Topic: perennial climbing 'spinach'

[goodlife]

I don't seem to find that thread from last year..so I star it again..
Did anybody dare to taste of their climbing spinach last year? How was it?
I didn't get round to trialling it in time and all of the sudden it had grown into huge plant with 'flowers' so I though it might have past it best eating stage. But this year I'm going to have some.....

[Jayb]

Malabar spinach?

[goodlife]

no... this one...
Climbing Spinach - Hablitzia tamnoides. Hardy perennial scrambling relative of spinach. Deciduous - old stems die down and new stems grow each spring - like hops. Seems to thrive in sun or in the shade on the north side of a wall. Flowers [tiny] and seeds freely. Tastes to me a bit like nettle. Will probably do very well next to a fertility source - the compost heap or tree bog. Seems to be largely pest and disease free http://www.cooltemperate.co.uk/herbs.shtml

Jayb...didn't you grow it from seed?

[antipodes]

never heard of that !

I have been quite impressed with leaf beet perpetual spinach this year, it overwintered very successfully. I have bought seeds of NZ spinach to try this season too.

[Jayb]

Yes I grew mine from seed, and they did really well until the puppy decided they were in the best place ever to dig!!!!
I tried to save some but I'm not sure it will sprout. I've still some seeds which I'll sow, hopefully they don't heed to be fresh to germinate. Taste, I must admit I grew a few new to me green type things last year and they seem to have blurred a bit so wouldn't like to comment. But I know I was looking forward to it this year.....

[goodlife]

Yes I grew mine from seed, and they did really well until the puppy decided they were in the best place ever to dig!!!!
I tried to save some but I'm not sure it will sprout. I've still some seeds which I'll sow, hopefully they don't heed to be fresh to germinate. Taste, I must admit I grew a few new to me green type things last year and they seem to have blurred a bit so wouldn't like to comment. But I know I was looking forward to it this year.....

 PUPPY???? Have you got yourself a PUPPY!? It took a 'moment' this word to sink in...and all of the sudden ..day later..I realized what I saw but didn't thought about it at the time. Have I missed this new comer 'news'? WHAT....WHAT...? Feel free to hijack this thread...!! One can never talk too much about dogs....

PS...would you like me to dig up little bit of my 'spinach' and send it to you...you might need some more for your puppy..

[Hector]

Anyoone able to report on taste :)