Also called “false spinach”, “French spinach”, “beautiful lady”, the orach is an ancient vegetable consumed in Europe since the Middle Ages. There are green, yellow and red varieties of arrowroot. The Red Fire variety is believed to have originated in Egypt. Its taste is similar to spinach and it is eaten like spinach, preferably raw if you want to enjoy its beautiful red color. It has a good resistance to heat and goes to seed late, especially if you pinch it often to delay flowering. Hardy annual that reseeds itself.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Seeds

~250

Difficulty       

Easy

Sowing        

Direct

Lifecycle      

Annual

Root cellar   

No

Sowing season       

Spring, Summer, Fall

Growing tips

Conditions of germination:

depth of sowing: 1 cm

optimal temperatures of germination: 5 to 22ºC

time for germination: 7 to 14 days

When to sow:

direct sowing when the soil can be worked in spring until September, successive sowing also possible in summer

Sowing technique: in line

draw a line in the soil (in pot or in the ground) then place the seeds at the indicated distance according to the variety or according to the desired harvest (young or mature plant)

Distance in the garden:

between plants: 20 to 45 cm

between rows: 30 to 45 cm

Plant height: 20 to 180 cm, depending on how the plant is grown.

Soil: rich, moist and well drained, mulch suggested to keep the soil cool

Exposure: full sun or light shade

Maturation: 45 to 50 days

Specificities:

Pretty ornamental plant that can grow up to 6 feet tall if allowed to bloom.

Tolerates frost. Otherwise, cut the young shoots as you need them or when they reach 20 cm to encourage the production of other leaves on the plant during the season.

Medicinal virtues: in infusion, it would soothe the evils related to the menstrual cramps and would help to overcome tiredness.

Can be used to make tinctures.