Ceylon (Malabar) Spinach Red Stem Vegetable Seeds
Botanical Name: Basella alba ‘Rubra’
Synonyms: Malabar Spinach; Vine Spinach
This is a green leaf – red stem version of the attractive climbing leafy green, rich in vitamins A and C, a perennial vine that will grow as an annual in cooler areas and is frost-tender. It can be eaten raw in salads or lightly cooked in stir-fries. It has a flavor similar to spinach. The older leaves develop a ‘slipperiness’; this mucilaginous property has been used traditionally as a thickening agent for soups and stews.
Plant Type: Warm season short-lived perennial
Plant Height: 1.5 – 2 m, requires a trellis
Sow When:
- Temperate Subtropical: Spring behind glass for extra heat, October – February
- Tropical: Late March – August
Germination: Germinate best at 22 – 27°C soil temp.
Depth: 20 mm deep
Position: Sun or semi-shade
Sow Where: Sow direct into warm soil
Soil Type: Rich, fertile, moist soil; pH 5.5 – 6.7
Spacing: 30 cm between plants
Details: Soaking seed before sowing improves germination; self-sows readily. 70 days to harvest; to harvest, tip-prune the vines, taking the young tender shoots and leaves to encourage branching.
