Warrigal Greens

Warrigal Greens—sometimes called New Zealand Spinach—are a fantastic heat-hardy alternative to spinach that’s native to coastal Australia and New Zealand. They’re productive, low-fuss, and salt-tolerant, and they’ll keep growing right through the warmer months when regular spinach wilts in protest. Let’s get stuck into how to grow them from seed in your own patch.

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🧺 Sowing Warrigal Greens: Trays vs Direct

Warrigal Greens have a tough little seed coat, which makes them a bit slow to get going, but don’t let that put you off. With a bit of patience (and a soak beforehand), they’ll reward you with a steady supply of leafy greens all season long.

Starting in Trays

If you’re aiming for maximum germination, trays are a reliable way to go. Here’s why and how:

• Why trays? You can control the environment better—great if you’re in a colder area or want to avoid transplanting gaps.
• How to sow: Soak seeds in water overnight to soften the tough coat. Then sow into seed trays or punnets filled with quality seed-raising mix, around 5mm deep.
• Position: Keep them warm—around 18–24°C is ideal. A sunny windowsill or heated propagator works well.
• Germination time: Be patient—it can take 10–20 days, sometimes longer.
• Transplanting: Once seedlings are sturdy with 4+ true leaves, you can harden them off and plant them into the garden.

Direct Sowing

Warrigal Greens also grow well when sown direct, especially once the soil has warmed up in late spring or early summer.

• How to sow: Sow soaked seeds directly into prepared soil, spaced about 30–40cm apart. Sow 2–3 seeds per spot and thin to the strongest.
• Timing: Wait until danger of frost has passed and the soil is consistently warm.

✨ Jacqueline’s tip: Sow a few in trays and a few direct to hedge your bets—great for unpredictable spring weather!

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🌊 Seed Pre-treatment

Warrigal greens have a hard seed coat, and they do benefit from a bit of a helping hand to germinate evenly. Before sowing, soak the seeds in warm water for 12–24 hours. This softens the coat and encourages quicker germination. If you skip this step, don’t worry—they’ll still sprout eventually, but it might take longer.

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🌞 Soil & Position

Warrigal Greens are unfussy, but they’ll really take off with a bit of love.

• Soil: Well-drained, fertile soil with plenty of organic matter. They’re not heavy feeders, but do appreciate compost worked in beforehand.
• pH: Neutral to slightly alkaline (around 6.5–7.5).
• Position: Full sun to part shade. In very hot climates, some afternoon shade will stop them from getting stressed.
• Water: Once established, they’re quite drought-tolerant, but consistent moisture will keep the leaves lush and tender.

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🌿 Care & Maintenance

Warrigal Greens are a ‘set and forget’ type of plant once they get going, but a little attention goes a long way:

• Mulch: Apply a thick layer of straw or sugarcane mulch to suppress weeds and retain moisture.
• Watering: Water deeply but less often. Overwatering can lead to fungal problems.
• Feeding: A liquid feed of seaweed or compost tea every few weeks will keep plants productive.
• Pruning: Regular harvesting encourages a bushy habit and prevents sprawling.

They’ll scramble happily if given space—ideal for trailing down walls, over rocks, or even in hanging baskets!

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🌼 Companion Planting Guide

Warrigal Greens aren’t fussy about neighbours, but here are some friends they get along with:

Good Companions	Why?
Sweet corn	Provides shade in hot climates
Capsicum and chillies	Share similar growing needs
Tomatoes	Upright growth keeps things tidy
Herbs like basil	Attract beneficial insects

Avoid planting with: other groundcovers or vigorous creepers—space competition can become an issue.

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✂️ Harvesting Warrigal Greens

Once plants are about 15–20cm tall, you can start picking. Always harvest young, tender leaves for the best texture and flavour.

• How to harvest: Use scissors or pinch out the growing tips to promote bushier growth.
• Frequency: Pick often! The more you harvest, the more it grows.
• Note: Leaves contain oxalates—like silverbeet or rhubarb—so always blanch the leaves for 1–2 minutes before eating, especially if you’re eating a lot of it.

🥬 Fun fact: Warrigal Greens were used by early European settlers to help prevent scurvy—just another reason to add them to your garden!

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🐛 Common Issues & Fixes

Here’s a quick troubleshooting table to help you along:

Issue	Symptom	Fix
Slow or patchy germination	Seeds not sprouting	Soak seeds overnight; keep soil warm and moist
Yellowing leaves	Overwatering or poor soil	Improve drainage; reduce watering; add compost
Spindly growth	Too much shade	Move to a sunnier spot or prune surrounding plants
Holes in leaves	Snails or caterpillars	Handpick pests; apply crushed eggshells or neem spray
Powdery mildew (rare)	White patches on leaves	Improve airflow; water early in the day; remove affected leaves

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🌼 Seed Saving Guide

Saving seed from Warrigal Greens is a great way to keep your patch going year after year—plus, it’s super easy.

What to Look For:

• Flowers: Small, yellow-green and not very showy, they appear on mature plants in summer.
• Seed development: After flowering, small triangular seeds form at the stem joints and along the branches. They’re ready when dry and papery.

How to Save:

1. Let plants flower and go to seed naturally.
2. Harvest when seeds are dry on the plant—they should rub off easily.
3. Dry seeds further indoors on a tray or paper bag for 1–2 weeks to avoid mould.
4. Clean by rubbing off any husks.
5. Label and store in a paper envelope in a cool, dry place. They’ll stay viable for up to 5 years if kept well.

🪴 Jacqueline’s tip: Leave a few plants to sprawl and self-seed—they’ll often pop up next season with no extra effort.

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💚 Final Thoughts

Warrigal Greens are one of those delightfully underrated edibles that deserve a spot in every Aussie garden. Whether you’re growing in coastal sand, fertile loam, or even a big pot, this native spinach alternative is hardy, productive, and wonderfully low-maintenance. They’ll thrive with just a bit of sun, a splash of water, and regular harvests.

They’re a brilliant choice for new gardeners (especially if you’re after something you can pick often), and they slot in beautifully to edible landscapes, permaculture zones, and mixed veggie beds.

So if you’ve got a sunny corner, tuck in a few seeds—and let Warrigal Greens do what they do best: grow, sprawl, and feed your kitchen through the long warm months ahead. 🌿

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