Whether you garden in the ground, in raised beds, on the porch, or anywhere else, orach is a great addition or re-addition to your plant family. Read on for simple, straightforward specifics about growing orach, also spelled as orache.
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Family | Container Size | Good Companions | Bad Companions | Soil Conditions | Germination | Sun | Water | Temperature Range | Height | Lifespan | Reproduction | Yield Per Plant | Ingestibility | Further Reading
What Family Does Orach Belong To?
Orach (Atriplex hortensis) belongs to the Amaranthaceae family, also known as the amaranth family.
Some of its relatives include spinach, beets, and quinoa.
What Size Container Should I Use for Growing Orach?
The minimum container depth recommended for orach is 12 inches.
Learn more in our Choosing the Right Planter for Your Container Garden article here.
What Are Good Companion Plants for Orach?
Some of orach's best companions are as follows:
- Broccoli, tatsoi, and other Brassicas
- Tomato
- Tomatillo
- Eggplant
- Peppers such as habanero and bell pepper
- Strawberry
- Peas
- Beans like green beans
- Lettuce
- Garlic
- Chard
What Are Bad Companion Plants for Orach?
Orach is not compatible with every plant. Some things to avoid planting with orach are as follows:
What Soil Conditions Does Orach Need?
Orach prefers well-draining, rich soil.
How Long Does Orach Take to Germinate?
Orach takes 1-2 weeks to germinate at a temperature of 50-70°F.
How Much Sun Does Orach Need?
Orach can grow in full sun to part shade.
In other words, it grows fastest in full sun. It will still grow in dappled shade or part shade, just at a slower rate.
Sun recommendations can vary by region, and orach grown in hot areas or in warmer conditions than the ideal temperature range noted below may need more shade.
How Much Water Does Orach Need?
Orach needs 1 inch of water per week for optimal flavor.
However, it is fairly drought-tolerant once established.
What Is the Ideal Temperature Range for Growing Orach?
Orach grows fastest in temperatures of 50-70°F.
This is its ideal temperature range. Although it will grow in temperatures both cooler and warmer than this range, growth could be slower or even stunted.
Minimum and maximum temperatures will vary by variety. Some orach varieties are bred for late fall harvests and others for warmer climates.
How Tall Does Orach Get?
The average height of orach is 4-6 feet.
Is Orach Annual, Biennial, or Perennial?
Orach is annual, meaning that it starts and ends its life in the same year.
How Does Orach Reproduce?
Orach reproduces by seed.
How Much Orach is Produced Per Plant?
For orach, how much is produced per plant (also called the yield) largely depends on the type, variety, and size of the plant.
Most orach plants produce 0.5 pound of leaves per plant.
Can Orach Be Ingested?
Orach leaves and seeds are edible.
Orach leaves have nutritive and diuretic properties and can be used in herbal preparations. Orach seeds have liver-supportive properties and can also be used in herbal preparations. The most common preparations are tea (infusions for leaves, decoctions for seeds) and tinctures. An herb:solvent weight ratio of 1:5 at 40% alcohol is suggested for a orach tincture.
Like spinach and most other Amaranthaceae family plants, orach leaves are high in oxalic acid. Those who are sensitive to oxalates and oxalic acid may want to avoid or limit their intake of orach. Oxalates are reduced by cooking or other heating methods.
Orach seeds contain saponins, which are also reduced or eliminated by cooking.
There are no other known safety concerns associated with ingesting orach leaves or seeds.
Further Reading
This article is intended as a quick-reference guide for gardeners. Consult your seed packet or seed catalog for variety-specific information.
When you have a bumper crop of orach rolling in, you may not have enough time for long, complicated recipes or many-step preservation procedures. Check out my article on quick, simple uses for orach here!
Orach is featured in these Plant to Plate articles: