Magenta Spreen is also known as tree spinach and it’s an annual plant that’s many branched shrub. It’s named after its color. The plant has been domesticated and used as grain, vegetable, and forage crop.
It’s mostly used in similar ways as spinach, since that’s what it’s named after. That means that it’s mostly cooked and boiled. It can also be eaten raw but not in large quantities. It makes it a good addition to many salads.
Magenta Spreen Trivia
- It’s also known as purple goosefoot
- Some call it Giant lambs quarters
- The plant was brought to the US by Alan Kapuler
Magenta Spreen Buying Guide
The peak season for this plant is late winter all through the summer but you can find it all year round. You should look for the shape and the color of its leafs in order to choose a mature one. Its distinctive triangular-shaped leaves have a slightly toothed margin and are covered in a reflective downy layer. The soft, velvety green foliage is highlighted by tinges of magenta, especially on those nearest the stems’ tip. The larger leaves have a slightly chewy and fibrous texture, while smaller leaves are delicate and tender.
Magenta Spreen Production & Farming in Texas
Magenta spreen is grown in Texas both commercially and in private gardens. In this other case it’s usually sold directly on farmer’s market or within the community, since it’s easy to pick and easy to care about. The plant requires some conditions in terms of sunlight and the quality of soil but other than that it’s a good match for Texas farms and gardens.
It requires a moderately fertile soil to grow and you’ll need to find a sunny location for it as well. It’s best to use organic sources of nitrogen to fertilize the soil. In this regard it’s similar to spinach and those are the guidelines to follow since it will be similar to spinach in taste as well.
The plant can grow to be quite huge if you don’t restrain it. The mature plants are 6 to 8 feet tall. They ripen into seedpods that look like bumps on the stems. If the black seeds mature, they will fall and often grow, giving you a crop without replanting. This can be too much of a good thing, though, so you might want to take your plants out before they go to seed
Harvest the stem tips until the plants begin to bloom, then pull them out and eat any leaves or tender stems that remain.
Pesticides
The same pesticides are used as they are for spinach. It’s best to use the pesticides that target a specific pest rather than broad use ones.
Geography
Magenta Spreen has a long history of existing as a wild plant but it has been domesticated relatively recently. That has been done in India at least there are indications that it’s the case. The plant has spread from there and is now used all over the world especially now with the rise of global cuisine.
Packaging
Magenta Spreen is packed the same way spinach is, meaning that once the leafs are cut they can be packed in bunches and ties with a string or they can be sold in plastic bags that are ready made to be put into a freezer or a fridge.
Sometimes they are kept in open cardboard boxes in order for it to be displayed and for the customers to be able to pick and choose.
Enjoying Magenta Spreen
Magenta Spreen is usually used as a substitute for baby spinach in dishes. That means that it can be eaten raw or in salads or it can be cooked just like baby spinach. Some also decide to stir fry this plant and thus make its taste more interesting.
Larger leaves stand up to sautéing, steaming and braising, however young tender leaves should be enjoyed raw. It’s best to combine the plant with other spicier ingredients.
Storage
The same rules apply for storing it as they do for spinach. It’s best if that’s done in a plastic bag and with paper towel around the plant. That way the plan margenta spreen will last much longer especially if it’s kept in the colder part of the freezer.
Cooking
Here’s a simple recipe for a smoothie with Magenta Spreen.
Place greens in your blender with the water and blend on low until well broken down.
Turn on to high speed until smooth.
Add the fruit, ground or soaked chia and pumpkin seeds and blend again until smooth.
Place 6-10 whole blueberries (depending on your glass size) in a glass and pour over the smoothie. When you drink the smoothie you’ll meet a blueberry and have something nice to chew. This mixture yields 1.5 Liters enough for a family or keep some aside for the next day in the fridge.
Enjoy!
Nutrition
Magenta spreen is a highly nutritious plant, rich in Vitamins C and E, essential fatty acids, iron, calcium, minerals and antioxidants which are good for dealing with free radicals. The underside of the leaves and top of the new leaves are covered in a fine pink dust. Resist the temptation to wash it off as it is full of calcium and protein. It contains even more protein than kale, which contains more than the recommended daily intake of protein. Just put the tender shoots and leaves (removed from the tough stems) in your blender and you’ll get all the benefits the plant has to offer. Magenta spreen does contain some oxalic acid like spinach and swiss chard or silver beet. These plants are so loaded with calcium however, that the amount of calcium not absorbed due to oxalic acid is minimized. Oxalic acid could build up if you had the same greens for weeks, so rotate your greens.
