Taste is similar, at least to me. I'm also a spinach fan and have grown both the NZ and Malabar varieties. Malabar is probably closer to the real spinach to my taste buds but I find the NZ variety easier to grow and a bit more versatile. George Allen and Judy Merten wrote: > > Hi George, > Thanks for that tip about the NZ Spinach. I had never grown it or seen it > grown. It had been recommended in some literature from the Extension Service, > so I thought I'd try it. How close to regular spinach is it? Son #3 is a big > fan of spinach. Disappointed that spinach does not do well here. He told me > that he didn't know that there was anything I couldn't grow. He's a good son! > Allen > Bastrop Co.,Tx > Zone 8 > > George Shirley wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > > > We use pine needles for a mulch under our blueberries and the azaleas, > > partially for the acidic boost and mostly because they mat good and stay > > there. > > > > Allen, our garden runs slightly acidic, about 6.5 pH and New Zealand > > spinach grows like a weed for us. Very good lightly steamed, freezes > > well, and dehydrates very well. I usually dry about a gallon container > > for winter use, ie soups and stews. Put it somewhere it can climb or run > > along the ground and just pick the leaves as you need them. It's > > supposed to be a perennial but I just found that out this year so will > > plant along the fence where it's out of the way. > > > > George