, distinctive arrowhead-shaped, lime-green leaves. A popular spinach variety, prized for its ability to produce continuously in hot climates. It is not true spinach, but the leaves taste similar to spinach, and some people think they taste better. It produces small, thick, tender, dark green triangular leaves. Perfect for stir-fry, spinach pies, and garlicky spinach recipes. The more you cut them, the more they will produce. This variety produces year-round, from spring to fall. Unlike regular spinach, it thrives in hot summers and tolerates drought. Heat Tolerant. Drought Tolerant. Botanist Sir Joseph Banks collected it during Captain Cook’s 1768–1771 voyage and introduced it to European gardens as a warm-weather alternative to spinach. An excellent choice for home gardens. United States Department of Agriculture, PI 597641. A 1772 heirloom from New Zealand.
Seeds Per Pound: 6,400
Plant Height: 12 to 24” Tall
Planting Season: Spring/Fall
Sunlight Requirement: Full Sun/Partial Shade
Planting Method: Direct Sow
Note: New Zealand spinach seeds require a lot of heat to germinate, so start them inside or wait until May or June to plant outside. Soak the small, hard seed overnight before planting.