How to grow new zealand spinach
Tetragonia tetragonioides · Aizoaceae · Vegetable
When to plant new zealand spinach: the short answer
Start seeds indoors about 4 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 1 week after it; sow outdoors about 1 week after the last frost. Wait until the soil is at least 65°F; new zealand spinach sprout fastest near 75°F.
Zone 5: plant out Apr 30 – May 17. Zone 7: plant out Apr 5 – Apr 22. Zone 9: plant out Feb 20 – Mar 9. See every zone.
New Zealand Spinach is a warm-season vegetable in the Aizoaceae family, grown either from a direct sowing or from transplants. It wants full sun, though it tolerates a little afternoon shade in hot regions and steady, even moisture. From sowing to first pick is about 50–70 days. It shrugs off a light frost but a hard freeze will damage it.
Grower’s note: A sprawling, drought- and heat-tolerant stand-in for spinach through summer. Soak the hard seed 24 hours before sowing. Pick the tender shoot tips and it keeps branching; it self-seeds freely. Blanch briefly before eating to cut the oxalates.
Sowing
Sow about 0.75″ deep, into soil between 65–85°F — germination is quickest near 75°F. It is slow and often erratic to germinate (10–21 days). For an early crop, start seed indoors about 4 weeks before your last spring frost and grow it under bright light.
Spacing & layout
Give each plant about 12″ along the row with roughly 24″ between rows. On a square-foot grid that is 1 per square foot. Allow at least 12″ of loose, workable soil for the roots. It grows well in containers at least 12″ deep.
Fitting it to your season
New Zealand Spinach needs roughly 50–70 frost-free days to crop. Where the season is shorter than that, start it indoors and choose the earliest-maturing varieties, or grow it in a container you can move under cover on cold nights. In long, hot-summer regions it can often be planted twice — once in spring and again in mid-to-late summer for a fall harvest.
Quick facts
Growth stages: how long new zealand spinach takes to grow
From sowing to first harvest takes roughly 50-70 days (7-10 weeks), with seedlings appearing after 10-21 days in soil around 75°F.
When to plant new zealand spinach
When to plant new zealand spinach by USDA zone
Dates worked out from each zone’s typical frost dates for 2026. Find your zone on the zone map, or pick your state below for dates from its own frost dates. Zones 11 and above are frost-free, so timing there depends on heat and rain instead.
| Zone | Last / first frost | Start indoors | Sow or plant out |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 3 | May 15 / Sep 15 | Apr 10 – Apr 24 | May 15 – Jun 1 |
| Zone 4 | May 10 / Sep 25 | Apr 5 – Apr 19 | May 10 – May 27 |
| Zone 5 | Apr 30 / Oct 5 | Mar 26 – Apr 9 | Apr 30 – May 17 |
| Zone 6 | Apr 15 / Oct 15 | Mar 11 – Mar 25 | Apr 15 – May 2 |
| Zone 7 | Apr 5 / Oct 25 | Mar 1 – Mar 15 | Apr 5 – Apr 22 |
| Zone 8 | Mar 20 / Nov 5 | Feb 13 – Feb 27 | Mar 20 – Apr 6 |
| Zone 9 | Feb 20 / Nov 30 | Jan 16 – Jan 30 | Feb 20 – Mar 9 |
| Zone 10 | Jan 30 / Dec 15 | Dec 26 – Jan 9 | Jan 30 – Feb 16 |
Companions
No strong companions recorded.
No strong antagonists recorded.
Common problems
Pests: leaf miner.
Diseases & disorders: downy mildew.
Questions gardeners ask
When should I plant new zealand spinach?
Start seeds indoors about 4 weeks before your last spring frost; plant out about 1 week after it; sow outdoors about 1 week after the last frost. Wait until the soil is at least 65°F. The table on this page gives dates for each USDA zone, and the planting calendar gives dates for your own state or ZIP code.
How long does new zealand spinach take to grow?
About 50-70 days from sowing to the first harvest. Seeds germinate in 10-21 days, fastest in soil around 75°F.
How much sun does new zealand spinach need?
It needs six or more hours of sun for the best growth, though four to six hours in partial shade is enough.
What soil pH does new zealand spinach need?
A soil pH between 6.0 and 7.5. Test before adding lime or sulfur - see the soil pH and testing guide.
How far apart should I plant new zealand spinach?
Space plants about 12 inches apart in rows 24 inches apart, or 1 per square foot in a square-foot bed. Sow seeds about 0.75 inch deep.
Can I grow new zealand spinach in a container?
Yes. Use a container at least 12 inches deep with drainage holes and a good potting mix, and water more often than you would in the ground.
Figures are typical home-garden ranges from Cooperative Extension planting guides, cross-checked against multiple state sources. Your variety and conditions will vary.