When to Plant Okinawa Spinach in Alice Springs, Arid / Semi-Arid Guide
What this month normally looks like in Arid / Semi-Arid
In October the Arid / Semi-Arid zone normally runs 32°C by day and 16°C overnight, with about 19 mm of rain over 2 or 3 wet days. The coldest October night on record across the zone was 1.9°C, so a late frost is not out of the question. Averages 1991 to 2026, 10 postcodes, SILO.
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This Okinawa Spinach guide is written for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, which takes in Alice Springs, Broken Hill and Port Augusta. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.
Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Melbourne Canberra Perth
Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.
- Planting window
- Mar to Apr, Sep to Nov
- Days to harvest
- 60 days
- Sun
- Full sun to part shade
- Spacing
- 60 cm apart
- Soil pH
- 6.1–6.5
Okinawa spinach is a low perennial to about 70 cm with green leaves that are purple underneath, grown from cuttings as a year-round cooked green in warm wet climates (Green Harvest).
Published · By GardenBuddy.au
Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
Best Planting Window for Arid / Semi-Arid
- Jan -
- Feb -
- Mar P
- Apr P
- May -
- Jun -
- Jul -
- Aug -
- Sep P
- Oct P
- Nov P
- Dec -
P = Planting window
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. Plant rooted cuttings in March and April or September to November, avoiding the hottest weeks, in part shade with ample water and mulch (Green Harvest). No arid source; it needs steady moisture. Months derived.
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How to Grow Okinawa Spinach in Arid / Semi-Arid Australia
- Soil
- Rich, fertile, well drained and mulched (Green Harvest).
- Salt
- Moderately sensitive. Copes with a little salt, but the harvest drops on salty bore water.
- pH Range
- 6.1-6.5
- Sunlight
- Full sun to part shade (Green Harvest, Daleys).
- Spacing
- 60cm apart, 60cm between rows
- Watering
- Ample water (Green Harvest).
- Grow before it
- Legumes (Beans - Dwarf, Peas, Broad Beans)
- Grow after it
- Fruiting crops (Tomato, Capsicum, Zucchini)
Give the bed 3 turns before leafy greens go back in. Leaf crops want the nitrogen the legumes left behind.
Arid / Semi-Arid Growing Tips for Okinawa Spinach
Recommended Varieties
- Okinawa spinach
Key Challenges
- Dry heat
Pro Tips
- Part shade, mulch, daily water
Pests and problems for Okinawa Spinach in Arid / Semi-Arid
Harvesting Okinawa Spinach
When ready: Young leaves and shoot tips once the plant is bushy (Green Harvest).
How to harvest: Pinch tips and young leaves; this doubles as the pruning the plant needs (Green Harvest).
What members get
- Soil and weather from your nearest station
- An email when it's time to sow
- Your own garden plan, including planning from a photo
- Price history and price alerts
- Pest risk alerts for your area
- Full salt and canning detail
Common Questions About Okinawa Spinach
When do you plant okinawa spinach in Australia?
It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:
- Tropical (Cairns): Jan to Apr, Oct to Dec
- Subtropical (Brisbane): Jan to Apr, Sep to Dec
- Warm Temperate (Sydney): Jan to Mar, Oct to Dec
- Cool Temperate (Melbourne): Jan, Nov to Dec
- Cold / Highland (Canberra): not recommended
- Arid / Semi-Arid (Alice Springs): Mar to Apr, Sep to Nov
- Mediterranean (Perth): Jan to Mar, Oct to Dec
When should I plant Okinawa Spinach in Alice Springs?
You might be able to grow it here under the right conditions. Plant rooted cuttings in March and April or September to November, avoiding the hottest weeks, in part shade with ample water and mulch (Green Harvest). No arid source; it needs steady moisture. Months derived.
How do I know when Okinawa Spinach are ready to harvest?
Young leaves and shoot tips once the plant is bushy (Green Harvest).
What are the best Okinawa Spinach varieties for Alice Springs?
Recommended varieties for the Arid / Semi-Arid zone include: Okinawa spinach.
Are okinawa spinach salt tolerant?
Only a little. Okinawa spinach are moderately sensitive to salt, so the harvest drops on salty bore water. Mix salty water with rainwater, and mulch the bed.
Which zone am I in?
Type your postcode into the box near the top of the page and it tells you, and links this crop in your own zone if it differs. Or look it up on the grow zone map. This page is the Arid / Semi-Arid zone, Alice Springs is its reference city.