About Malabar spinach
Malabar spinach (Basella alba/ rubra) is a tropical edible perennial vine that thrives in the hot and humid climates of Asia, the Pacific Islands, South America, and West Africa. Basela rubra has red stems, while Besella alba has green stems. While not suitable for subtropical zones like Zambia with their droughts, frosty winters, and long dry seasons, this vegetable has shown resilience under such conditions. It can self-seed and germinate when conditions improve and has no pest pressure, allowing organic growth with minimal maintenance. Malabar spinach, a nutrient-rich climbing plant, thrives well in winter and faster in summer.
Growing Malabar Spinach
Malabar spinach is a fast-growing plant ideal for privacy screens or gazebo covers. Its single vine can envelop a small house, even when grown in pots. Though it spawns attractive glossy-green leaves and distinctive flowers and seeds, we uproot new plants due to space constraints and reuse them for rapidly produced compost, enriched further by their high antioxidant and iron content. It is watered weekly and composted thrice annually but grows well without soil amendments. The leaves flourish in semi-shade and shade but are smaller in full sun.
Using Malabar spinach
The leaves could benefit livestock feed and soil protection under adverse weather conditions. Harvested vegetables, kept clean off the ground, are used in various dishes, such as soup with garlic, cherry tomatoes, halloumi cheese, and basil. It is also used in stir-fries, hot pot, or mixed with meat and fish. This green leafy vegetable contains vitamins A, C, B, and manganese and minimal carbohydrates and proteins.
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