Australian Spinach

Also known as New Zealand Spinach (in the same way as Russel Crowe used to be known as a Kiwi before we decided to re-name him once he won an oscar, though he might also believe he is Australian, and really, who is an Australian, and maybe he doesn't mind being called an Australian or calls himself an Australian or wouldn't give a hoot about whatever anyone calls him. Anyway, I can't speak for him as a New Zealander or Australian, though I will say he is a superb actor and I believe Coffs Harbour is a better region for having him live nearby and I believe he should revist the Roman theme and have a go at being Caligula or Augustus. I'm sure the spinach doesn't care one way or the other (in terms of what's it's called), but you can certainly grow it in Coffs Harbour if you so wish) and Warrigul Greens. Australian Spinach is native to Japan, South America, New Zealand and, of course Australia.

It is a low-growing plant that spreads out to form a groundcover of some say delicious - others meerly edible - dark green, triangular shaped leaves. It seems to grow best in a semi-shade position in sandy soils, with a regular, but not excessive, supply of fresh water.It actually seems to flourish with very little water at all when other things cark it - but it still doesn't like really hot Queensland summers.

Australian (New Zealand) Spinach

The crunchy and moist leaves can be eaten raw, in small quantities, but is best steamed or stir-fried. It is not a relative of the European spinach and has a rather different flavour than the European plant to which its name is compared - though when boiled it's pretty much the same. Leaves and stems can be picked regularly and over a long period of time. Australian Spinach has the advantage of being slow to "bolt", or go to seed, during hot weather - as European spinach is inclined to do. Australian spinach is a very worthy, and easily grown, addition to any garden and will often self-sow and continue to grow year after year in the nooks and crannies of your garden.The first European consumption of this plant, in Australia at least, seems to date back to Captain James Cook's little jaunt to the great southern land in the 1700s where he fed it to his sailors for breakfast to combat scurvy. The sailors complained bitterley as they thought he was just being a tight-arse and wanted to ration the good food, which might have been true. Of course the aborigines of most of the southern and eastern part of Australia had been eating the stuff way before then.

I find the best use for the plant is in curries mixed with silverbeet. You can add the leaves with silverbeet leaves (more silverbeet though) and chopped up potatoes, with vegie stock, enough water to just about cover the spuds, freshly diced ginger and tumeric, cumin, black pepper, ground cardamom, cinnamom, mild curry powder and garam masala. Fry the spuds and the spices in a little olive oil in a frying pan first then add the water and stock and leaves and pop the lid on and cook for about 20-25 minutes. Serve with pappadoms and chappatis.

The seed of Australian Spinach

Australian Spinach is the only vegetable native to Australia that has gained popularity in European gardens. Perhaps this is due to the ease of preparation which contrasts with many of the native bush tuckers. The exception being the famous Macadamia Nut which is native to the rainforests of Queensland and New South Wales. You can obtain seeds for this plant from various seed companies listed on my Australian seed companies page (link on the left). It is generally, if not always, called New Zealand Spinach, I just made up the bit about it being called Australian.

In Melbourne I've sown the seed in spring with good results, in Brisbane winter seems to be the best bet, but it does grow at other times.

If you are traveling through Gippsland, Victoria, Australia, you can also find it growing wild by the banks of Loch Sport and occasionally in the sand dunes of 90 Mile Beach. Though its flavour is a little bitter in these areas (see curry recipe above for solution to this).

Bush Tomato

The Australian Bush Tomato is, unlike Australian Spinach, an actual relative of its namesake. Coming from the family Solanum the Bush Tomato family has many relatives which are poisonous -- so be careful.The edible varieties include Solanum Ellipticum and Solanum Centrale. A poisonous variety is Solanum Quadriculatum which has small spikes all over its stems. The edible varieties have smooth, much more appealing, looking stems and leaves.The Bush Tomato family ranges from low-growing bushes with grey, sage like, leaves, which grow in the desert, to tall (up to 2 metres) green-leafed small trees which are often found growing in people's gardens in Melbourne, Australia -- this variety also has dark bluish-green leaves that sometimes fork into a kind of long star shape, but also has long, thin elliptical leaves with prominent veins and I don't know if it's one you can eat. The potato-and-eggplant like flowers of both varieties are a wonderful purple colour with compact yellow centers which transform into small, reddish and yellow fruits about 5-7 cm's long.

Go to a reliable bush food nursery when buying these plants and if you want to eat it, I'd go for the small grey, sage-like plant as the tall one tastes like paint and will probably kill you.

Uses for the plant

The Bush tomato may be undervalued as a commercial crop. It grows well in very dry, poor conditions which big juicy tomatoes would shun. It is not very appetising as a raw fruit but the tomato powder I have tried is of the highest quality and almost identical, or even better, than current tomato powders. It can be used in tomato based pasta sauces, on pizzas, as a spice in gourmet sausages and with meats such as chicken, lamb, and beef (a wonderful addition to goulash).Bush Tomatoes could be a great cash crop for many areas - particularly drier ones in Australia - as it doesn't seem to be as susceptible to the multitude of diseases that can inflict average tomatoes. And it is also strong enough not to be staked. The larger varieties are also very useful for growing on large properties, along fence lines, houses and between orchards as it provides a good fast growing wind break with very low fire danger and grows over a number of years.I planted hundreds - which we grew from seed in a hothouse - in Victoria as fast growing windbreaks and protection for other trees as they were being established. Most varieties only grow for a few years.

Solanum Centrale: one edible Bush Tomato

The seed for this plant is hard to get. Make sure you start with the right variety. Solanum centrale, Solanum ellipticum, and Solanum petrophilum are all eaten by the Pitjantjatjara people.

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© J.R.Atwood 2007