Green Malabar Spinach

Description of the variety

This variety is fast growing.

It has soft-stemmed vines and thick oval semi-succulent leaves. The leaves and stems are green.

It is rich in Vitamin A and C, iron, and calcium.

Malabar spinach is a fast-growing, heat-tolerant leafy vine with thick, glossy green leaves and a mild, slightly mucilaginous texture.

Botanically known as Basella alba (green stem), Malabar spinach is a vigorous climbing plant from the Basellaceae family. Unlike true spinach, it thrives in hot, humid conditions and produces fleshy, heart-shaped leaves with a slightly slippery texture when cooked. The vine can reach several meters in length and produces small pink or white flowers followed by dark purple berries.

Planting Guidelines

It grows well under full sunlight in hot, humid climates.

Sow directly into warm, fertile, well-drained soil once temperatures exceed 22°C.

Keep soil consistently moist during germination (10–14 days) and early growth.

Suitable for planting in Spring and early Summer

Space seeds or seedlings 30–45 cm apart in rows 60 cm apart.

Growth is slow in low temperatures resulting in low yields.

It grows best in sandy loam soils rich in organic matter with ph ranging from 5.5 to 8.0.

Additional Remarks

Malabar spinach is ideal for Sydney’s warm season, offering lush growth and high yields when other leafy greens struggle. Its thick leaves hold up well in cooking and add a unique texture to dishes. Regular harvesting keeps the plant productive and prevents overgrowth. It’s both a culinary and ornamental asset to any garden.

Diseases Information

Planting Timetable

MONTH

JAN

FEB

MAR

APR

MAY

JUN

JUL

AUG

SEP

OCT

NOV

DEC

SOWING

TRANSPLANTING

HARVEST