Great all rounder leafy green that's easy to grow

[Julianne]

Great all rounder leafy green that's easy to grow

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I'm talking about Brazilian spinach, aka Alternanthera sp, MIL gave us some years ago and I use it for everything: instead of lettuce on sandwiches, the leafy green in salads, cooking etc. I make the kids "Green Eggs" - Br. spinach stick-mixed with eggs - and they really like it.

Brazilian spinach doesn't have a strong taste like silverbeet and isn't fragile and short lasting like lettuce. It just keeps growing and growing, easy to look after, no worries getting the kids to eat it fresh and raw. And once you have it you can do cutting after cutting and have it coming out of your ears... I've never had any pest worries with it and all I do is cut it back and give it fish emulsion every now and then.

Here's the spiel from ecotech.org:

BRAZILIAN SPINACH IS A GOOD SOURCE OF GREENS. Cory Thede in the Brazilian Amazon reports: "Brazilian Spinach (Alternanthera sissoo, also Samba lettuce, sissoo spinach) forms a thick ground cover. It creeps and roots from nodes over a large area. It responds well to fertilizer. A pest (centipede?) eats holes in the leaves at certain times of the year, but this only damages the appearance a bit. Once planted, it can be maintained permanently, as a perennial. Propagate it by cuttings placed in the ground, with some shade (palm fronds for a week or two); it is very hardy, but keep it moist while rooting. It grows fast but is not invasive. Brazilians usually eat it raw in salads with oil/vinegar, tomato, and onion, although the literature recommends cooking it.

Thought I'd mention it to you guys cos it's my favourite thing in the garden.

[Purly]

Re: Great all rounder leafy green that's easy to grow

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Is it easy to grow?

[Julianne]

Re: Great all rounder leafy green that's easy to grow

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Sure is Lisa, it's hardy too. I neglected my original plant in a pot for a 18 months when we moved and it survived ok, now I've shown it some love and taken heaps of cuttings from it and it's flourishing in the garden. It seems to rain constantly here lately (Mackay), and unlike some of my herbs, the brazilian spinach is loving it, with lots of delicious glossy new leaves all the time. When it's not raining I just water it every day or two and that's about all. I've seen it for sale at the markets, but some people call it something else, can't remember what though.

[Purly]

Re: Great all rounder leafy green that's easy to grow

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OMG That is two super stupid posts from me in one day. You said right there in the title that it is easr to grow. Preggo brain is taking over I am afraid!

I think I might see if we have any at the garden centre.

[Susan]

Re: Great all rounder leafy green that's easy to grow

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Sounds great! I like the sound of an abundant hardy vege! I have not seen it sold locally. Shall hunt a bit further. Any suggestions where?

While we are talking about hardy plants, does anyone know of a ground cover that I could use in a very sunny, sometimes very wet spot in our garden. I would like to plant a herb that we could also use. Something with a flower would also be great.

[Julianne]

Re: Great all rounder leafy green that's easy to grow

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No flowers on this plant. And the wiki just gave me this. Not good, I hope someone can help shed light on this - I've never heard of oxalates and usually eat my spinach raw....

The leaves are pleasantly crunchy, slightly more so than the temperate climate spinach, and not slimy. They require steaming or boiling when served because of the presence of oxalates. Those that normally cannot stomach green vegetables usually do not mind this mild flavored green. It makes an excellent addition to dishes or can be eaten alone as a green. Reportedly, Brazilians usually eat it raw in salads with oil/vinegar, tomato, and onion, although the literature recommends cooking it.

Anyone??

[Julianne]

Re: Great all rounder leafy green that's easy to grow

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I am concerned about this oxalate thing and have been looking into it... Spinach, Brazilian spinach, silverbeet, amongst some other foods, are naturally high in oxalates, high consumption of which have been linked to kidney stones. Cooking doesn't significantly decrease the oxalate level. So basically it's probably best to eat foods high in oxalates in moderation, so I guess I am going plant some lettuce and lay off the spinach a bit.