Malabar Spinach
Also known as: Ceylon spinach · Vine spinach · Basella alba · Basella rubra
2 types of malabar spinach
When & where
Germination
Spacing & depth
How to plant
Nick or soak the hard seed. Transplant to a hot spot with a trellis — vines climb 8–10 ft. Pick young leaves and tips continually; the more you cut the bushier it grows. Thick succulent leaves that never bolt in heat.
Grower's tip
Perfect summer 'spinach' where true spinach bolts. Slightly mucilaginous cooked (like okra); crunchy raw in salads.
Soil preferences
Well-drained soil with steady moisture at the root zone.
6.0–7.0
Compost at planting; go easy on nitrogen or you get all leaf and no flower or fruit.
Watering
Even moisture through flowering and fruiting; vines dry out fast on a sunny wall.
Soaker or drip at the base — never onto the canopy.
Overwatered: yellow lower leaves, mildew. Underwatered: curled tips, dropped flowers.
Prefers top-watering — Top-water at the soil line with drip or soaker — tomatoes, peppers, squash, cucumbers, and most veg resent wet leaves (blight, mildew, rust). Bottom-water only during seed-starting until transplants are rooted through.
Temperature tolerance
70–85°F (21–29°C) for annual vines; hardy woody vines are much broader
55–70°F (13–21°C)
Annual vines are frost-tender; woody perennial vines are hardy to their rated zone.
Container growing
Possible with the right cultivar
5–15 gal (19–57 L) with a trellis anchored to the pot or wall
Potted vines dry out daily in heat — plan for it before you plant.
Detailed harvesting
Train and tie in new growth weekly during the growing season; prune woody vines while dormant.
Post-harvest storage & preservation
Not applicable for ornamental vines; fruiting vines follow their species.
Culinary, medicinal & other uses
Vertical screening, shade, flowers and fruit in a footprint the size of a dinner plate.
Medicinal or traditional uses are shared for interest only — this is not medical advice. Consult a qualified professional before using any plant medicinally.
Seed saving
Insect-pollinated for most species.
Isolate or bag flowers to keep a strain true.
Let pods or fruit ripen fully on the vine, then clean and dry the seed.
Your zone's planting calendar
Pick your USDA hardiness zone and we'll estimate the key dates for malabar spinach in your area. These are regional averages — always check your own last-frost forecast before sowing.
My Malabar Spinach notes
Malabar Spinach seeds on hand
Track packets and loose seeds you already have. Private to your account.
Par level — leave at 0 for no alert. Anything below par shows on Seed Starting and your shopping list.
Order more seeds
Running low? Reorder from one of these seed stores.
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