If you are looking to add some color and flavor to your garden, then consider growing malabar spinach. This climbing plant is not only full of nutrients, but it also produces a rich-colored dye from its purple flesh berry. Learn more about how to properly manage and grow this warm season vegetable in your garden with our helpful guide.
Growing and Harvesting Malabar Spinach
- Malabar spinach is an easy vegetable to grow from seed.
- The small rounded seeds can be used to begin the growing process of this warm season vegetable.
- Planting Malabar spinach outdoors should not be done until a few weeks after the danger of frost has subsided.
- To ensure successful growth, it is best to start the seeds indoors six to eight weeks before the last frost.
- It will only take 10 days to 3 weeks for the seeds to start sprouting.
Growing Red Malabar Spinach Indoors
- Red Malabar spinach can also be grown indoors, with the same seeding process.
- The seeds should be planted shallowly at a spacing of 6 inches in a pot.
- This will provide an attractive addition to any indoor garden.
Propagation
- In addition to seeds, Malabar spinach can be propagated by dropping berries.
- These will reseed and allow for volunteer seedlings to grow in the garden.
- These seedlings can then be transplanted where desired.
- The purple flesh of the ‘Basella rubra’ berry can also be used to create a rich-colored dye.
- This is an excellent way to add color and texture to any craft project or textile.
Growing Conditions
- Malabar spinach prefers full sun and moist soil with a PH level of between 6.5 and 6.8.
- The plant can be grown in pots or in a garden with a trellis or up a wall to provide support for the climbing vines.
Harvesting
- When it comes to harvesting Malabar spinach, all summer and into the fall, or until the plant begins to bloom, you can continue to pick the leaves.
- There are a lot of dark purple berry flowers that will eventually appear at the end of each stem.
- The question then becomes: should you let these flowers bloom?
| Growing Malabar Spinach |
|---|
| Easy to grow from seed |
| Start seeds indoors 6-8 weeks before last frost |
| Plant outdoors after danger of frost has subsided |
| Red Malabar spinach can be grown indoors |
| Propagate by dropping berries |
| Malabar spinach prefers full sun and moist soil |
| Harvest leaves all summer and into fall |
Harnessing the Benefits of Malabar Spinach Seeds
The answer to this question is yes, because the Malabar spinach seeds are also a valuable resource. What is Malabar spinach seeds used for? Agar (vegetable “gelatine”) dishes, sweets, and pastries use this natural food colorant. The Malabar spinach thrives in warm, tropical areas, where it can easily grow one foot each day.
To harvest the seeds, wait until they have turned brown and dry on the vine. Collect them into a bag or basket and hang them upside down in a cool place with plenty of air circulation until they are completely dried out before storing them away for future planting or cooking purposes.
Using these natural resources of Malabar spinach can be beneficial to any gardener or cook looking for an interesting flavor boost to their recipes!
| Benefits of Malabar Spinach Seeds |
|---|
| Natural food colorant |
| Thrives in warm, tropical areas |
| Can grow one foot each day |
| Valuable resource for gardeners and cooks |
| Seeds can be harvested and stored for future use |
Is Malabar Spinach a Nightshade?
One of the most common questions asked about Malabar spinach is whether or not it is a nightshade. The term “Malabar nightshade,” which is also known as “Malabar spinach,” refers to twining herbaceous vines from the genus Basella (family Basellaceae). This species of plant does not belong to the Solanaceae family, commonly referred to as the “nightshades.” As such, Malabar spinach does not contain any of the toxic alkaloids that are found in true nightshades.
This means that people who are sensitive or allergic to other members of this family can safely enjoy Malabar spinach without having any adverse reactions.
The Legal Status of Malabar Spinach
Another important factor to consider when growing Malabar spinach is whether or not it is an invasive species. Due to its ability to self-seed easily, if not managed properly the plant can become quite invasive. To prevent this from happening, you should either remove the berries or prevent the vines from flowering. This way, you will be able to enjoy fresh Malabar spinach without having it take over your garden!
It is also worth noting that with proper management and attention, Malabar spinach can be a great addition to any garden as it provides excellent flavor and nutrition in addition to being aesthetically pleasing.
In recent years, there have been attempts to make Malabar spinach legal in certain states including Georgia. According to Ayesha Rascoe, host of NPR’s All Things Considered, “An Asian staple called water spinach is illegal in most states because it’s considered an invasive species. A decades-long effort to make leafy green legal in Georgia is succeeding.” This would be a major step forward for the cultivation of Malabar spinach as it would give gardeners more freedom to grow and enjoy this nutritious vegetable without fear of breaking the law.
Tips for Growing Malabar Spinach
To prevent Malabar spinach from becoming invasive, follow these tips:
- Remove the berries
- Prevent the vines from flowering
By doing so, you can enjoy fresh Malabar spinach without having it take over your garden.