General
New Zealand spinach belongs to the ice plant family and is native to Australia as well as Japan. Unlike regular spinach, it doesn't bolt in the summer heat.
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Facts and figures
Times
Direct sowing from Late April to Late May. Transplant to bed from Mid May to Mid June. Pre-grow about 60 days before planting out, approximately between Mid March and Mid April. After a growing period of 120 days, harvest can begin around Mid July and continues until Late October.
Sowing and planting
From mid to late April you can sow directly outdoors. If you start plants indoors, don't plant them out until after the last frost, around mid-May.
Location and soil
It likes a humus-rich soil in a sunny, warm spot. It also loves moisture – moist soil as well as high humidity. A greenhouse offers ideal conditions.
Neighbourhood
Tomatoes, spinach, cauliflower, lettuce and radishes have all proven to be good neighbours. You can plant it as a ground cover under tomatoes, outdoors just as well as in a greenhouse. It feels right at home in a greenhouse anyway. This protects the tomatoes from soil-borne diseases like late blight.
Crop rotation
Crop rotation is almost a non-issue here, since New Zealand spinach isn't related to any other plant family we commonly grow. Just don't plant it in the same spot where it grew the year before.
Care and fertilising
Snip off a few shoot tips now and then to encourage better branching. Water regularly – that matters. Feeding isn't strictly necessary. You could occasionally water with a plant brew or fermented plant feed.
Harvest and processing
You can and should harvest regularly by picking a few shoot tips and leaves up to the size of spinach leaves. Regularly means at least about once a week – that way the leaves stay nice and tender. If you harvest too infrequently, the leaves turn tough. You can use the leaves just like spinach. Tender leaves cut into strips also work well in a salad. Three to four plants are enough for a family of four.