# How To Grow New Zealand Spinach

- Link: https://lifeandwork.blog/gardening-how-to-grow-new-zealand-spinach/
- Published: 2026-10-24T02:29:01-05:00
- Author: Bert Swope

If you’re thinking of growing your own spinach, you might be wondering How To Grow
New Zealand Spinach. Here are some growing tips: When and where to plant them. Also,
we’ll talk about which varieties are best. If you’re new to gardening, we recommend
starting with some basic gardening knowledge. Here are the key points to remember
when growing spinach from seed. Read on to learn more! This is a great resource 
for any vegetable lover!

## Where to Plant New Zealand Spinach

If you’re looking to grow your own New Zealand spinach, you’re probably wondering
where to plant it. This cool-season alternative grows well in warm, dry climates.
To grow New Zealand spinach, start seeds by soaking them in water for 24 hours. 
Then, plant them in the garden about three to four weeks before the last frost. 
After thinning, plant New Zealand spinach seeds half an inch deep in a well-drained,
moist soil. Space the plants approximately 12 inches apart, and water the new leaves
consistently. Fertilizers high in nitrogen can help to start the plants earlier,
too.

New Zealand spinach seeds are similar to those for beets. They need to be soaked
in water at room temperature for 24 hours to improve germination. This step is crucial,
because New Zealand spinach seeds are tender and cannot withstand frost. Ideally,
they should be planted in hills of three. This spinach plant can grow on trellises,
and can also spread as a ground cover. If you’re planting seeds in a pot, it will
take about seven days for the seedlings to germinate.

## When to Plant New Zealand Spinach

You can start planting your New Zealand spinach seeds in the spring after the last
frost date. The seeds are similar to those of beets, so it helps to soak them in
water at room temperature for 24 hours before sowing them. Once the seeds are planted,
they should be spaced at least 10 inches apart and in hills of three. New Zealand
spinach grows on trellises or spreads out as a ground cover.

When to plant New Zealand spinach in containers, you should keep in mind that it
will quickly take over the container. You can plant a seedling in a 10″ deep container,
but remember that it will not mature as quickly as a conventional plant. If you 
want to harvest the spinach sooner, you should prune it back to the lowest node.
Aside from pruning, you can mulch the soil to keep it moist and prevent it from 
drying out.

New Zealand spinach is hardy and requires plenty of water to grow. It needs adequate
nitrogen to keep its leaves healthy. If it gets too dry, it will bolt and develop
bitter leaves. Therefore, you should make sure that your soil is full of nutrients
and use about a quarter cup of 20-0-0 fertilizer per 10 foot row. Using a nitrogen
fertilizer will help to keep the plant from bolting too early. And remember to water
frequently if you want to reap the benefit of the spinach leaves.

## How to Plant New Zealand Spinach

To grow New Zealand spinach, prepare your soil by covering it with 4 inches of organic
compost or well-rotted manure. Sow seeds about 1/2 to one inch deep in the soil.
Space rows 45 cm apart and water the spinach seeds regularly. For fresh use, plant
two or three plants per person. If you intend to grow it for canning, plant six 
or eight plants. The leaves of the spinach plant are edible raw.

To start planting your New Zealand spinach, you can either sow the seeds directly
into the garden or sow them under a cloche. Sow the seeds 1/2 inch deep in loose
soil and cover them lightly. After thinning, space the spinach plants every 12 inches
apart. Water them consistently to ensure that the seeds germinate. You may also 
want to use a fertilizer high in nitrogen to start the plants earlier.

Choose the varieties you want to grow and water well before sowing them. Avoid those
with pale green leaves or broken leaves. The varieties that are suitable for winter
are Broad Leaved Prickly and Longstanding Winter (Prickly). You can also plant Greenmarket,
a deep-green variety with large, dark leaves, and Sigmaleaf, a round-seeded variety
suitable for spring and autumn sowing.

## Best Varieties Of New Zealand Spinach

The botanical name for New Zealand spinach is Tetragonia tetragonioides. It is not
related to the common spinach and is a member of the Aizoaceae family, the same 
as fig-marigolds and ice-plants. It was first cultivated in New Zealand in the 1770s
and was originally used by Captain James Cook on his voyages to avoid scurvy. While
its leaves resemble the regular kind, New Zealand spinach thrives in hot weather.

The best time to plant New Zealand spinach is in late spring or early summer, when
temperatures are consistently 60 degrees Fahrenheit. It can be started indoors about
two to three weeks before the last spring frost. Because it is not cold-hardy, it
will not tolerate frost, and therefore, is best planted when other spinach varieties
are too hot. The best time to plant New Zealand spinach is after other spinach varieties
have finished flowering.

The nutritional content of New Zealand spinach is very high. It contains a lot of
vitamin A, B1, and B2, and is low in fat and fiber. New Zealand spinach is widely
used as a salad green and is foraged locally. Many people still use it raw in salads.
When cooking, the leaves become more digestible and a better source of vitamins 
and minerals. When cooked, it even becomes edible.

## Watering New Zealand Spinach

Unlike other greens, New Zealand spinach produces leaves all summer long. This means
it will produce a steady supply of leaves throughout the growing season, although
it is frost tender and will die back if it receives too much cold. New Zealand spinach
plants grow between one and two feet high, with smooth savoy-type leaves. It needs
a sunny spot, and if it is grown in a southern climate, it will benefit from light
shading.

