Spinach like plants (Malabar spinach)

Plant family

Madeira-vine family (Basellaceae)

Also known as

Vine Spinach, Ceylon Spinach, Indian Spinach

Season Overview

Details

Light requirement

Sunny

Water requirement

Wet

Soil

Medium (loamy)

Nutrient requirement

Medium

Seeding distance

20 cm

Row spacing

40 cm

Seeding depth

2 cm

Instructions

Description

Indian spinach, climbing spinach, Malabar spinach or Ceylon spinach is a 1-9 m tall, twining, herbaceous, heat-loving plant belonging to the Basellaceae family. It is also grown as an ornamental plant. The leaves can also be eaten raw and are used like spinach. In the Orient they are used to make soups and sauces creamy. Its flowers are white, red, pink or purple.

Growing tips

Grow at home from March at 15-22°C, plant out only after mid-May. The plant needs a climbing framework. In the tropics it grows up to 9 m high, here up to 2 m. Propagation is by seed or cuttings. A perennial in the tropics, but only an annual here due to frost sensitivity, but can be harvested continuously after planting. Water and fertilize regularly.