Famspace Plant Seedlings Set - Malabar Spinach, North-Eastern Islands

Malabar spinach is a tropical leafy green that was named after a coastal region in southwestern India. It is botanically not a true spinach yet it resembles it. The dark green, glossy, oval or heart-shaped leaves, and shoots can be eaten raw in salads or cooked. The taste of Malabar spinach is mild, similar to spinach, with peppery notes and a hint of citrus. Once cooked though, the texture is different from spinach. The thick, semi-succulent leaves become gluey, not unlike okra.

Malabar spinach grows vertically and needs a trellis to support its fast growth. In hot climates with frost-free winters, you can grow it as a perennial, otherwise it’s an annual vegetable just like spinach. It is not only an edible plant, but also an attractive addition to a garden bed, especially the red-leaf variety.

Malabar Spinach Care :
In terms of care, Malabar spinach is undemanding, with one big exception: it needs constant moisture.

Light:
While Malabar spinach does well in full sun, it can tolerate partial shade. In fact, light or dappled shade may increase the size of its leaves and make them more succulent.

Soil:
Not finicky in terms of soil requirements, Malabar spinach can grow in a wide range of soils. Well-draining, fertile, sandy loam, and high in organic matter is ideal, but it can also tolerate damp soil, as long as it is not soggy.

Water:
Malabar spinach needs water. In dry conditions, it will flower prematurely, which can turn the leaves bitter. In the absence of frequent and ample rainfall, it requires regular watering. Too much precipitation, on the other hand, is usually not a problem, unless the soil has poor drainage.

Temperature and Humidity:
As a tropical plant, Malabar spinach is extremely frost-sensitive; not only will it die in cold temperatures, it needs heat to grow. At daytime temperatures below 80 degrees F and nighttime temperatures below 60 degrees F, you won’t see much growth. The plant only starts thriving when the temperature exceeds 90 degrees F.

Fertilizer:
Like most greens, Malabar spinach needs a high-nitrogen fertilizer for healthy leaf growth. Feed it once at the initial planting time with a granular, slow-release fertilizer, and again about every three to four weeks during the growing season.

******100+ Holes Seedling Tray
Kickstart your gardening journey with this 100+ holes seedling tray — designed for easy and efficient seed starting. Ideal for growing healthy, uniform seedlings in your home garden.