(Blitum capitatum 'Strawberry')
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Strawberry Spinach is a heirloom, hardy, cool weather annual vegetable that is native to the United States. At maturity, this plant reaches the height of 18-24” and features triangular-shaped green leaves, and showy red berries that resemble strawberries. This plant can be grown in a container, attracts birds and butterflies, is rabbit safe, tolerates light frost, is used to make cosmetics and dyes, and is both edible and medicinal!
Family: Amaranthaceae
Genus: Blitum
Species: capitatum
Variety: Strawberry Spinach
Also Known As: Blite Goosefoot, Strawberry Goosefoot, Indian paint, and Indian Ink.
Native to: Alaska, Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Manitoba, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Northwest Territorie, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Québec, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yukon
Introduced into: Albania, Central European Rus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Illinois, Iraq, Italy, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Norway, Sweden.
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Annual
Days to Maturity: 90 days
Hardiness: Hardy. Strawberry spinach is usually grown as an annual, but it can perennialize in areas with milder climates.
Crops: Spring Transplant, Spring, Fall Transplant, Fall
Growing Season: Short
Growing Conditions: Cold, Warm, Hot.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 50°F-80°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 50°F. Strawberry Spinach will be very slow to germinate in soil below 50˚ F.
Start Indoors: Yes
Start Outdoors: Yes
Light: Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Cool). In cool weather the plants will need full sun for most rapid growth.
Water: High. These fast-growing plants must have all of the water they need for rapid growth. It is important that the soil is kept moist at all times.
Feeder: Light. These greens grow quickly and for best growth and flavor they should have all of the nutrients readily available, which means the soil needs to be fairly fertile. Their main requirement is for nitrogen, but they also need moderate amounts of potassium and phosphorus.
Suitability: Tolerates light frost
Small Gardens?: Yes
Containers?: Yes. Grow in a container at least 12" deep.
Attracts beneficial insects?: No
Forage: Rabbits. Safe in Moderation!
Plant Height: 18-24"
Spacing: 6-8", 4 plants per sq ft
Sow Depth: 1/8-1/4"
Produces: triangular-shaped green leaves, and showy red berries that resemble strawberries.
Hardiness Zone: 4-11
Genus: Blitum
Species: capitatum
Variety: Strawberry Spinach
Also Known As: Blite Goosefoot, Strawberry Goosefoot, Indian paint, and Indian Ink.
Native to: Alaska, Alberta, Arizona, British Columbia, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Manitoba, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nevada, New Brunswick, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Northwest Territorie, Nova Scotia, Nunavut, Ohio, Ontario, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Québec, Saskatchewan, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, Wyoming, Yukon
Introduced into: Albania, Central European Rus, Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Finland, Greece, Illinois, Iraq, Italy, New Zealand North, New Zealand South, Norway, Sweden.
Ease of Growing: Easy
Grown as: Annual
Days to Maturity: 90 days
Hardiness: Hardy. Strawberry spinach is usually grown as an annual, but it can perennialize in areas with milder climates.
Crops: Spring Transplant, Spring, Fall Transplant, Fall
Growing Season: Short
Growing Conditions: Cold, Warm, Hot.
Outdoor Growing Temp: 50°F-80°F
Min Outdoor Soil Temp: 50°F. Strawberry Spinach will be very slow to germinate in soil below 50˚ F.
Start Indoors: Yes
Start Outdoors: Yes
Light: Sun: min. 6 hours daily (Cool). In cool weather the plants will need full sun for most rapid growth.
Water: High. These fast-growing plants must have all of the water they need for rapid growth. It is important that the soil is kept moist at all times.
Feeder: Light. These greens grow quickly and for best growth and flavor they should have all of the nutrients readily available, which means the soil needs to be fairly fertile. Their main requirement is for nitrogen, but they also need moderate amounts of potassium and phosphorus.
Suitability: Tolerates light frost
Small Gardens?: Yes
Containers?: Yes. Grow in a container at least 12" deep.
Attracts beneficial insects?: No
Forage: Rabbits. Safe in Moderation!
Plant Height: 18-24"
Spacing: 6-8", 4 plants per sq ft
Sow Depth: 1/8-1/4"
Produces: triangular-shaped green leaves, and showy red berries that resemble strawberries.
Hardiness Zone: 4-11
Soil Preparation
Soil Preference:
Soil pH: 6.0-7.0, Ideal 6.3-6.8: A light, well-drained soil works best because spinach is grown in cool weather and such soils warm up faster. The ideal soil is rich in humus, moisture retentive, and contains lots of nitrogen and potassium. This plant is quite sensitive to pH (both extremes may cause deficiency), so adjust if necessary. Spinach is quite tolerant of saline soils.
Soil Preparation:
Standard Mix, 5 pounds per 100 sq. ft., in top 6" of soil, 1 time: A standard mix will supply additional nutrients. Incorporate it into the top 6˝ of soil along with the compost. This is a mix of various amendments intended to supply all of the nutrients plants may require. It is usually incorporated into the soil prior to planting. The mix consists of:
Mix these together thoroughly. You can do this all at once, or you can store them separately and mix as needed.
Soil pH: 6.0-7.0, Ideal 6.3-6.8: A light, well-drained soil works best because spinach is grown in cool weather and such soils warm up faster. The ideal soil is rich in humus, moisture retentive, and contains lots of nitrogen and potassium. This plant is quite sensitive to pH (both extremes may cause deficiency), so adjust if necessary. Spinach is quite tolerant of saline soils.
Soil Preparation:
Standard Mix, 5 pounds per 100 sq. ft., in top 6" of soil, 1 time: A standard mix will supply additional nutrients. Incorporate it into the top 6˝ of soil along with the compost. This is a mix of various amendments intended to supply all of the nutrients plants may require. It is usually incorporated into the soil prior to planting. The mix consists of:
- 4 parts cottonseed meal (this is high in nitrogen and relatively inexpensive)
- 2 parts colloidal phosphate or bone meal (for phosphorus)
- 2 parts wood ash or 3 parts greensand or granite dust (for potassium)
- 1 part dolomitic limestone (to balance pH and add calcium and magnesium)
- 1 part kelp meal (for trace elements)
Mix these together thoroughly. You can do this all at once, or you can store them separately and mix as needed.
Start Indoors
Seed Sowing Depth: Sow seeds 1/8" deep in cool soil and 1/4" deep in warm soil.
Soil temp for germination: 50°F to 80°F, optimal 65°F to 70°F, optimal 70°F.
Total weeks to grow transplant: 7 to 8 (Spring/Summer), 8 to 9 (Fall/Winter)
Harden Off: 1 weeks after last frost date.
When: One week before transplanting into your garden.
How: Harden off plants by placing outside during the day, keeping them outside longer each day.
Soil temp for germination: 50°F to 80°F, optimal 65°F to 70°F, optimal 70°F.
Total weeks to grow transplant: 7 to 8 (Spring/Summer), 8 to 9 (Fall/Winter)
Harden Off: 1 weeks after last frost date.
When: One week before transplanting into your garden.
How: Harden off plants by placing outside during the day, keeping them outside longer each day.
Transplant Outdoors
8-10 weeks before first frost date:
When: Transplant seedlings into the garden before the heat of the day, ideally before noon.
How: Transplant plants to soil line from where they were in the container. Space seedlings 6" apart. Water thoroughly after planting.
2 weeks after last frost date:
When: Transplant seedlings outside 2 weeks after your last frost date.
How: Transplant plants to soil line from where they were in the container. Space seedlings 6" apart. Water thoroughly after planting.
When outdoor temp: 50°F to 80°F, optimal temp 60°F to 70°F
When min soil temp: 50°F. Strawberry Spinach will be very slow to germinate in soil below 50˚ F.
Spacing: 6.0"-8.0", 4 plants per sq ft. Sow seeds 1" apart, and thin to a final spacing of 6 - 8" apart.
Support: No
When: Transplant seedlings into the garden before the heat of the day, ideally before noon.
How: Transplant plants to soil line from where they were in the container. Space seedlings 6" apart. Water thoroughly after planting.
2 weeks after last frost date:
When: Transplant seedlings outside 2 weeks after your last frost date.
How: Transplant plants to soil line from where they were in the container. Space seedlings 6" apart. Water thoroughly after planting.
When outdoor temp: 50°F to 80°F, optimal temp 60°F to 70°F
When min soil temp: 50°F. Strawberry Spinach will be very slow to germinate in soil below 50˚ F.
Spacing: 6.0"-8.0", 4 plants per sq ft. Sow seeds 1" apart, and thin to a final spacing of 6 - 8" apart.
Support: No
Start Outdoors
When: Cool, Warm, Hot
When outdoor temp: 50°F to 80°F, optimal temp 60°F to 70°F
When min soil temp: 50°F. Strawberry Spinach will be very slow to germinate in soil below 50˚ F.
Seed Depth: Sow seeds 1/8" deep in cool soil and 1/4" deep in warm soil.
Spacing: 6-8", 4 plants per sq ft. Sow seeds 1" apart, and thin to a final spacing of 6 - 8" apart.
Spring Crop:
2-4 weeks after last frost date: Sow directly in prepared soil 2 - 4 weeks after first frost. Thin seedlings to final spacing of 6" apart. Keep moist.
Fall Crop:
8-10 weeks before first frost date: Directly sow seedlings into the ground for a fall crop. Thin seedlings to final spacing of 6" apart. Keep moist.
Support: No
When outdoor temp: 50°F to 80°F, optimal temp 60°F to 70°F
When min soil temp: 50°F. Strawberry Spinach will be very slow to germinate in soil below 50˚ F.
Seed Depth: Sow seeds 1/8" deep in cool soil and 1/4" deep in warm soil.
Spacing: 6-8", 4 plants per sq ft. Sow seeds 1" apart, and thin to a final spacing of 6 - 8" apart.
Spring Crop:
2-4 weeks after last frost date: Sow directly in prepared soil 2 - 4 weeks after first frost. Thin seedlings to final spacing of 6" apart. Keep moist.
Fall Crop:
8-10 weeks before first frost date: Directly sow seedlings into the ground for a fall crop. Thin seedlings to final spacing of 6" apart. Keep moist.
Support: No
Specialty greens need to grow quickly for best quality. This can only be done by giving the plants everything they need.
Water Needs: High. These fast-growing plants must have all of the water they need for rapid growth. It is important that the soil is kept moist at all times.
Fertilizer Needs: Light. These greens grow quickly and for best growth and flavor they should have all of the nutrients readily available, which means the soil needs to be fairly fertile. Their main requirement is for nitrogen, but they also need moderate amounts of potassium and phosphorus.
Watering, regularly: Keep the soil evenly moist at all times. These greens are delicate and do not like to dry out. Good watering practices can help offset the negative effects of summer heat, so it is important to keep the soil constantly moist. In hot weather this may mean watering every day.
Watering also depends on your local weather; don't water if it's raining, or water more frequently if it's dry. Just be sure to keep soil moist for the best crop. The best way to know how much moisture is in your soil is to feel 2" below the soil line. If it's dry, water.
Side Dressing, regularly: If your soil is not as rich as it could be, or if the soil is cool, give the plants a feed of compost tea or liquid kelp every 3 weeks or so.
Thinning, when 4" tall: You can plant these greens closer together than the variety requirements and then thin them out as they grow (eat the thinnings).
Support: No
Water Needs: High. These fast-growing plants must have all of the water they need for rapid growth. It is important that the soil is kept moist at all times.
Fertilizer Needs: Light. These greens grow quickly and for best growth and flavor they should have all of the nutrients readily available, which means the soil needs to be fairly fertile. Their main requirement is for nitrogen, but they also need moderate amounts of potassium and phosphorus.
Watering, regularly: Keep the soil evenly moist at all times. These greens are delicate and do not like to dry out. Good watering practices can help offset the negative effects of summer heat, so it is important to keep the soil constantly moist. In hot weather this may mean watering every day.
Watering also depends on your local weather; don't water if it's raining, or water more frequently if it's dry. Just be sure to keep soil moist for the best crop. The best way to know how much moisture is in your soil is to feel 2" below the soil line. If it's dry, water.
Side Dressing, regularly: If your soil is not as rich as it could be, or if the soil is cool, give the plants a feed of compost tea or liquid kelp every 3 weeks or so.
Thinning, when 4" tall: You can plant these greens closer together than the variety requirements and then thin them out as they grow (eat the thinnings).
Support: No
Harvesting
Ripening:
Leaves can be picked once they reach a size that suits your needs.
When and How:
Cut & Come Again, 20-1 days before maturity:
Take the leaves when they're big enough. Leaves are best when they are young.
Cut & Come Again, 1-45 days after maturity:
Take the leaves when they're big enough. Leaves are best when they are young.
Whole Fruit, 1-14 days after maturity:
You can harvest the berries if you'd like. You can use them as food, or use as coloring or dye.
Leaves can be picked once they reach a size that suits your needs.
When and How:
Cut & Come Again, 20-1 days before maturity:
Take the leaves when they're big enough. Leaves are best when they are young.
Cut & Come Again, 1-45 days after maturity:
Take the leaves when they're big enough. Leaves are best when they are young.
Whole Fruit, 1-14 days after maturity:
You can harvest the berries if you'd like. You can use them as food, or use as coloring or dye.
Storage
Specialty greens are so tender and delicate they do not keep very well. You can keep them in a plastic bag in the fridge for a few days. Don't wash them until you are going to use them.
Storage Req: Refrigerator
Storage Temp: 35-40°F
Storage Length: 1-5 days
Storage Req: Refrigerator
Storage Temp: 35-40°F
Storage Length: 1-5 days
Most of these are fairly easy to save seed from, you just have to leave them in the ground long enough to flower and produce seed.
Seed Viability in Years: 2 - 5 Years
Germination Percentage: 80%
Seed Viability in Years: 2 - 5 Years
Germination Percentage: 80%
Culinary
Taste:
Leaves have a nutty-like flavor. Sweet berries are bland in flavor.
Culinary Use:
You can steam the leaves and tender shoots, use them as a potherb, or eat them raw in a salad (although you should only eat raw leaves in small quantities, as they contain oxalic acid). The berries are also edible, and make a great addition to fruit salads.
Leaves: raw or cooked. Used like spinach, they are a good source of vitamins C and A. The young leaves are best. Poor quality. The raw leaves have been used in salad mixtures, but should only be eaten in small quantities due to toxicity.
Fruit: raw or cooked. An insipid but sweet flavor, they can be added to salads. The fruit is about 12 mm in diameter. A red food coloring can be obtained from the fruit.
Seed: cooked. It can be ground into a meal and mixed with cereal flours in making bread etc. The seed is small and fiddly, it should be soaked in water overnight and thoroughly rinsed before it is used in order to remove any saponins.
Known Hazards: The leaves and seeds of all members of this genus are more or less edible. However, many of the species in this genus contain saponins, though usually in quantities too small to do any harm. Although toxic, saponins are poorly absorbed by the body and most pass straight through without any problem. They are also broken down to a large extent in the cooking process. Saponins are found in many foods, such as some beans. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish. The plants also contain some oxalic acid, which in large quantities can lock up some of the nutrients in the food. However, even considering this, they are very nutritious vegetables in reasonable quantities. Cooking the plants will reduce their content of oxalic acid. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition.
Leaves have a nutty-like flavor. Sweet berries are bland in flavor.
Culinary Use:
You can steam the leaves and tender shoots, use them as a potherb, or eat them raw in a salad (although you should only eat raw leaves in small quantities, as they contain oxalic acid). The berries are also edible, and make a great addition to fruit salads.
Leaves: raw or cooked. Used like spinach, they are a good source of vitamins C and A. The young leaves are best. Poor quality. The raw leaves have been used in salad mixtures, but should only be eaten in small quantities due to toxicity.
Fruit: raw or cooked. An insipid but sweet flavor, they can be added to salads. The fruit is about 12 mm in diameter. A red food coloring can be obtained from the fruit.
Seed: cooked. It can be ground into a meal and mixed with cereal flours in making bread etc. The seed is small and fiddly, it should be soaked in water overnight and thoroughly rinsed before it is used in order to remove any saponins.
Known Hazards: The leaves and seeds of all members of this genus are more or less edible. However, many of the species in this genus contain saponins, though usually in quantities too small to do any harm. Although toxic, saponins are poorly absorbed by the body and most pass straight through without any problem. They are also broken down to a large extent in the cooking process. Saponins are found in many foods, such as some beans. Saponins are much more toxic to some creatures, such as fish, and hunting tribes have traditionally put large quantities of them in streams, lakes etc in order to stupefy or kill the fish. The plants also contain some oxalic acid, which in large quantities can lock up some of the nutrients in the food. However, even considering this, they are very nutritious vegetables in reasonable quantities. Cooking the plants will reduce their content of oxalic acid. People with a tendency to rheumatism, arthritis, gout, kidney stones or hyperacidity should take especial caution if including this plant in their diet since it can aggravate their condition.
Medicinal
The plant has been used as a lotion for treating black eyes and head bruises. The juice of the seeds and an infusion of the plant has been used to treat lung congestion.
Project Purity Seeds can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Gold/green dyes can be obtained from the whole plant. A red dye is obtained from the fruit, it is used in cosmetics and as a paint.