Spinach
Spinach/Kōkihi
Availability
Spinach is available all year round.
Storage and Handling
Store in the refrigerator. Handle all fresh produce with care and wash before eating.
History
Spinach originated in Asia and was introduced to Europe by Arab traders during the thirteenth century. Spinach was made famous this century by Popeye the Sailor when eating spinach made his muscles bulge.
Facts
- Often confused with silver beet, spinach may look similar but it has a milder flavour. Both can be used in the same recipes
- Baby Spinach: Young spinach leaves are often used in salad mixes and sold with other salad greens. Baby spinach has juicy ruffled leaves with a mild spinach flavour
- New Zealand spinach is a native that grows wild, has triangular leaves and trails over the ground. It is generally cooked as the leaves are coarse and slightly furry when raw.
Growing Facts
- Plant from March to May
- Spinach grows best in cool weather
- This quick-growing vegetable is ready to use around six weeks after sowing
Nutrition Information
Spinach is a good source of iron, folate and vitamin K and a source of potassium, magnesium, manganese, riboflavin (vitamin B2) and vitamin A.
You will find the full Nutrition Information Panel on the New Zealand Food Composition Data website. This website is owned jointly by Plant & Food Research and the Manatū Hauora Ministry of Health. This website holds the most comprehensive collection of high-quality nutrient data for New Zealand foods. The Database is managed and maintained by dedicated Plant & Food Research staff.
