How to grow Tree Spinach

Chenopodium giganteum

🥕 Vegetable 🌱 Grown each year

A striking ornamental edible, Tree Spinach (also known as Magenta Spreen) produces vibrant magenta new growth and large, tender leaves. Leaves are used like spinach, raw in salads or cooked. Can grow very tall, up to 2.5 meters, and readily self-seeds.

At a glance: Sow mid April to mid July, harvest from early June.

When to sow, plant and harvest

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Sow outdoors

Harvest

Timed for a typical UK garden (last frost mid-April). The app uses your own town's frost dates.

Growing Tree Spinach: what it needs

Light: Full sun · 6+ hours a day
Watering: Every 2-4 days
Soil: Rich, well-draining loam · pH 6.0–7.5
Spacing: 30-60cm apart
In pots: Grows well in containers
Feeding: Feed with a balanced organic fertilizer every 4-6 weeks, especially if harvesting frequently.
Harvest: About 50 days from sowing
Hardiness: USDA zones 3–10
Difficulty: Easy

Step by step

Mid April – mid July · around the last spring frost
Sow Seeds Outdoors (optional)
Direct sow seeds 0.5cm deep after all danger of frost has passed. Can be sown successively until mid-summer for continuous harvest. Thin seedlings to 30-60cm apart once they have a few true leaves.
7–14 days after “Sow Seeds Indoors” · Late April
Check Germination
Seedlings should emerge in 7-14 days. Ensure consistent moisture.
14 days after “Transplant Outdoors” · Early May
Thin & Provide Support
For direct-sown plants, thin seedlings to 30-60cm apart. For all plants, provide a sturdy stake or cage as they grow tall (1m+) to prevent flopping.
30–90 days after “Thin & Provide Support” · Early June – early August
Harvest Tree Spinach Leaves
Begin harvesting young, tender leaves when plants are about 30cm tall. Pick outer leaves regularly to encourage new growth. The magenta tips are especially tender.