Tetragonia tetragonoides

It is a vigorous annual vegetable plant that resembles spinach and has a unique iodized flavour. It has the particularity of being heat resistant and can be cooked like spinach. The sowing period extends from March to June for a harvest from July to October.

The New Zealand spinach is not, from a botanical point of view, an actual spinach but rather a distinct species also known as 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 4 sides.

Commonly grown in traditional vegetable gardens, Tetragonia seems to be making a comeback in recent years because, in terms of flavour, it is far from being a pale imitation of spinach: it is similar but its leaves are fleshy and have a very interesting hint of iodine. Many chefs have been incorporating it into their menus in recent years.

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

It is a plant that develops quite rapidly and, when fully mature, forms a spreading tuft that can reach up to 60cm (24in) in height. 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, allowing the heart of the plant to continue developing and producing new leaves.

Storage: New Zealand spinach does not keep well in the refrigerator as it tends to become soft. It is best consumed a few hours after harvest. However, it can be frozen after blanching for 3 minutes in salted boiling water.

Gardener's tip: To limit watering, we recommend that once the soil has warmed up, you mulch the soil with thin successive layers of grass clippings, if possible mixed with dead leaves. This protective layer helps keep the soil moist and also reduces weed growth.