When to Plant NZ Spinach (Warrigal Greens) in Melbourne, Cool Temperate Guide

Sow September to March. Right now in September you can sow.

Published · Last reviewed · By Garden Buddy
Growing advice is reviewed by hand. Planting dates, current conditions and prices on this page update daily.

This NZ Spinach (Warrigal Greens) guide is written for the Cool Temperate zone, which takes in Melbourne, Hobart and Geelong. Somewhere else? Your postcode picks the right one.

Not your zone? Cairns Brisbane Sydney Canberra Alice Springs Perth

Also handy: will it frost this week? and what grows in shade.

New Zealand spinach, also known as warrigal greens or Botany Bay greens, is an Australian and New Zealand native plant that produces thick, succulent-like triangular leaves with a spinach-like flavour. Unlike true spinach, it thrives in heat and poor soils, making it the ideal summer leafy green for Australian gardens. It was historically eaten by Indigenous Australians and was collected by Joseph Banks during Cook's first voyage.

Planting Calendar for Cool Temperate

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D - - - - - S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D S/T/D

S = Seed Tray   T = Transplant   D = Direct Sow

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Current Growing Conditions

Soil temperature: 13.1°C (optimal range: 15–25°C) ✗ Outside optimal range

Modelled from Open-Meteo forecast (Melbourne), not a live sensor.

How to Grow NZ Spinach (Warrigal Greens) in Cool Temperate Australia

When to Plant

November-January. Warm-season crop. Frost-tender.

Soil
Tolerates a wide range of soils including poor, sandy, and slightly saline conditions. Performs best in well-drained, moderately fertile soil. Does not need rich soil.
pH Range
6.0-7.5
Sunlight
Full sun in most zones. Part shade in extreme heat (arid, tropical). Tolerates coastal salt spray.
Spacing
60cm apart, 90cm between rows
Watering
Very drought tolerant once established. Water weekly in dry weather for best leaf production. Tolerates neglect. Overwatering in heavy soil can cause root rot.

Companion plants: Tomato, Corn, Pumpkin (as ground cover beneath tall crops), Fruit trees (as understorey)

Avoid planting near: No known antagonists. Very easygoing companion.

Cool Temperate Growing Tips for NZ Spinach (Warrigal Greens)

Recommended Varieties

  • Standard Tetragonia tetragonioides

Key Challenges

  • Shorter growing season than in warmer zones
  • Frost kills plants
  • Slower growth in cool conditions

Pro Tips

  • Start in pots under cover in October for earliest planting out
  • Grow against a warm north-facing wall for best results
  • A useful summer green when true spinach is impossible

Harvesting NZ Spinach (Warrigal Greens)

When ready: Growing tips and leaves are plump, fresh, and dark green. Harvest when tips are 8-15cm long. Younger leaves are more tender.

How to harvest: Pinch or cut growing tips (last 5-10cm) including 3-4 leaves. This encourages branching and more production. Never strip all leaves from a stem.

Where to next

Also worth sowing in the cool temperate zone this September: Ginger, Sweet Corn, Chilli Peppers and Snow Peas.

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Common Questions About NZ Spinach (Warrigal Greens)

When do you plant nz spinach in Australia?

It depends on your climate zone, not the calendar month alone. Planting months by zone:

Does nz spinach grow all year round in Melbourne?

No. In the Cool Temperate zone the planting months are Jan to Mar, Sep to Dec. Outside that window it either bolts, sulks or gets cut down by the weather.

Which zone am I in?

Type your postcode into the box under the heading and the page 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 Cool Temperate zone, Melbourne is its reference city.