As a leafy green, the plant requires approximately 0.8 cups of water per day and
needs a 5.0 inch pot for optimal growth. If you have trouble estimating your watering
needs, try using a water calculator or the Greg app, which gives you personalized
recommendations based on your local climate and other factors. If you’re worried
about a particular plant’s specific needs, make sure you do a soil test first. This
will help you determine what type of fertilizer and watering schedules you need 
to provide the plant with maximum growth.

## Fertilizing New Zealand Spinach

Fertilizing your New Zealand spinach is an important step in growing your favorite
leafy green. The younger the leaves, the sweeter they will be, but if you prefer
a more bitter flavor, you can cut the entire plant back to the soil before harvesting.
Similarly, spinach needs plenty of water and sunlight. Fertilizing it will result
in bigger, greener leaves. Here are some basic tips to help you get started.

Soil Type: When growing New Zealand spinach, choose a well-draining soil. Avoid 
sandy soil. Instead, look for soil that drains well and contains a good amount of
organic matter. Organic matter is made up of compost-like substances that enhance
the fertility and water-retention capacity of your soil. Make sure to check your
soil pH level before planting. Soil with high levels of acidity is not ideal for
growing New Zealand spinach, but it will crop well in other soil types.

Planting: Since New Zealand spinach is not hardy, you can plant it in your garden
during the warmest part of spring. Sow seeds a few inches apart and cover them with
a half-inch layer of finely sifted soil. Fertilize the seeds once or twice with 
organic liquid fertilizer. Fertilize your New Zealand spinach plants regularly to
maximize their yield. Make sure you water them regularly to maintain a lush growth
habit.

## Pests And Diseases Of New Zealand Spinach

The New Zealand Spinach plant is tolerant of drought, but it produces best when 
watered regularly. To help prevent weeds and retain moisture, cover the area with
mulch. Sow seeds about 45 cm apart. For small-sized plants, 30 cm (1′) of space 
between rows is sufficient. Larger plants should be spaced about 60 cm (2′) apart,
while New Zealand spinach should be planted 90 cm (3′) apart.

The spinach plant is especially susceptible to disease and pests. The most common
are slugs and millepedes. Millepedes feed on the roots of seedlings and young plants.
While both species of these pests are difficult to control, both can be controlled
by applying gamma-HCH to the soil before sowing. Slugs are active during the night
and can cause damage to plants. Slug control can be accomplished by using a slug
trap and killing them daily.

The New Zealand spinach plant requires warm temperatures to thrive. For transplanting,
start the seeds in early May, when temperatures are consistently above 50 degrees
F (ten degrees C). Plant them in a spot where they can spread and won’t suffocate
other plants. Ensure that New Zealand spinach seeds are thoroughly moist before 
sowing. Also, apply a good quality organic liquid fertilizer, and be sure to plant
them in soil that is semi-fertile and deeply irrigated. Mulch heavily around the
plant to help retain moisture and suppress weeds.

## Harvesting New Zealand Spinach

Harvesting New Zealand spinach is simple. The spinach plant grows on a vine and 
is harvested when it has four or five leaves. Never harvest more than one-third 
of the plant, otherwise you risk damaging the plants. Remove the leaves from the
plant by soaking them in ice-cold water and removing any bugs. Store them in ziplock
bags lined with a wet paper towel. If you do not use all of the leaves, you can 
freeze them and eat them later.

Once the spinach reaches maturity, you can harvest the younger leaves and growth
tips. New Zealand spinach continues to grow until the first hard frost. If you harvest
too early, you can cut back the plant to a single node, resulting in regrowth. This
method will produce fresh, tasty spinach that is highly nutritious. Once you have
harvested your first crop, you can save the seeds to use for another crop. You can
save these seeds for up to five years.

Grow New Zealand Spinach

### Share this:

 * [  Print ](https://lifeandwork.blog/gardening-how-to-grow-new-zealand-spinach/#print?share=print)
 * [More](https://lifeandwork.blog/gardening-how-to-grow-new-zealand-spinach/#)

 * [[
 * [Share on Tumblr](https://www.tumblr.com/share)
 * [  Email ](https://lifeandwork.blog/gardening-how-to-grow-new-zealand-spinach/?subject=%5BShared%20Post%5D%20How%20To%20Grow%20New%20Zealand%20Spinach&body=https%3A%2F%2Flifeandwork.blog%2Fgardening-how-to-grow-new-zealand-spinach%2F&share=email)
 * [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share)
 * [  Telegram ](https://lifeandwork.blog/gardening-how-to-grow-new-zealand-spinach/?share=telegram)
 * [  WhatsApp ](https://lifeandwork.blog/gardening-how-to-grow-new-zealand-spinach/?share=jetpack-whatsapp)
 * [  Reddit ](https://lifeandwork.blog/gardening-how-to-grow-new-zealand-spinach/?share=reddit)
 * [  Threads ](https://lifeandwork.blog/gardening-how-to-grow-new-zealand-spinach/?share=threads)
 * [  Mastodon ](https://lifeandwork.blog/gardening-how-to-grow-new-zealand-spinach/?share=mastodon)
 * [  Nextdoor ](https://lifeandwork.blog/gardening-how-to-grow-new-zealand-spinach/?share=nextdoor)
 * [Post](https://x.com/share)
 * [  Bluesky ](https://lifeandwork.blog/gardening-how-to-grow-new-zealand-spinach/?share=bluesky)

### _Related_