3171 - Magenta Spreen. 30-45 Days. This cultivated form of wild lamb’s quarters has tender, magenta-dusted leaves and can grow up to 6 feet tall. It is excellent for salads or as a spinach substitute in cooked dishes. Magenta Spreen thrives in any well-drained soil and is tolerant of both hot and cold weather, making it ideal for planting from early spring through midsummer. To maintain a continuous harvest until frost, replant every couple of weeks. For optimal germination when direct seeding, plant outdoors in early spring as soon as the soil is workable. Sow 20 seeds per foot, cover with 1/2" of soil, and space rows 18-30" apart. If transplanting, use a moistened seed starting mix and refrigerate at 40°F (5°C) for 7 days to break dormancy. Afterward, grow seedlings at 60-80°F (16-27°C).
