Atriplex hortensis gold-leaved seeds - Garden orache

The Golden Orache, in Latin Atriplex hortensis gold-leaved, is an annual vegetable plant that was once very popular in Europe before spinach took over. With its rapid growth and edible leaves delicately tinted with yellow-green, it brings diversity to the vegetable garden. Tolerant of heat, this orache provides an alternative to spinach during the summer, and its tender leaves can be eaten raw or cooked. Used to enhance salads and as a cooked vegetable, Golden Orache will delight gardeners looking for a plant that is both robust and decorative. Sow from March to July for a harvest from July to September.

Native to Central Asia, Siberia, and the Mediterranean basin, classified in the Amaranthaceae family, Orache is a very old leafy vegetable, commonly cultivated in the Middle Ages before being surpassed by spinach. Its Latin name is Atriplex hortensis, but it is known as Garden Orache, Cultivated Orache, Giant Spinach, or False Spinach. It is a fast-growing annual plant with spectacular development, its habit is upright and its height varies between 1 and 2 m. Its channelled stem is adorned with large alternate leaves whose colour varies according to the varieties. These wide, ovate leaves can reach 20 cm in length. The discreet flowering of the Orach occurs in summer, in the form of small greenish flowers pollinated by the wind. With very rapid growth, this plant can be harvested approximately two months after sowing, before the appearance of flower buds that toughen the leaves.

Golden Orach leaves can be cooked like spinach: raw in salads or quickly cooked, braised, in cream, gratin, in pies... Its flavour pairs well with Sorrel. It is a low-calorie vegetable, rich in fibre, vitamin C, and minerals. Due to its high oxalic acid content, it should however be consumed in moderation by individuals with kidney stones.

Golden Orach thrives in fairly poor or previously fertilised soil and in partial shade. Its only fault is a tendency to quickly go to seed during dry spells. To remedy this slight inconvenience, we recommend spacing out the sowings over time.

Harvest: the leaves can be picked as they develop, according to needs. The first harvests generally occur 2-3 months after sowing.

Storage: Golden Orach does not keep well in the refrigerator as it tends to soften. It is best to consume it a few hours after harvesting. However, it can be frozen after blanching for 3 minutes in salted boiling water.

To reduce weeding operations, we recommend mulching the soil with thin successive layers of clippings, ideally mixed with dead leaves. This protection, which helps keep the soil moist, also reduces the need for watering.