I am growing New Zealand Spinach for the first time this year.
Wow! It grows like crazy, and nothing seems to bother it at all. I have about 10 feet of it going, and I harvest every day. It's unstoppable. I wish I had pictures, but my digital camera is STILL in the shop.
I am very enthusiastic about this vegetable. I eat it raw in salads and stir-fried. Unfortunately, I seem to be the only person in my circle of friends who is fond of eating it. I regularly share my veggies with friends and co-workers since I live alone and can only eat so much - nobody ever asks for more NZ spinach though. One of my friends teased me that I was giving her weeds (she is cut off from all freebies for the rest of the season....hrmph! haha).
Anybody else grow this or is fond of it?
(edited because I can't spell)
This message was edited Jun 1, 2007 7:12 PM
New Zealand Spinach Fans?
Well, we've got to admit that New Zealand Spinach is not tomatoes and this is the Tomato Forum, LOL, but yes, I've grown it and don't like it at all. I don't like the taste or consistency. There are several other spinach substittues that Iv'e grown and I don't like them either.
Give me regular spinach or no spinach at all, say I.
Well, you did ask. ( smile)
Carolyn
Oops! - I clicked the wrong button!! hahahaha
I'll see if someone can move it over
(thanks Carolyn)
Never tried it.
I like swiss chard cooked instead of spinach. Grows all summer, at least here, instead of Spinach, which is just spring or maybe fall. Haven't tried it in salads.
I also like lamb's quarter cooked and raw. Tender cooked even tho you expect it to be tough. I can harvest it longer than spinach. Plants itself, maybe a little too well.
It comes back every year and is quite pretty. Here's my little patch but the DW doesn't care for it.
Yay - that looks just like mine! Isn't it great?
So you just leave it and it dies in winter and returns in spring? You don't have to rotate the location? If that's the case I'll make a bed outside of the main garden just for it.
Yep, it dies in the winter and returns in spring -- don't know if it's from seeds or roots?
My MIL just told me about this spinach and we hope to grow it here. Just need to find the seeds now. I'm excited. She loves it. And we love the same stuff, so I'm looking forward to growing it. I hear it will even withstand our super hot summers. yea!!
Cajun2 - I got mine from http://rareseeds.com/seeds/Spinach
Do I understand correctly that the New Zealand spinach dies and then comes back in spring? I thought it was just a summer vegetable.
Chico- It comes back here every year but your zone may be a tad cooler. I'm thinking it re-seeds because I read it's only hardy to zone 9. http://www.pfaf.org/database/plants.php?Tetragonia+tetragonoides
edited for typo.
This message was edited Jun 3, 2007 3:19 PM
OK-thanks!
I find it kind of invasive and tasty. it comes back every year here in PA. this year, I hoed the ground, planted pac choi, weeded.. and then when it got warm it came back (photo). I have cleared it from beds at the school so it isn't too invasive??????
staff at the school love it and buy it to use fresh and cook with it. I cook with it in anything in which I would consider putting regular spinach. havn't been brave enough to use it as a salad.
the seeds are large and thorny... always of interest to the students
good luck
here's the photo
How large should it be before you use it? This is my first stab at it and I don't want to let it go too long. And I sur the heck can't tell anything by looking at it. It really does looklike a weed!
Interesting... Does it taste like spinach? I'm curious about the taste.. If it taste like spinach, I'll grow it too.. So, can someone tell me how it compares to spinach?
I'm told "not"! Will let you know very soon!
I would say no to tasting like real spinach, however, I was just greeted by a staff member who bought some from my students and she was raving about how tasty it was. Most who have bought it, want more, and since it is kind-of-weedy.... it is a money maker at the school.
as to when to harvest... it produces little yellow blooms, always thought them nondescript but maybe macro would do wonders, or even taking a close look with my own eye. I try to cut them before they flower because the buds/seeds are not something I desire getting into my scrambled eggs (that's what I did this weekend along with a red onion and mint from the garden). I grab a tip of a vine, pull gently and cut a piece 4-5 inches long. that's what I do.