New Zealand Spinach Planting Guide
New Zealand spinach is a heat-tolerant ground-cover plant with thick, triangular leaves that taste similar to true spinach. It thrives in hot weather when regular spinach bolts.
Tetragonia tetragonioides · Vegetable · Aizoaceae family · 55–70 days to maturity
Get Your Personalized New Zealand Spinach Planting Dates
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Where Can You Grow New Zealand Spinach?
New Zealand Spinach Growing Regions
Click any state to see the New Zealand Spinach planting schedule for that location.
Planting Dates by Zone
| Zone | Start Indoors | Direct Sow | Transplant | Harvest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 5a | Feb 28 | May 2 | May 9 | Jul 4 – Aug 1 |
| Zone 5b | Feb 21 | Apr 25 | May 2 | Jun 27 – Jul 25 |
| Zone 6a | Feb 13 | Apr 17 | Apr 24 | Jun 19 – Jul 17 |
| Zone 6b | Feb 6 | Apr 10 | Apr 17 | Jun 12 – Jul 10 |
| Zone 7a | Feb 4 | Apr 1 | Apr 8 | Jun 3 – Jul 1 |
| Zone 7b | Jan 28 | Mar 25 | Apr 1 | May 27 – Jun 24 |
| Zone 8a | Jan 18 | Mar 15 | Mar 22 | May 17 – Jun 14 |
| Zone 8b | Jan 7 | Mar 4 | Mar 11 | May 6 – Jun 3 |
| Zone 9a | Dec 30 | Feb 10 | Feb 17 | Apr 14 – May 12 |
| Zone 9b | Dec 14 | Jan 25 | Feb 1 | Mar 29 – Apr 26 |
| Zone 10a | Nov 20 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Mar 5 – Apr 2 |
| Zone 10b | Nov 20 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Mar 5 – Apr 2 |
| Zone 11a | Nov 20 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Mar 5 – Apr 2 |
| Zone 11b | Nov 20 | Jan 1 | Jan 8 | Mar 5 – Apr 2 |
How to Plant New Zealand Spinach
Growing Conditions
☀️ Sun
Full Sun (6-8+ hours)
💧 Water
Moderate — regular watering
Water when the top inch of soil feels dry. Consistent moisture produces the best results.
🧪 Soil pH
6 – 7.5
Prefers neutral to slightly acidic soil — ideal for most garden beds.
🗺️ Hardiness Zones
Zone 5a – 11b
📅 Days to Maturity
55–70 days
Quick-growing crop. Multiple plantings per season are possible.
👪 Plant Family
Aizoaceae
Rotate with other families yearly to prevent soil-borne diseases. Don't plant in the same spot where Aizoaceae family crops grew last year.
Succession Planting New Zealand Spinach
New Zealand Spinach matures in just 55–70 days, making it ideal for succession planting. In a typical 180-day growing season, you can get up to 3 successive plantings by sowing every 6.3 weeks.
Your actual succession count depends on your local frost dates. Enter your ZIP code to get personalized succession planting dates for your area.
Companion Planting for New Zealand Spinach
✅ Good Companions
Check more combinations with our Companion Planting Checker →
Growing Tips for New Zealand Spinach
Soak seeds overnight before planting. Direct sow after last frost. Pinch growing tips regularly to encourage bushy growth and tender new leaves.
Saving New Zealand Spinach Seeds
Recommended for Your Garden
Start seeds indoors with reusable cell trays and humidity domes.
Test your soil pH, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium levels before planting.
Keep your garden organized with durable, weather-resistant plant labels.
Level Up Your Garden
New Zealand Spinach by State
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to grow New Zealand Spinach?
New Zealand Spinach (Tetragonia tetragonioides) takes 55 to 70 days from planting to harvest. Exact timing depends on your variety, growing conditions, and USDA zone.
What zones can New Zealand Spinach grow in?
New Zealand Spinach can be grown in USDA zones 5a through 11b. Use the planting calendar above to find the exact dates for your zone.
How much sun does New Zealand Spinach need?
Growing New Zealand Spinach requires Full Sun (6-8+ hours), Moderate — regular watering, and soil pH of 6 to 7.5.