Tetragonia tetragonoides
| Tetragonia tetragonoides | |
| Light: |  |
| Moisture: |   |
| Hardiness: | 9 |
| Soil pH: | 5.6-8.4 |
| Evergreen | |
| Height: | 1' |
| Width: | 3' |
| Speed: | Fast |
| Native to: | |
| Edible Rating: |  |
| Tea: | Yes |
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Tetragonia tetragonoides (common name: new zealand spinach)
Propagation: Seed - sow early to mid spring in a greenhouse. When they are large enough to handle, prick the seedlings out into individual pots and plant them out after the last expected frost[1].
Seed can also be sown in situ in late spring, though this will not generally make such good plants[1][K].
The seed can be slow to germinate, soaking in warm water for 24 hours prior to sowing may help[1][2].
Cultivation: Easily grown in the garden[3], it prefers a light soil in a sunny position[4][5] and thrives in dry soils[1]. It grows best in a good rich soil[6]. Once established, the plants tolerate drought[2]. Plants are very tolerant of hot, dry conditions but cannot tolerate frost[2]. Although very drought tolerant, the plants produce a better quality crop if they are given some water in dry weather[7].
New Zealand spinach is occasionally cultivated in gardens for its edible leaves, it is an excellent spinach substitute for hot dry weather conditions[8]. A perennial plant in its native habitat, but it is usually killed by the cold in British winters and so is grown as an annual[7]. In the Tropics it is occasionally cultivated in the cool season as a spinach[7].
Range: Australia to New Zealand.
Habitat: Coastal sand dunes and stony beaches on North South and Stewart Islands of New Zealand[9]. Sheltered beaches, salt marshes and arid plains in Australia[3].
Edibility: Leaves - raw or cooked. A spinach substitute[8], the shoot tips are harvested when about 8cm long, this encourages plenty of side growth with lots more shoots to harvest[7]. A delicious substitute for spinach, the very young leaves and shoots can also be eaten raw in salads[3][7]. The young leaves are best, older leaves developing an acrid taste.
Soil: Can grow in light and medium soils.
Drainage: Prefers well drained soil.
Wind: Tolerates maritime wind exposure
Flower Type: Hermaphrodite
Also Known As: T. expansa. Murray.
Links
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 Organ, John. Rare Vegetables for Garden and Table. Faber, 1960.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Huxley, Anthony. The New Royal Horticultural Society Dictionary of Gardening. MacMillan Press, 1992.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Low, Tim. Wild Food Plants of Australia. Angus and Robertson, 1989.
- ↑ Simons, Arthur. New Vegetable Growers Handbook. Penguin, 1977.
- ↑ Thompson, Robert. The Gardener's Assistant. Blackie and Son, 1878.
- ↑ Chittendon, Fred. RHS Dictionary of Plants. Oxford University Press, 1951.
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 Phillips, Roger and Martyn Rix. Vegetables. Macmillan Reference Books, 1995.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Facciola, Stephen. Cornucopia - A Source Book of Edible Plants. Kampong Publications, 1990.
- ↑ Allan, Harry. Flora of New Zealand. Government Printer Publications, 1961.