Malabar Spinach - Super producer in the house!

We are growing Malabar Spinach this year, for the first time. Surprisingly, it is quite productive in a south facing window inside the house.  In fact it is growing better in the house than in the garden or the greenhouse.

Seeds of this tropical green vine are readily available in seed stores and online. We started our seeds indoors in late March in 3 inch pots, 3 seeds to a pot. Once sprouted, we transplanted three of the seedlings to a large planter of potting mix. Slow release fertilizer was added.  This planter was placed in a south facing sunny window indoors and given lots of water. The plants took off, with huge green leaves and long vines. They required a good watering every second day. The leaves are fleshy and the vines are long, so ample water is required.

We harvested the first bunch in mid-May. The leaves are huge.  We chopped them up and cooked them in a curry. Malabar spinach is not a true spinach, but it tastes similar when cooked.

We also transplanted some seedlings out into the garden in full sun. They are not doing well. A bird ate one, and the other two are looking yellow and small. Maybe they need a little shade, maybe a looser, lighter soil? Perhaps the swing of temperatures between day and night is too great. Perhaps full sun is too much or the nights are too cool? Not sure why, but these seedlings outdoors in the garden soil in June, are not thriving. Our climate is not like the lush tropical Malabar coast.

We also have some in the small greenhouse, and they are looking good. They are positioned at the north end of the greenhouse and planted in a peaty potting mix. Will watch and report on these later, but they seem to be growing well in late June. I water the pot every day. Malabar spinach needs a steady dose of water. I would not let it dry out completely. (Update: the Malabar spinach did not flourish in the greenhouse, either. Maybe too hot and dry in the greenhouse).


Malabar Spinach grown in south window in Edmonton in June.

But in the house, in a southern window, wow, look at this crop grow! All in all this tropical green is amazing. Give it a try. It has a mild flavour, it grows fast, and it is a quite beautiful and impressive vine. We harvest leaves from 3 plants in a large planter about every 10 days.