“A cool-season plant, orach is a warm-season alternative to spinach that is less likely to bolt. A member of the Chenopodiaceae family, orach (Atriplex hortensis) is also known as Garden Orache, Red Orach, Mountain Spinach, French Spinach, and Sea Purslane. It is also sometimes referred to as Salt Bush due to its tolerance for alkaline and saline soils. The name orach is derived from the Latin ‘aurago’ meaning golden herb.

Orach is grown much like spinach in USDA zones 4 through 8. Seeds should be sown in full sun to part shade about two to three weeks after the last frost for your area. Sow seeds ¼ to ½ inch (6 mm. to 1 cm.) deep spaced 2 inches (5 cm.) apart in rows a foot to 18 inches (31-46 cm.) apart. With germination temps of between 50 and 65 degrees F. (10-18 C.), seeds should sprout within 7 to 14 days. Thin the seedlings to 6 to 12 inches (15-31 cm.) in the row. The thinnings can be eaten– tossed into salads much as any other baby green.” Gardening Know How