Malabar spinach is a warm weather vegetable that originated in Asia and is widely used in many Asian cuisines. The leaves, shoots, and berries are all edible and have different culinary uses. Malabar is a region on the southwest coast of India, where the tropical climate offers the perfect growing conditions for this vigorous vine. This vegetable is also known as Indian spinach, Ceylon spinach, or wine spinach.
A common problem with growing regular spinach is that spinach tends to rot and turn bitter once the temperature rises. Last year I was only able to get a few weeks of harvest from my Bloomsdale Long Standing variety in my garden in Zone 5b between the last frost and the first late spring heat wave. It was the first leaf green in my garden, before my rocket! Although malabar spinach is not botanically related to common spinach varieties, it can be a great alternative for production in your summer garden.
Malabar spinach is a perennial when grown in warm conditions such as in southern California or the southern states of the United States. In most other climates, it is grown annually. It can also become invasive if you let your plants go to seed. However, if there is frost in your growing area, you can only grow this vegetable as an annual. After cold-resistant leafy vegetables, it's an excellent alternative to planting one at a time.
Good products for growing Malabar spinach:
Brief instructions for care
Freshly picked Malabar spinach makes a good salad. Source: artizone
| Common Name (s) | Malabar spinach, Ceylon spinach, Indian spinach, vine spinach |
| Scientific name | Basella alba or Basella rubra |
| Days to harvest | 50 days for baby green; 85 days to full size |
| light | Full sun |
| Water: | Uniform moisture |
| ground | Prefers fertile soil with a pH between 6.5 and 6.8, although it tolerates poor soils |
| fertilizer | Nitrogen-rich fertilizer to support leaf growth |
| Pests | Root node nematodes |
| Diseases | Cercospora leaf spot |
Everything about Malabar spinach
The buds and flowers of Malabar spinach give way to berries. Source: Breakfast for Dinner
Malabar spinach can serve multiple purposes in your garden, both as an edible crop and as a landscape ornament. There are two common types of Malabar spinach: Basella alba and Basella rubra. Basella rubra is more commonly grown as an ornamental plant due to its striking purple vine color, while the dark green Malabar spinach Basella alba is more commonly grown for food. Both types are edible and very nutritious with high levels of calcium, iron, and vitamins A and C.
Both species of Malabar spinach are fast-growing vines with oval to heart-shaped leaves that are dark green and semi-juicy. The vines are strong and can grow up to two meters high in one season. The main difference between Basella alba and Basella rubra lies in the color of their vines. The word "alba" means white in Latin, while "rubra" means red. Malabar spinach blooms in summer as long clusters of small purple-white flowers. These flowers eventually turn into dark purple berries that are edible but can also be used as a coloring agent. It is very important to keep soil moisture constant during the hot summer months if you plan to grow malabar spinach for food. Dry soil causes the vine to bloom and changes the taste profile of the leaves from mild to bitter.
Soups, stews, curries or stir-fry dishes can be mixed with Malabar spinach leaves and tender stems. The leaves are fleshy and can be a good thickener. The root of Malabar spinach is even used as a traditional medicine in some cultures to treat diarrhea and other stomach problems.
Plant malabar spinach
Malabar spinach is very sensitive to frost and must therefore be planted after the danger of frost has passed and the soil has warmed up. This vine can be obtained from seeds, sown directly, or transplanted from cuttings.
Seeds or grafts grow best in full sun. Malabar spinach is easy to care for and can thrive when planted directly in the ground, in raised beds, or in containers. You'll need to add trellis to allow the vines to climb vertically, or you may need to let the vines spread out to become a quick decorative ground cover.
maintenance
This young Malabar spinach plant turns into a healthy vine. Source: kmimsey
Malabar spinach is easy to grow and a great heat-resistant vegetable to try in the summer. Given the right conditions, your Malabar spinach can become both a visual and a culinary star in your garden.
Sun and temperature
Malabar spinach grows best in full sun, which means six or more hours of sunlight in summer. Malabar spinach can be grown annual in most USDA growing areas, but perennial in zone 7 and above. Because this spinach vine thrives in the summer heat, it may not grow as vigorously in zones where the average summer temperature is below 80-90 ° F. Malabar spinach is very sensitive to frost and does not survive even after a light frost.
Water and moisture
Malabar spinach is a tropical plant and therefore needs uniform soil moisture. If you live in a hot and dry climate, make sure you are always up to date by setting up a timer and watering deeply with waterer hoses. Also, use mulch liberally to keep the soil moist.
This type of spinach is sensitive to dry spells and will bloom and turn bitter if not watered evenly. This may not be a problem if you are growing malabar spinach as an ornamental vine. Be careful not to water too much or to spray from above to prevent the spread of fungal diseases. If you are growing Malabar spinach in a tropical climate with a rainy season, you will not need additional watering during this time.
ground
Malabar spinach prefers well-drained, loamy and rich soils. The ideal soil pH should be slightly acidic, between 6.5 and 6.8. Although it tolerates alkaline or poor soils, the plant's growth slows down drastically. Apply mulch to the surface of your soil to prevent evaporation of soil moisture in hot weather and to reduce the spread of weeds.
Fertilize
If you grow malabar spinach for its dark green or purple leaves, consider using a fertilizer high in nitrogen to promote healthy leaf growth. In the spring, start your plants in fertile soil with some nitrogen fertilizer. Continue fertilizing every 3-4 weeks throughout the growing season to encourage leaf production.
clipping
Malabar spinach can be pruned quite aggressively. If your plant is not pruned, it can quickly take up acreage. Frequent pruning and harvesting of the green leaves and shoots is good for the plant and can encourage stronger leaf and bush growth. Since this plant is easy to self-sow, you will need to remove the berries or prevent the vines from blooming. Malabar spinach can become an invasive plant if not handled properly.
Multiplication
You can be more successful in sprouting Malabar spinach seeds by scarifying or mechanically opening the tough seed coat by pinching it with a sharp knife or roughing the layer with sandpaper. Soaking the seeds in water overnight before planting can also speed up germination. Start sowing indoors or sow directly ¼ inch deep. If sowed directly, thin seedlings until they are 6 inches apart.
To multiply Malabar spinach from one cut, cut off a piece from one of the stems. Cut just below a growing knot and you will get stems 5 to 6 inches in length. Root hormone can be used if you want, or you can plant the cut directly in well-drained soil. Cuttings can also be rooted in the water. The roots should develop and be ready to transplant into the garden within two weeks.
Harvesting and storing
Malabar spinach tastes like spinach that has been cooked. Source: avlxyz
Malabar spinach can be eaten raw in salads as a substitute for leafy vegetables, or cooked in various dishes. This plant is the perfect substitute for any traditional spinach dish. Typically, younger leaves and shoots are best to eat, especially when they're in a salad.
harvest
Malabar spinach can be harvested as early as 50 days after planting or when a strong main stem has established itself. Pick smaller heart-shaped leaves from the plant or cut off delicate stems. Harvest frequently to shrub the plant, leaving at least 6 inches of stems and leaves untouched each time. Continue harvesting weekly or until the cold kills the plant.
storage
Malabar spinach is best eaten fresh. Use immediately after the leaves or stems have been harvested, or store in the refrigerator where they can be kept for 2-5 days. When you have a very plentiful harvest, you can blanch the leaves and then freeze them.
Troubleshooting
Once these berries get darker, they can be used for coloring. Source: quinn.anya
Many grow Malabar spinach as the preferred market crop in Asia because of its resistance to pests and diseases. It's not a fussy plant to grow in the garden, which makes it a great choice for both novice and intermediate gardeners.
Growing problems
Ceylon spinach could be get started slowly As your weather warms up for the summer, there shouldn't be many problems once it's made. Make sure you don't plant it until after the frost threat has passed, preferably well after the last expected frost date. While this spinach vine can grow in partial shade, it is more vigorous in full sun.
Pests
Malabar spinach is quite resistant to most of the large pests in the garden, which makes it a very easy vine to grow. However, there have been reports of damage from it Root node nematodes. This pest slows the growth and vigor of the vine and causes leaf chlorosis, or yellowing of the leaves and stem. If you see these symptoms and suspect a nematode problem, check the soil for root swelling.
There are two organic nematicides on the market that you can use to treat root-knot nematodes, although they kill both harmful and beneficial nematodes in the soil. Some other alternatives include fertilizing with neem seed meal, crab meal, or oyster shell meal to increase the resistance of plants and their roots to nematode damage. Planting beneficial nematodes in the soil to attack the root-knot nematodes is also an option.
Diseases
Because Malabar spinach thrives in warm and humid conditions, they can be prone to some leaf diseases, including Mushroom leaf spots caused by Cercospora beticola. This is a pathogen that is most common in sugar beet, spinach, and chard. Cercospora beticola causes small circular or oval gray spots with a dark purple or brown ring to appear on the leaves. If left untreated, the pathogen can defoliate the leaves prematurely and weaken the overall strength of your plants.
When watering, use best practices to keep the leaves dry. Avoid overhead irrigation whenever possible. If you find fungus spots on the leaves, remove the leaves immediately. Do not cook or eat leaves with mushroom leaf spots. Do not compost these leaves, as the pathogen can survive in the soil for up to two years. If you live in a particularly humid area with high summer temperatures over 80 degrees, you should consider an organic fungicide as a preventive measure.
frequently asked Questions
This initially small Malabar spinach will soon grow quickly. Source: sweetea
Q: Can Malabar Spinach be eaten raw?
A: Yes, Malabar spinach can be eaten raw, although it is usually fried or used in stews and curries.
Q: Is Malabar Spinach annual or perennial?
A: Malabar spinach is very sensitive to frost and loves hot weather. Malabar spinach can be grown as a perennial in tropical or subtropical areas of the world. It has grown excessively annually.
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