How to grow Warrigal Greens in Australia
A hardy native green for full sun in well drained soil that tolerates sandy, coastal and salty conditions. It spreads as a groundcover and handles dry spells once established.
At a glance
- Difficulty: Beginner
- Sun: Full sun
- Water: 3 litres a week, watered every 4 days
- Spacing: 60 cm
- Time to harvest: 60 days
- Time to germinate: 14 days
- Soil pH: 5.5 to 8
- Frost tolerance: Half hardy
When to sow by region
| Region | When to sow | Regional note |
|---|---|---|
| South East Queensland | September to March | |
| Northern Rivers NSW | September to March | |
| Sydney & Coastal NSW | September to March | Hardy Australian coastal native (grows wild on NSW beaches), reliable across Sydney. Sow Sep to Mar; blanch leaves before eating. |
| Melbourne & Victoria | October to December | Frost-sensitive; sow Oct to Nov only. Dies in Melbourne winter. Summer crop only. |
| Adelaide & SA | September to December | Sow Sep to Dec; soak the seed first. A local coastal native that takes heat and salt, and self sows once established. |
| Perth & WA | September to December | Sow Sep to Dec; soak the seed first. A local coastal native that takes heat and salt, and self sows once established. |
| Tasmania | October and November | Sow Oct to Nov after frost. Strictly a summer green here - autumn frost ends it. |
| Canberra & ACT | October and November | Grow as a summer annual. Sow Oct to Nov after frost; thrives in heat and is killed by the first autumn frost. |
| North Queensland | September to March | Wet season. Warrigal greens (Australian native) thrive in tropical heat and humidity year-round. |
| Darwin & Top End | April to August | Dry season Apr to Aug. Prefers the cooler dry months over wet season heat. |
Harvest and storage
Harvest tip
Pick young leafy tips once the plant is sprawling well. Pinch off the soft growing tips and it keeps branching out with fresh shoots. Blanch leaves before eating.
Storage
Fridge in a bag, up to 4 days. Always blanch before eating (never eat raw).