Orach

Orach (Atriplex hortensis)

Red orach is also commonly called mountain spinach or French spinach and you'll love the beautiful fast-growing plants and delicious flavor. While eaten and enjoyed for centuries in Europe, it's not as common in American gardens so here's a little background.

Red Orach's history traces back to the Fertile Crescent, a region containing parts of the Middle East and Eastern Mediterranean, where it is thought to have originated. Humans have consumed orach for over 4,000 years. Red Orach was a staple food in ancient Egypt, offering a unique flavor and dependable nutrition. It was recognized not only for its flavor but also for its reputed medicinal properties. 

In his Natural History, Pliny the Elder mentions various types of "Atriplex" plants and describes their use as food and medicine. The Romans spread orach throughout their domain and it is now a common plant in gardens across Europe. Monastic communities have grown orach for centuries and wrote about it's virtues both in cuisine and for health. The beautiful leaves were even create vibrant dyes.

European trade carried Red Orach seeds to the New World. Thomas Jefferson cultivated this versatile green in his Monticello gardens, documenting its unique flavor and resilience in the summer heat. 

You can start enjoying the leaves when the plants are just a foot tall and if you allow them to grow they can reach 6 ft. in height. They are a beautiful addition to the garden providing stunning color. 

The tasty leaves of orach can be added to salads, sanwiches and stir-fries and once you grow a crop it will likely become a standard in your garden!

Origin: The parent seed of our orach was given to us by our Norwegian friend Solveig where she grows it in her garden at far northern latitudes. It grows great in our garden too which is a testament to the resilience of the plants. 

(Approximately 40 seeds per packet)

Germination Rate: All of our seed varieties exceed 75% germination and are tested every 6 months.

Planting Instructions: Begin sowing orach seed directly in the ground after the last frost in early spring. For a continuous supply of fresh greens, succession plant a new batch of orach seeds every 2-3 weeks. Red Orach can be grown as a winter crop in warmer climates, providing vibrant color and nutrition during the colder months. Sow 1 seed 1/2" deep every 6" in full sun to part shade.