This crop is something else! Latin name: Chenopodium giganteum Get 10% off Tree Spinach seeds with code HUWR10: https://www.kingsseeds.com/80267-herb-tree-spinach?srsltid=AfmBOorgygAxwyj7pbPaqj_6UiDTovHYl1oTC9TiXHa2-EIm8WOBxdgO (Affiliate)
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30 Comments
I tried that, unfortunately I didn't like the taste.
Is this the same as malboro spinach as that is a vertical spinach. I know it is banned in Spain as it is prolific
Chat gpt might give you some correct answers but it's not a reliable source, it's also terrible for the environment
How much oxalates does it contain?
Not recommended to eat a lot of it raw due to the oxalates
It's now on my list of things I will plant next year. Thank you
I wonder how I can get it here in Spain
Once you get it, you have it forever. It reseeds like crazy.
I'm blockt out from the link. Maby becourse we live in Europe? What in the namn in latin? Kind regardes from Swede💕
What is the name of that plant…friend…🙏
I am growing it this year for the first time. It is such a magnificent plant – currently nearly 6ft tall. It’s worth growing for the looks alone. Food as well ? Too fantastic for words.
I give up on eating spinach years ago and changed to sting kettles which is better for you
Tree spinach
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cnidoscolus_aconitifolius
"I asked chatgpt…" Unfortunately, that hold as much credibility as if you asked a 5-year-old.
Been growing this for 30 years now. We call it magentaspreen here in the states. When it comes up on its own in spots,you don’t want, you can just eat the weeds. Same goes for Orach, I like the purple one they look great together and have the same attributes. Always love seeing your garden.
Are there any poisonous look-alikes to this plant?
Where can we get some seeds or seedlings for this type of plant? Thank you!
Huw Richards
This is REALLY BAD ADVICE!!
Nobody should ever eat spinach.
Or chard.
Or rhubarb.
Or beets.
Or amaranth.
These vegetables contain extremely high levels of toxic oxalates, about 750 mg per 100 grams, or more..
Oxalates are responsible for causing many diseases, long before the overload is so extreme that kidney stones are formed.
The recommended TOTAL daily intake of oxalates when trying to reverse those very serious, painful diseases, is just 50 mg per day!
So just ONE serve of those vegetables contains about 15-20 DAYS' worth of toxic oxalates!
It is estimated that it will take about 7 YEARS or more, to reduce the body's deposits of toxic oxalates crystals, which build up over our lifetime.
After suffering several very painful, debilitating conditions, including arthritis and polymyalgia, I cut my oxalates intake drastically 6 months ago, and it has made a big difference, though I have a long way to go.
I wish I had known long ago, about the dangers of eating many "healthy" foods, which are unfortunately extremely high in toxic oxalates. It would have saved me a world of pain.
There is absolutely no need for anyone to consume any of the spinach (polygonaceae) family. There are much better, safer, more nutritious options, such as the brassicas.
Chenopodium gigantea which you show here, contains between about 1,000-2,000 mg oxalates per 100 gram serve.
So that is 33% to 165% MORE toxic than spinach.
Huw, you need to study this topic in-depth!
Maybe look at making a series on the dangerous anti-nutrients in our favourite foods!
The list of anti-nutrients is very long.
Spinach for example, has so many anti-nutrients that its claimed nutritious content cannot be absorbed by the body, and it has a nett negative effect.
Just because we can grow something well, doesn't make it good or safe for us to eat.
Is this also called Chaya?
There will always be weeds growing because that it how nature works. I find now that many of my 'weeds' are green manures that have seeded such as borage, buck wheat, marigold, so having tree spinach as a 'weed' is not so bad. 😂
Just purchased 🙂
It would help with these weird and wonderful rarities if you include the scientific name so we can be sure we are looking at the same plant. If you mean Cnidoscolus aconitofloius (aka chaya mansa) then it needs to be cooked before eating as it contains a toxin called hydrocyanic acid glycosides, but is otherwise very nutritious. I am also concerned does it contain a lot of oxalates like regular spinach (think kidney stones). Thx.
I'm asking for help, I'm confused about how to deal with caterpillar attacks. What flowers don't😢 caterpillars like because they make eggplants? I'm asking for a solution.😢
I believe the ancient Britons ate fat-hen – a smaller. less colourful cousin – before cabbage became popular. This giant species looks more useful. I'm already growing giant amaranth and fordhook chard, so it may make a useful addition. The whole family are aggressive self-seeders, be warned.
The seeds are edible as well. Has anyone tried them yet? They are tiny!
It self seeded from in all corners of my garden after planting it once. The colour is wonderful. It doesn’t matter how dry or wet it is, it thrives. Love it.
Wow, interesting! I didn't know this plant even existed, even though I already grow lamb's quarter and amaranth. We make green fresh pasta, pasta fillings, vegetable pies, frittatas… Very versatile plants. I really want to grow this plant, it's gorgeous. I need to find a place where the wind isn't too strong (good luck with that, we have fierce windstorms in this area).
I absolutely love it. Started mine from seed, and I'm so so glad.
I found it as 'Magenta Spreen'. I thought that was the other name you were going to reveal.
Love, love love 'glitter spinach' as a name too – easy to get little ones picking it for a salad.
Where I live this is a rampant weed that pops up on its own wherever the soil has been disturbed. I let it grow to some extent so I can harvest before pulling it out, if you let it get too big it has roots that will pull everything else out with it. But even though it’s a weed I agree it’s better than spinach, at least for cooked applications. Spinach is still more suitable raw because it’s more succulent and crisp.
Is there a lookalike that is fully green leaves but same shape? It popped up in a new raised bed and a plant ID app unused said it was tree spinach but I'm not 100% sure. I steamed some like spinach and it was tasty.