Akarenso Spinach Seeds – Japanese Red-Stem Spinach, Heat-Tolerant, Open-Pollinated

Akarenso Spinach – Japan's Standout Red-Stem Variety

Akarenso is one of Japan's finest spinach selections — a heat-tolerant variety that stands apart with its striking red-purple stems and leaf veins set against rich green, pointed, slightly serrated leaves. Soft in texture and very mild in flavor with low tannins, Akarenso is exceptional fresh in salads and holds its beautiful color remarkably well when cooked.

A perfect warm-season spinach for Asian-inspired cooking: toss into soups, serve Japanese-style braised with sesame dressing, stir-fry with noodles, or simply enjoy raw as a colorful salad green. Ready to harvest in approximately 50 days.

Seed Details

• Variety: Akarenso (red-stem Japanese spinach)
• Type: Open-Pollinated, Heat-Tolerant
• Leaves: Pointed, slightly serrated, deep green with red-purple veins and stems
• Flavor: Very mild, low tannins — excellent raw or cooked
• Days to Maturity: ~50 days (full leaf); harvestable as baby leaf earlier
• Planting Season: Late spring to early summer; late summer to early fall
• Best Use: Salads, soups, stir-fries, braised with sesame dressing

Growing Instructions

• Direct sow in late spring to early summer or again in late summer to early fall.
• Sow seeds ½" deep in well-drained, fertile soil; thin to 4–6" apart.
• Full sun to partial shade; water consistently.
• More heat-tolerant than standard spinach varieties — ideal for warmer climates.

Harvesting

• Cut leaves when they reach usable size — harvest promptly before bolting or yellowing.
• Cut below the crown with a knife; remove any damaged or yellow leaves before use.
• Wash gently and store chilled for best freshness.

Saving Seeds

Wind-pollinated — isolate from other spinach varieties by at least ¼ mile. Allow plants to bolt and set seed. Harvest whole plants when seeds are dry; thresh on a tarp and clean with a screen. Seed remains viable 3–5 years under cool, dry storage.

Select your desired seed quantity above. Open-pollinated, untreated seed.