Chenopodium foliosum - Strawberry Spinach

The Red Strawberry Spinach, or leafy goosefoot, in Latin Chenopodium foliosum or Blitum virgatum, is an original, decorative, and edible annual plant. It has triangular dentate leaves and produces red fruits that resemble raspberries. These are bright red clusters assembled in groups of 3 to 5 in the axils of the leaves. They are harvested from August to October. Its young leaves can be consumed raw or cooked, similar to spinach. The fruits, which are also edible, have a flavour similar to red beets. However, caution should be taken not to consume too large quantities of leaves and fruits, as they contain a high amount of saponin and oxalic acid.

The Red Strawberry Spinach forms a 30 to 60-cm bush in one season. You can sow this unique plant for the first time from March to May to enjoy its leaves and fruits from spring to autumn. Afterwards, the Red Strawberry Spinach will self-seed very spontaneously if you forget some berries on the branches. It is not demanding and can also be grown in pots on the balcony.

It is an original and tasty vegetable herb that can be prepared in a thousand ways: the leaves can be consumed raw in spring salads, in mixed greens, in Japanese fritters, quickly cooked in a wok, or even in a savoury tart with small pieces of goat cheese or salmon. The fruits enhance sweet salads.

The Red Strawberry Spinach is native to Eurasia. It is easy to grow and adapt to all types of soil as long as it is not too dry and is allowed to grow in the sun. It can be cultivated in pots on a balcony or terrace. Spinach appreciates consistent, moist, rich soils, especially nitrogen and potassium.

Harvest: Harvest the young leaves as needed. The same goes for the fruits.

Storage: The leaves do not keep well in the refrigerator as they tend to become soft. It is best to consume them soon after harvest. However, you can freeze them after blanching them for 3 minutes in salted boiling water. As for the fruits, you can let them dry in a dry and ventilated place. They can enhance a fruit salad or release their fragrance in potpourri.

Gardener's tip: The Red Strawberry Spinach thrives among rows of chicory and lettuce, which reciprocate the favour.