Lagos Spinach / Shoko – Seeds

Lagos spinach is a annual tropical leafy green that grows very well in hot weather. In Nigeria this vegetable is called “Shoko” and is a critically important crop. Because of its tropical origins, this is a very well adapted plant to places like Florida that have summers that mimic the tropics. The plants are quite pest and disease resistant and can be grown under weather conditions that would cause many traditional leafy greens to fail. Flower gardeners will quickly recognize the plant as a form of Celosia, a common annual ornamental.

Cultivation of Lagos Spinach is similar to its relative amaranth/calaloo. It is a rapidly growing annual that grows to the height of a person at full maturity when flowers set. Greens can be harvested until flowering. Seeds may be sown thickly and entire plants can be harvested while thinning. Larger plants can be topped for harvesting or individual leaves can be plucked.

Lagos spinach is a delicately textured, mild and delicious leafy green. Good eating quality is ensured by growing healthy plants that are succulent and harvesting younger parts of the plant. In African countries that utilize this green, it is boiled for 5-10 minutes and the boiling water is dumped. Since the leaves contain some oxalates and nitrates, it is wise to follow this traditional wisdom. When eaten alone, the greens can a give very light sensation in the mouth that may be related to the oxalate content. We have been taste testing this with friends and it seems that at least half of people cannot detect the sensation. Given that millions of people eat this green daily, we don’t think this is anything to worry about.

There are purple and green versions of Lagos Spinach. We have chosen to offer the purple type for two reasons. One is that it’s beautiful. The second reason is that young seedlings of the purple variety are very easy to distinguish from other plant life. The color makes it simple to distinguish germinating seedlings from weeds. Lagos spinach volunteers readily if plants are allowed to go to seed and they often come up in odd places. The purple leaves on small seedlings are a dead giveaway to leave the volunteer plant alone for a future harvest.

Lagos Spinach is flexible about planting times. The main thing to understand is that it requires high heat to grow well.

To save seeds, allow some plants to bolt. When the seed head drops some black seeds into your hand when shaken, the entire thing can be cut and allowed to dry indoors.

Celosia argentea

60 seeds