Hablitzia tamnoides – Caucasian Spinach seeds (pack of 50)
£3.99
SOW AUTUMN TO SPRING
7 in stock
Description
Hablitzia tamnoides – Caucasian Spinach – 50 Seeds from our six year old plants. A very hardy semi shade loving herbaceous perennial climbing plant with mild spinach like leaves. Leaves can be used in salads, or wilted like spinach. Early shoots and unopened flower buds can be eaten too. Seeds come from our own plants grown from a Scandinavian type originally sent to us by Stephen Barstow in Norway. Seeds have an excellent germination rate. Please follow the seed stratification advice in the main description.
About
Hablitzia tamnoides (Caucasian spinach) is the sole species in the genus Hablitzia, is a long-lived herbaceous perennial climber native to the Caucasus region. Grown traditionally as an ornamental, it has been known and used in Scandinavian countries as an edible plant for many years. It has had a bit of a renaissance recently thanks to author and perennial plant expert Stephen Barstow. Its popularity has spread as an exciting edible plant and it even has its own Facebook group ‘Friends of Hablitzia tamnoides’. Now permaculturists and forest gardeners as well as those wanting to grow more perennial vegetables are beginning to give it a try as another possible staple that can happily grow in any garden with a shady spot. The young shoots can be eaten as well as pickings from the more mature leaves.
How to grow
HABLITZIA NEEDS A PERIOD OF COLD TO GERMINATE AND YOU CAN SOW AUTUMN TO SPRING. THERE ARE TWO METHODS YOU CAN USE:
COLD FRAME/UNHEATED GREENHOUSE/ OUTSIDE SOWING METHOD ANYTIME DURING AUTUMN/WINTER:
Start off with our Hablitzia seed (50 seeds per pack) – you can sow in pots/trays during the autumn and winter 1-2mm deep in fine compost and leave outside over the winter in a cold frame, unheated greenhouse or simply outside in a sheltered spot and the seeds will germinate. Check on them regularly as seedlings can emerge within 3-4 weeks depending on weather conditions.
FRIDGE METHOD ANY TIME BETWEEN AUTUMN AND SPRING: Alternatively seeds can be stratified for a period of 7-10 days in a fridge ( sow in fine damp compost/or fine compost and horticultural sand mix or damp vermiculite and place in a plastic bag – sow 1 – 2mm deep). This period of cold followed by removal from the fridge helps to trigger germination and you will usually see the seedlings begin to emerge within a week to 10 days. If using the fridge stratification method you can start in autumn through to early spring if you wish. Once germinated leave somewhere light and cool to develop.
In the wild, Hablitzia is normally found in woodlands so don’t expose your seedlings/plants to extreme heat. Seedlings can then be handled and potted on ready to be planted out when big enough.
Hablitzia prefers a semi-shaded spot to thrive and its roots like to be kept moist. Climbing support of some kind will help the vines grow more vigorously, a trellis or netting will work well or they will use surrounding plants to scramble up. They prefer a good, rich, loamy soil and seem to have a preference for neutral or alkaline soil conditions. Although they can take about three years to establish, Hablitzia plants can go on to produce for decades. They grow rapidly from a crown of shoots emerging early in the year to more than 3m by summer. By July, they produce very attractive star shaped flowers which eventually turn into a mass of tiny black seeds. The foliage dies back and leaves a crown of baby shoots that produce the next years growth. The plants are hardy down to about -20c or more.
Cooking and eating
Young leaves can be eaten raw as a salad crop and larger more mature leaves can be cooked and wilted. The early shoots have a beautiful magenta colour and can be harvested like an asparagus spear. Vine tips and emerging flowers can also be eaten raw or cooked giving many options over the growing season. The main harvest period is from around February to June, followed by flowering and then dormancy in autumn. Hablitzia is now being grown commercially in Maine, USA particularly valuable due to the early spring harvest.
