Orach, or mountain spinach, is an ancient vegetable with deep purple leaves that look just as good in the garden as they do in a vase, says gardening columnist JACKIE WARBURTON.
If you’re looking for something a little different from the usual spinach, orach “Red Plume” is worth trying.
This eye-catching annual grows happily in our climate and can reach up to 1.5 metres tall.
Its deep purple leaves look just as good in the garden as they do in a vase. Better still, they’re edible. Use them fresh or cooked, much like silverbeet or spinach, to add colour to salads and meals.
Orach is an ancient vegetable, botanically known as Atriplex hortensis or mountain spinach. It is monoecious, meaning male and female flowers occur on the same plant. Pollination is done by the wind rather than insects, so it makes sense to plant orach in groups or blocks instead of neat rows. It mixes easily with other vegetables and won’t cause any problems in a busy patch.
Once plants reach about 15 centimetres high, you can start picking leaves. Orach is a classic cut-and-come-again crop and responds well to regular harvesting. Pick often and it will keep producing.
If you leave one or two plants to go to seed in autumn, you’ll have plenty to save and sow again next spring. The seed is ready when it turns from pink to brown and can be stored in a paper bag over winter. The seeds are edible too and can be ground into flour for soups and stews – and, in my opinion, they taste better than kale.
ANOTHER reliable, if slightly old-fashioned, plant is Hypericum calycinum, the broad-leaf variety. This evergreen groundcover copes with summer heat, winter frost, and just about everything in between.
Although it produces sterile seed, it slowly forms a dense mat over time. It is particularly useful under trees, where little else will grow, and its low habit allows fallen leaves to filter through and break down naturally.
Its close relative, Hypericum perforatum, is a very different story. Often sold online as a medicinal herb under the name St John’s wort, this slender-leaf variety is highly invasive.
It can be recognised by tiny black dots along the edges of its leaves and petals. I strongly recommend avoiding it altogether. It has already spread through bushland around Canberra and can be seen flowering across the landscape in spring, especially after good rain.
St John’s wort is classified as a noxious and environmental weed in our region. While there are currently no formal government control programs, local Landcare groups, including Friends of Grasslands, are working hard to monitor and remove it where they can.
One success story has been the introduction of the St John’s wort beetle (Chrysolina quadrigemina). This beetle feeds on the plant’s leaves, gradually weakening it until it dies. The beetle is now widespread locally, with sightings recorded on NatureMap Canberra.
LATE summer can be a difficult time for planting. Seedlings and young plants need extra care, particularly with watering, to get through the heat.
If you’re planting during this period, adding water crystals to soil or potting mix before planting can help. Once hydrated, the crystals swell and store moisture, releasing it slowly as the soil dries. This reduces heat stress and cuts down on how often you need to water.
If your soil repels water, a wetting agent may be a better option. These products break down water-repellent coatings in the soil and help moisture soak in more effectively.
Water crystals and wetting agents do different jobs, so it’s worth understanding your soil before choosing one. A little preparation now can make gardening easier, more water-wise, and far less stressful during the hottest months.
Jottings
- Sow broccoli, brussel sprouts and cabbages.
- Summer fruit tree pruning can be done now.
- Keep watering pumpkins.
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