Malabar Spinach - Key Growing Information

Malabar spinach, a heat-loving Asian vine, growing up vertical trellis; grown as annual, or in warm climates, as a perennial.

SCIENTIFIC NAME:

Basella rubra

CULTURE:

Malabar spinach does best in a slightly acidic, moist, fertile soil, though it can tolerate poor soil conditions. Stem tip cuttings may be rooted, overwintered inside, and transplanted out again the following year or kept as a houseplant. Provide trellis support. Sow indoors in flats 1/4" deep and 1/4" apart or into 50-cell or 72-cell flats, 3 seeds per cell, 5-6 weeks before transplanting to the garden. After all danger of frost has passed, transplant out to the garden 6" apart in rows 36" apart. After all danger of frost has passed, sow directly into the soil 1-2" apart, 1/4" deep, in rows 36" apart. Thin to 6" apart.

DISEASES AND PESTS:

Prevent disease with crop rotation and sanitation.

HARVEST:

Pick young leaves and stems throughout the season. Pinching tips will encourage branching.

AVG. DIRECT SEEDING RATE:

1 oz./130', 1 lb./2,100'.

SEED SPECS:

SEEDS/OZ.: Avg. 950 seeds.

PACKET:

100 seeds sows 12'.