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Annual BiennialHerbs - Culinary

Chenopodium giganteum 'Magentaspreen'

tree spinach 'Magentaspreen'

An edible annual with long spikes of tiny red flowers, the older leaves are mid green arrow shaped and serrated. The younger leaves and centre rosettes open out as a bright magenta, and have a glittery appearance, with a dark pink underside, making the leaves a striking addition to a salad. Tasting similar to spinach and chard, with a slight hint of asparagus when cooked. Keep picking for tasty and tender leaves, and to avoid the plant running to seed too soon

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Ultimate height

1.5–2.5 metres

Time to ultimate height

1 year

Ultimate spread

1–1.5 metres

Chalk

Clay

Loam

Sand

Moisture

Well–drained, Moist but well–drained

pH

Neutral, Alkaline, Acid

	Stem	Flower	Foliage	Fruit
Spring
Summer
Autumn
Winter

Full sun
Partial shade

Aspect

East–facing or South–facing or West–facing

Exposure

Sheltered

Hardiness
Hardiness ratings
All ratings refer to the UK growing conditions unless otherwise stated. Minimum temperature ranges (in degrees C) are shown in brackets
H1a: under glass all year (>15C)
H1b: can be grown outside in the summer (10 - 15)
H1c: can be grown outside in the summer (5 - 10)
H2: tolerant of low temperatures, but not surviving being frozen (1 to 5)
H3: hardy in coastal and relatively mild parts of the UK (-5 to 1)
H4: hardy through most of the UK (-10 to -5)
H5: hardy in most places throughout the UK even in severe winters (-15 to -10)
H6: hardy in all of UK and northern Europe (-20 to -15)
H7: hardy in the severest European continental climates (< -20)

Botanical details

Family: Amaranthaceae
Native to the UK: No
Foliage: Deciduous
Habit: Columnar upright, Bushy
Genus: Chenopodium can be annuals or perennials, with often mealy stems and foliage, simple or lobed leaves and minute flowers in termianl or axillary clusters, in a few species followed by colourful fruits
Name status: Unresolved

How to grow

Cultivation

Grow in any well-drained fertile soil, in a sunny or semi-shaded position. In the ideal growing conditions they can grow quite rapidly and may require staking if they become too tall

Propagation

Propagate by seed. See sowing vegetable seeds

Suggested planting locations and garden types

Cottage and informal garden
Sub-tropical

Pruning

Harvest the leaves as required, to keep the plant compact and cropping well

Pests

Generally pest-free

Diseases

Generally disease-free

Get involved

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