Garden Orache Red Flash is a forgotten vegetable that is related to the Amaranth. Because this vegetable is easy to grow and very healthy, it's on the rise. It originates from Central Asia. The leaves are very tender and have an attractive red colour. It can be used as a leaf vegetable as well as a beautiful plant in the garden. The leaves are very attractive and juicy. The leaves are three-sided and the flowers form dense clusters and after a while paper-like sheaths are formed around the seeds. It needs good fertilisation and well-drained soil and a place in full sun. To prevent the plant from shooting, it should always be watered abundantly. This plant can suffer greatly from snails, slugs, aphids and other pests. The taste of garden orache Red Flash is very reminiscent of a somewhat salty spinach. This plant is often grown as a replacement for spinach. Harvest the leaves from July to October when the plant is about 20 cm high. Only the young, tender leaves are used. Can be used raw or cooked, steamed and fried. This plant sows itself very easily and can therefore also be used in natural and wild gardens.
Garden orache is a very healthy and versatile vegetable. You can boil, fry, steam, blanch, glaze, grill, gratin and puree, stew, stir-fry and use in oven dishes and salads. Garden orache contains vitamins: C, K, and the minerals calcium, phosphorus, iron, potassium, copper, magnesium, manganese and zinc. It also contains a lot of fibre, antioxidants and like all vegetables it's low in calories. Garden orache also contains a lot of carotenes and anthocyanins. Garden orache can be added to soups, sauces, salads, stews, casseroles, quiches, pasta, rice and other dishes in which you normally use spinach as a substitute. Garden orache is delicious with: beef, pork, chicken, minced meat, bacon, garlic, oregano, ricotta, aged cheese, mozzarella, pasta, rice, lasagne sheets, cream, milk, eggs, olive oil, Feta, crème fraiche, flour, wine, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, cumin, wine vinegar, basil, walnuts, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds, frozen puff pastry, whipped cream, cashew nuts and hazelnuts. And with various other vegetables such as: spinach, cabbage lettuce, tomatoes, peas, chard, beets, French beans, chilli, apples, onions, shallots, rocket and lamb's lettuce. Non hardy annual. Height: 100 - 150 cm.
Indoor sowing/outdoor sowing under glass: early April - end of May
Outdoor sowing: early May - July
Germination: 10 - 14 days
Germination temperature: 14 - 22 °C
Sowing depth: shallow - ½ cm
Planting distance: 35 - 45 cm
Plant position: sunny with some halfshade
Harvest period: July - October
Sow indoors or outdoors in a greenhouse from early April to late May in separate pots filled with well moistened sowing soil. Sow shallowly and press the seeds gently in the ground. Garden orache is a light germinator. Don't let the temperature drop during the night. As soon as the seedlings emerge, store the pots at approx. 18 °C. Let the pots get used to the outside temperature in the daytime for a few days (10 - 14 days). Afterwards put them on a sunny spot with some shade.
From the beginning of May, as soon as there is no more chance of night frost, sow in the garden in a sunny spot with some shade. Sow widely or in rows and carefully rake the seeds into the soil. Keep well moist and weed free. Thin out the seedlings at 35 - 45 cm, as soon as they are big enough to handle. This plant is very attractive to bees and butterflies. Birds also like to eat the seeds of Garden orache. But most importantly, the leaves of this plant are edible and taste similar to spinach. The leaves can also be prepared as spinach. Harvest the leaves from July onwards by carefully cutting them off the plants. The leaves do not keep long after harvesting, so eat them as fresh as possible.
