Not a true spinach but a sprawling, heat-tolerant substitute, New Zealand spinach is low-risk for seed saving -- the main quirk is its hard, woody seed capsule, which benefits from nicking or soaking before the next sowing to germinate reliably.
New to terms like isolation distance or outcrossing? See the Seed-Saving Glossary.
Seed-Saving Difficulty
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Safe to Save
Low crossing risk.
How It's Pollinated
Self-pollinating, with some wind assistance
(Low crossing risk)
Scientific name: Tetragonia tetragonioides
Domestic Crops It Can Cross With
- Minimal crossing between NZ spinach plants
Wild Relatives & Feral Species
- Naturalised coastal populations exist in some regions and are the same species -- could cross if growing nearby
Separation Distances Required
Minimum: 50m as good practice
Recommended: 100m if naturalised plants grow nearby
Strict: Not usually needed
Seed-Saving Strategies
- Allow the small horned seed capsules to dry and turn brown and woody on the plant
- Collect capsules once fully dry -- each contains several seeds
- Nick or soak the hard seed coat before sowing next season to improve germination
- Store dry -- viable 4-5 years