Tetragonia tetragonioides

New Zealand Spinach, also known as Tetragonia tetragonioides, is a vigorous vegetable plant that resembles Spinach while offering a unique iodized flavour. It is not afraid of heat or drought and can be cooked just like Spinach. The sowing period extends from March to May for a harvest from July to October.

New Zealand Spinach is not, from a botanical point of view, a spinach but rather a distinct species called Tetragonia. It is an annual vegetable plant that belongs to the Aizoaceae family, which usually includes plants that are highly resistant to drought. It gets its name from Tetragonia due to the shape of its seeds, which have four sides.

Commonly grown in traditional vegetable gardens, Tetragonia seems to be making a comeback in recent years because, in terms of flavour, it is not a pale imitation of Spinach: it is similar but its leaves are fleshier and have a unique iodized taste. Many Chefs have been incorporating it into their menus in recent years.

In the kitchen, Tetragonia is prepared and consumed raw or cooked, in salads, steamed, or quickly sautéed in a pan. It is a vegetable rich in vitamin C and minerals.

This plant develops quite rapidly to form a spreading clump that can reach up to 60cm (24in) in height when mature. Its leaves are triangular and particularly large. Unlike Spinach, it does not easily go to seed, even during episodes of intense heat.

Harvest: The harvest of New Zealand Spinach takes place approximately 3 months after sowing, leaf by leaf, depending on their growth and needs. The outer leaves are cut, leaving the heart intact, which continues to develop and produce new leaves.

Storage: New Zealand Spinach does not keep well in the refrigerator as it tends to become soft. It is best to consume it a few hours after harvesting. However, you can freeze it after blanching it for 3 minutes in salted boiling water.

Gardener's tip: To limit watering, we recommend that once the soil is well warmed up, you mulch the soil with thin successive layers of grass clippings, if possible mixed with dead leaves. This protection, which keeps the soil moist, also limits weed growth.