New Zealand Spinach (Tetragonia tetragoniodes)

New Zealand Spinach (Tetragonia tetragoniodes): This ancient spinach from the southern hemisphere has important botanical characteristics. As it is a perennial plant that does not have the problem of producing seeds the onset of heat, it can be grown all year round, sowing from March to September.

On the other hand, it does not tolerate the bitter cold of northern Italy well, while it grows fast in the southernmost regions. In the rest of the Italian regions it can be cultivated as an annual.

It has prostrate habit and whitstands the winter , it will behave like a groundcover variety. Germination is a bit difficult, it is advisable to leave the seed to soak for 24 hours or more before sowing. The leaves are collected by cutting them, without uprooting the plant, which will grow them again for new harvests.

To tell us about the spread of this species, the words of the the site Piante in Viaggio (Plants in Travel) : "This particular species, Tetragonia tetragonioides, belonging to a family (Aizoaceae) typical of the southern hemisphere, was consumed only occasionally by the indigenous New Zealanders, the Maori. But when the hungry European sailors landed on the shores of the islands of the antipodes, in the year of grace 1769, they wasted no time collecting, cooking and stockpiling this species of spinach. And the seeds were readily harvested. It was therefore Josepk Banks, the distinguished botanist who accompanied Captain James Cook on his first southern expedition, who introduced us to Tetragonia tetragonioides, to the point that this Aizoacea ended up being more appreciated and consumed in Europe than in its homeland. But in the meantime, that time, tthe crew of the Endeavour were spared the danger of scurvy. Source: http://www.pianteinviaggio.it/index.php/en/le-piante-protagoniste/item/323-spinacio-della-nuova-zelanda-la-bietola-del-capitano-cook