Malabar Spinach
Malabar Spinach also known as the Indian Spinach(Basale Soppu in Kannada) is a vine which is super easy to grow in a container as well on the ground. Malabar Spinach is a vine which needs a support to grow on. If you have a large garden you can leave them to spread on the ground.
Although it's a type of spinach, I have observed it doesn't taste much like spinach. They have very fleshy, thick leaves that are juicy and crisp. While cooking, it becomes slimy. My people are interested in eating it's tender shoots along with the leaves. Like typical leaf vegetables, Malabar spinach is high in vitamin A, vitamin C, iron, and calcium.
It will thrive in moist, fertile and well drained soils. I have observed that generally they don't require much fertilizer but produce large leaves when well fertilized organically. They tend to develop tough leaves if weather is too dry or not well watered. Their growth is ideal in an area with a warm, rainy climate.
Propagation:
They can be propagated either by planting a mature cut shoot or by seed. Easy propagation is by planting the seeds which is vey dark purple in color. If the stems are too tough to eat , simply put them back into the soil for re-rooting.
Malabar spinach have grown all over my garden through seed propagation, I have just left them as it is with some support. It's a non fussy plant, I never seem to get tired of eating them.
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| Ripened berries and un ripened berries which would produce new plant. |
